A Little Mathematical Funny
Today, as I was exploring the vast online world, I found a video that brought a giggle to my day. It shows the importance of teaching math so that each student can learn. If not, then you may end up with students like in the video.
Students, that does NOT mean that you need to sit around and wait on the teacher to find a way to reach you, help them out! Tell them when you don’t understand something. You do not want to end like the character in this video.
Check it out. You might end up with a giggle to brighten your day.
TeacherTube.com video
Help! I need to add a new skein of yarn.
Whether you are making a large project where you need more than one skein of yarn or you are making a project that uses multiple colors, you will eventually have to join a new color or skein of yarn to your project. Just like with making the slip knot, there are different versions of joining the new yarn to the current yarn.
Personally, I find it easier to tie the two into a knot and then working in the ends as I crochet. I prefer this method because of the stability of it. It is much more difficult to come loose and ruin a project. The objective is to use a joining method that will be easy for you to do but yet have the stability to withstand use and washing. If you are a new crocheter, this can be a bit difficult. So, I went in search of some videos showing a variety of methods for connecting yarns.
I hope that you find something in this list that will help you join your next skein quickly and easily.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lzLvkvDpxU4&playnext=1&list=PLD8A9F95387414C27
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FBP7hABh5aw&feature=related
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ab149aTPHos&feature=related
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ab149aTPHos&feature=related
So, how do you prefer to join your yarn?
Teaching Crochet
Teaching crochet is a lot of fun but there are challenges that you find along the way when you begin. For me, one of the biggest challenges that I have faced has to be the wide age range of students. When they come in, they are all excited and ready to learn. When they discover that it takes practice to be good at it and it is not something that can be picked up immediately, some tend to get discouraged.
Luckily, not all get discouraged. The past month 4:00 pm has been a time of joy for me. I have had a variety of students join me from day to day and some that came every day. When you realize that my competition for their attention is a gym to play ball, do gymastics, or just hang out with friends, it is amazing that as many that stuck with it did. They came with different levels of knowledge and skills as well as age and motor skills. Some left experimenting with the materials and seeing where their own journey will take them. Some are still wanting to be led step by step. Some came long enough to make a chain, which they made into a necklace or bracelet. Either way, they all have made my afternoons brighter.
The physical class time is coming to an end tomorrow, but I will continue to link videos and even add some pattern links that will allow them to continue in their journey of crocheting. Crocheting has brought me much happiness. Teaching crochet has warmed my heart as I saw the eager eyes and fingers tight with frustration turn into watchful eyes and relaxed fingers enjoying the craft that they have begun to learn.
Today’s links are just for left handed crocheters. These are videos that I searched out that I think will help left handed beginning crocheters.
Updates
If you visit often, you may notice that the website has changed a lot over the past few months. I took down most of my writing and instead had just a few things related to my teaching. This summer, I have been busy teaching fourth grade at a summer program and during my vacation, I decided to take this is in the direction that I have dreamed of going. Yes, you will still see some of my writing linked here, you may even see a special writing project that I am working on. You will also see links to educational websites, especially games, that I feel can be beneficial to someone looking to learn. They must be free to access. I know that many will have ads or will promote products, but as long as they still hold educational opportunities that do not require the payment of funds or clicking on ads, I will consider them.
I hope you enjoy the updated website. I’m having a blast working on it!
Crocheting is Contagious!
Warning, when you begin crocheting, your life will change. You begin to see things differently. It starts out simple at first. I have a long bus ride or I have to wait on my ride, so I’ll crochet as I wait. Before you know it, you will be taking a bag of yarn and a hook with you everywhere. Don’t forget the scissors! A pair of nail clips will suffice in an emergency crochet moment. That bag becomes a part of you. You take it with you anytime you think you may have to wait.
Okay, I may be stretching it a bit for most crocheters, but for many that are like me, it is a fairly close description at least at some point in our lives. Admittedly, I do not travel with a bag of crochet quite as often as I used to but as I have worked with a group of school children and early teens this past week, the desire to have my bag with me has returned. It is almost like a security blanket. Students may often say that something is boring when they are not constantly busy. That is just how things work in this fast paced modern world of ours. Crocheting may have had a hayday in the slower time of the 19th and 20th centuries, but don’t let it fool you. It can definitely fit into this modern world.
The past week, I have seen students with small balls of yarn stuck into pockets or even backpacks. They will be crocheting while on the bus to a field trip or even as they walk down the halls. Yes, it did bring a smile to my face. It is quite amazing to see an age group that is so often called the “now generation” taking the time to learn a skill that takes patience and practice.
As they walk down the hall or sit on the bus, other students would ask what they are doing. They want to try it and some even have the patience to stick with it for a bit. A few go even further than that and hurry home to ask Mom or Dad to take them to the store for supplies. When they bring in materials that I’ve been too scared to try, it almost brings tears of joy to my eyes.
If you want to enjoy a hobby that can be both frustrating and relaxing, consider crocheting. It isn’t expensive and you can make some wonderful gifts for family and friends. You never know who you may introduce to crocheting. A wonderful afternoon spent sitting and sharing your love of crocheting along with some quality conversations can be the start of or a way of solidifying a lifelong friendship. Why not pick up a hook and yarn today?
The Power of One
Each of us has an unlimited power to make changes in the world. Before we can make a change, we need to understand that the choices we make today will create our future. Take the time to think before you act. Don’t react, but plan and make the best choice not only for today but for your future as well. Believe in yourself! You hold the power to change the world in each decision that you make.
Watch The Power of One video from Teachertube.com
Starting the Day off Right
In order to start our day off right, I have created a Powerpoint that I use to welcome the class each morning. In order to make it even easier to use, I created a pdf version of my Daily Welcome which I have uploaded to my website.
My plans for using this file is to link the words morning work to a calendar. From the calendar, I will click on the date to go to the daily morning work. The daily morning work is inspired by a paper version that I saw during an inservice work day at a local school. When the inspiration strikes, there is no telling where it may eventually lead! Just enjoy the journey and the new knowledge you gain from your own inspirations.
This “inspiration” is causing a good bit of work now, but in the long run, it will save me a lot of time. I am taking the time to make it as flexible as possible so that it can be used not only now but for future years as well. I am linking my daily welcome to a calendar which has links for each day. From the calendar, I can click on morning work and go to the actual morning work page for the lesson that I am doing that particular day. If you would like to see it in action, visit my daily welcome.