I'm a maker!

Onto the next challenge...Maker Spaces

I have been stalking Maker Spaces guru Jessica Allen.

You can also check out her interview with EduAllStars Session 55.

As well as some pretty awesome websites:

Instructables

Invent to Learn (this is also a book)

Symbaloo page created by Mason Elementary

One of the ideas behind "making" is seeing a problem and finding a way to fix it.

My "Little Miss" (4 year old daughter) had a problem with her tonsils and her doctor was going to fix it.

This left Mom with the "problem" of keeping her comfortable after the procedure and....I FIXED IT!

Little Miss needed to keep ice on her throat in order to keep the swelling down. You know all the issues with ice packs: leaking, never stay in place, too cold, not cold enough...blah blah blah!

So I had this idea that if we could "trap" the ice in a thin kitchen towel and somehow drape it across her throat then all of these issues could be avoided.

And the "Ice Pack Wrap" was born!

1. take a thin kitchen towel, fold length wise and sew long edges together.
2. place ice in a small ziploc, squeeze the air out and slip into the towel-tube (technical term)
3. tie a knot in each end and your done!

Steps in making the ice pack wrap.

Enjoy the first of many popsicles!

Little Miss riding away...she was so brave!

Open For Business

• Books are all turned in...√
• Inventory is complete...√
• Awards have been given...√
• School is out for SUMMER!

So now it's time to get busy!!

I have my book towers leaning...

• beachy reads
• heal the soul
• help the family
• feed the brain

But there is one other area I would like to explore more this summer - technological geeky/nerdy stuff!

Oh yeah!! Right up my alley!!

So when my dear friend and colleague, Michelle @BrannenLibrary, shared the "Summer Learning Series" challenge (#SummerLS) being offered by Todd Nesloney @TechNinjaTodd I just couldn't stop myself! 

I jumped right on the bandwagon and at only 4 weeks in I have already been pushed right out of my comfy little box...and "I'm lovin' every minute of it!" (shameless Seinfeld reference)

So....

√Challenge #1 - Twitter

• you can find me @MGEBookChick

√Challenge #2a - Connect

• I tweeted some folks =)
• my PLN (Professional Learning Network) is growing

√Challenge #2b - Set up a phone line

• well...kinda/sorta - I set up an account with "Remind" 
• "Remind" is a FREE service that allows you to text parents and students without ever needing their phone numbers, and they never need yours.

√Challenge #3a - Twitter Chat

• Wow! Put your reading glasses on for this one & maybe get yourself some caffeine!
• I participated in #txeduchat and #tlap
• Through this challenge I also found a super cool tool (actually 2) that helped me keep up with the chat.
• TweetDeck (use on computer) -- prefer this one =^)
• HootSuite (use on iPad)

√Challenge #3b - Professional Reading

• I chose "Teach Like a Pirate" by Dave Burgess
• @burgessdave
• #tlap
• Dave also gave a challenge...5 words my students would use to describe my library (I gave 6 on account of I'm an overachiever!)
• My library is FIERCE!
• F - Fair
• I - Intriguing
• E - Exciting
• R - Relevant
• C - Captivating
• E - Eventful

And that brings us to.........

Challenge #4a - Selfie

• I recently heard a speaker use the phrase = "Learning is social!" I can't remember who said it but I can't get it out of my mind. And I guess others are catching on as well because now I have been double dog dared to take a "selfie!"

((I'm working on it!!))

Challenge #4b - Reflect

• You guessed it...set up a blog...CHECK √

This was fun! =)