The 12 Days of Christmas: BlogStyle

The merriment of Thanksgiving is now officially behind us. So is Black Friday, if that's your thing. I used part of my holiday weekend to get my house in order, some "decking of the halls" in order...and some life in order. With starting a new job this past August, it seems there's a lot of that "order" to be "re-ordering" as I learn new curriculums, new school cultures, new people, and new job expectations. Even more when my own kids started new at this school as well.

Given that, one of the area of "dis-order" this fall has been my blog here.  Green Team Gazette.  It seems to be the last place I get, further down on my priority list than I want it to be. I haven't felt as focused as I'd like, and I have a stockpile of topics just building up, patiently waiting for me to get there... all the while my own patience is rearing its ugly head!

So the best way to combat that is to build a plan and find that focus. Which all got me thinking of Christmas; namely, the twelve days of Christmas.

What if I aspired to write the 12 blog posts of Christmas? GTG style: a dash of self-reflection, a heavy dose of environmental finds and facts, a touch of EdTech, a glimmer of the Christmas seasons, and a bit of nature & health factored in. #12BloggerDays.

In the course of a month, it's a pretty hearty goal. 12 posts, here in this 12th month, before we hit 2015.  This is really a hefty push--especially given the nature of December. If this is a goal that I decide to take on, that means I'll be challenging myself to a post every 2-3 days (given I push it to New Year's Eve).

But... if I try to revolve around he number 12--much like months, hours in the am, hours in the pm, eggs in the dozen, inches in a foot, jurors on a jury, animals on the Chinese calendar, or even signs in the zodiac--then maybe that will help me renew my own focus in my own blogosphere.  What do they say:

And luckily, since I make my own rules, this serves as #1 in my 12.

Only 11 more to go!

I challenge you this month to do 12 things that are important to you. 

I would love to hear about it.

Images from:  Home decorated pics from my camera; 12 Days of Christmas from http://blissfullyorganiccoop.org/12-days-of-christmas-giveaways/; Lightbulb pic: http://blog.outsourcing-partners.com/2013/09/16-inspirational-quotes-for-the-entrepreneurs/; 12 Days of Blogging from my iPad, a creation using the Scrap It app.

"Origins: Deep Dive" This Thanksgiving Weekend

Thanksgiving weekend is always an interesting twilight zone of a day dedicated to giving thanks and being grateful for what you have as well as a block of unbridled spending frenzy between Black Friday, Cyber Monday, and shopping! Shopping! Shopping.  This weekend has you tied between family and gratitude and the world of "gimme" and "buy me."  The commercial side of Christmas goes off with a bang, leaving a poor 1965 Charlie Brown's head spinning with his twiggy Christmas tree as he chimes in about commercialism and the true meaning of the Christmas season we are embarking upon.

And yet, we're still here, nearly 50 years after that first "Charlie Brown Christmas."

Given this shaky-balance-of-imbalance-kind-of-weekend, it might be a good time to carve out some movie time to help you get your head on straight.  No, not "Charlie Brown Christmas," though that would do it too.

The movie I'm suggesting is "Origins:  Deep Dive" movie.  As luck would have it, this is the last weekend of their 10-day free viewing invitation.  With the deposit of an email address alone, you get access to the 1 hour 41 minute which urges you to get back to OUR origins.  A "simpler, cleaner, back-to-the-Earth, get outside and enjoy nature and healthier eating" kind of origin.  It takes a look at how consumerism and fast-paced, plastic-wrapped convenience have really caused us to hurt not only our planet but our own health. The movie discusses our need to use technology and advancement in a sustainable way, to keep us excelling, and to get us to be our best possible self.  It has addresses stress and our obsessive "need" for "stuff"...and how we don't need a fraction of what we think we need.  In fact, we only "need" 4 things on this planet to survive and thrive: shelter, water, fire, food.  Everything else is wants. (I might argue that love is in there, as humans, but that's me!)

Here is the link to my free invitation to "Origins."  By sharing it, I'm not skirting the system, but actually taking up filmmaker Pedram Shojai's offer to spread the film and help bring about healthy wisdom.  The free viewing window goes until midnight of November 30th.  It's my hope you'll take time to view it, and see how that helps you in this twilight zone ThanksChristmasy-kind of weekend to help organize your priorities.  I highly recommend it!


Watch the Global Premiere of Origins the Movie: Until Nov. 30th watch the feature-length movie Origins for FREE from filmmaker Pedram Shojai. #OriginsFilm @Well_Org...Find the movie at:  http://origins.well.org/movie/

Images from:
Charlie Brown: http://www.acartoonchristmas.com/2010/12/06/dec-6-a-charlie-brown-christmas/;
"Origins:" Deep Dive:  http://origins.well.org/explore/ and https://selfhelphealth.wordpress.com/

Happy Thanksgiving 2014

Today is that annual tradition we Americans call Thanksgiving.
Giving thanks and Thanksgiving mean a lot of different things to different people.
My wish for my Green Team Gazette family is that you is that your heart is filled with thanks, kindness, love, gratitude, memories, and comfort.  I am most certainly thanks for all of you who have traveled along with me for the last 5 years.

Images from http://www.ibelieve.com/blogs/asheritah-ciuciu/, 
http://purposedrivenmotherhood.blogspot.com/2014/05/power-promises-about-gratitude-part-1.html,  

http://www.beautifullynutty.com/gratitude-august-recap/

Thankgiving is on its Way: Turkey Tech it Up!

We all know that Thanksgiving is just right around the corner.  If you tend to lean a little toward the techie side, here are some TurkeyDay themed interactives and websites to investigate:

From Free Technology for Teachers:  A Round Up of 10 Thanksgiving Lesson Resources:

• This includes some great ones including John Green's Crash Course on US History (Jamestown & Plymouth Rock with a touch of sarcasm), the History Channel's "History of Thanksgiving," and 8 other fabulous resources from Scholastic, Plimoth Plantation, & more).  

From The QR Queens over at Teachers Pay Teachers:  Thanksgiving & Turkey Fun QR Codes:

• For $5, you get 15 links to "all-things Thanksgiving."  Silly, serious, factual, fun, fabulous.  Songs, stories, virtual field trips, drawing tutorials, and the gobble of turkeys.  With a mobile device, a QR reader, and this set, you've got a great station or iPad activity for K-3rd graders (or even beyond)...those are the tried, true, tested ages of the kids at my school who fell in love with them.  All I know is that I'm taking a set of codes with me for my Thanksgiving feast this year.

From iTeachWith Technology's:  Thanksgiving Interactive Games:

• These have a fun flair to them, perfect for the time between turkey and pie.  Some oldies but goodies from their Thanksgiving post a few years ago, and unfortunately a few links no longer connect, but enough fun surrounding those few, that you or your kids will enjoy a little interactive relaxation time.

Images from:  http://www.siliconrepublic.com/fs/img/Canadian-Thanksgiving-meme-3.jpg and http://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Thanksgiving-and-Turkey-Fun-using-QR-Codes-802067

Holiday Spreadsheets: Christmas Prep Points to Thanksgiving Gratitude

The Holiday gift giving spreadsheet came out today in our house today. On Excel, my spreadsheet gets a new tab, revisions are made to the people to shop for & the budget starts coming together.  I can see the number of years this annual tradition of mine has been in the works, and it does bring about the memories of Christmases past.

Yes, I know, it's not even Thanksgiving yet.  But, the spreadsheet usually comes out mid-November, along about the same time as the Christmas list making (and disseminating) begins.  Its the time the request of folks and family (who like to start early) start coming my way...mostly in order for people to take advantage of crazy shopping spree days, coupons, and online specials that are brewing for Black Friday.   It's a holiday tradition (and one that annually causes me to sigh).

Once the spreadsheet comes out, it seems Christmas is unavoidable at this point.  Don't get me wrong.  I like Christmas.  My children love Christmas!! But Christmas means that snow is probably somewhere close.  (But thankfully, not the 70 inches that New York got recently!!)  It's when the Christmas "To Do" list starts spinning on it's own accord at breakneck speed.  It's the "most wonderful time of the year," but a very busy time of the year.  It can take some gearing up, most certainly!

Given that, I was struck today when I ran across this picture on my Facebook feed from Momastery.

I like it.  Of course, given the hours I just put in organizing our family of 4's Christmas list, I see this would have been a far simpler approach indeed.

In looking at my kids' requests (most certainly not "needs"), I'm struck by how fortunate they truly are, and how difficult it becomes in this media-soaked era of gizmos, gadgets, store circulars, and commercials.  We certainly have become a very "commercial" society.  Charlie Brown knew that back in 1965 with his TV Christmas special.  Some messages still hold true, decades later, though I do think more intensified.

I know I'm part-driver in my home and could (and probably should) move more to a 4-point list like this...but I know doting aunts, uncles, generous friends, and grandparents would want more of a list than this.  I know it, because I've experienced it.  And I circle back (after envisioning my totally-toy basement and turkey-esque stuffed garage)--we truly need nothing.  There is a certain sense of gratitude in know we have enough--too much, which might be especially fresh of mind as we are approaching the Thanksgiving holiday.

But it causes me to think.  To slow down.  To reflect.  What are my gifts of which I have that I'm grateful for....and what are the gifts I can give myself (by way of time, patience, and simplification) this holiday season ahead?



Pictures from:
Christmas Spreadsheet from http://neenjames.com/how-to-articles/personal-productivity/holiday-productivity-tip-create-a-spreadsheet/
Thanksgiving Santa image from: http://www.leaderbird.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/11/tumblr_inline_mvjd3e9kyO1rdzepz.jpg 
Momastery Pic from  https://www.facebook.com/momastery/photos/a.213343589709.128680.178909129709/10152824107719710/?type=1&theater

The Perfect Gift: The Video of the Gift That We All Need!

We have entered that time of year when Halloween candy morphs into candy corn & feasting as Thanksgiving's not far off, which means Christmas will be here before you know it. The stores like to remind us of that, as you are getting those last bits for your Halloween costume in one aisle, while Christmas stockings (or heavens forbid, lighted Christmas trees) are up in the next one.

Given all of that, gift giving gets on your mind.  Well here, is a great tongue-in-cheek video short entitled "The Perfect Gift! Science Revealed."  For anyone who is a fan of "The Story of Stuff" and the need to declutter our lives of our "stuff," this video is for you!  Professor Gauntlett has a way of putting a smile on your face, while having you nod along, saying "yep!"





Image from http://www.dumpaday.com/random-pictures/funny-pictures/funny-pictures-of-the-day-70-pics-3/attachment/halloween-pictures-2/;  Video from http://youtu.be/0OnjcnAyZSo

Blast From the Past: November Green Team Gazette Newsletters

Here's a harvest of GTG Monthly newsletters from 2009 & 2010.  Is it good or bad that we are still current (with the exception of some new foodie DVD's out there)?

Green Team Gazette 3.3 November 2010 from Vicki Dabrowka

Green Team Gazette 2.3 November 09 from Vicki Dabrowka

Election Week: Stephen Colbert Takes on Climate Deniers

Political satire might just be at it's finest during election season.  With Tuesday's election, it's not new news that political commentary this week has been a tad topsy turvy.  Should be interesting how some of the political shifts should effect the environment & environmental protection.

But Stephen Colbert this week does what he does well:  He adjusts the "perspective-cles" (think "spectacles that see with perspective") to read between the lines.  To read more on the environmental love affair with Stephen Colbert, check out the Grist's article from Nov. 7th .





"The Colbert Report" clip from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Hcsst89EDXM; "Professor Not A Scientist" pic from http://newsbusters7.s3.amazonaws.com/images/Colbert%20Climate%20Change.JPG

Nature Is Speaking: Coral Reef

The final installment in our November  "Nature Is Speaking" series is Ian Somerhalder as "Coral Reef."

Click to view past Green Team Gazette posts spotlighting this Conservation International mini movie series

• Julia Roberts Is Mother Nature
• Harrison Ford is The Ocean
• Robert Redford is The Redwoods
• Edward Norton is The Soil
• Penelope Cruz is Water

I can't wait to see their upcoming project:  "Flower."  Let's hope all of these messages from nature open eyes, and help people to realize that "Nature doesn't need People.  People need Nature!"

Images & videos from http://natureisspeaking.org/

Nature Is Speaking: Water

For nearly a week now, it's been "Nature is Speaking" this November here at Green Team Gazette. Today is Penelope Cruz is Water.

Click to view past Green Team Gazette posts spotlighting this Conservation International mini movie series:

• Julia Roberts Is Mother Nature
• Harrison Ford is The Ocean
• Robert Redford is The Redwoods
• Edward Norton is The Soil

Images & videos from http://natureisspeaking.org/

Nature Is Speaking: The Soil

Edward Norton is next on the list this "Nature is Speaking" November.  Being the voice of "The Soil," he emphasizes the importance of not treating the soil "like dirt."

Click to view past Green Team Gazette posts spotlighting this Conservation International mini movie series:

• Julia Roberts Is Mother Nature
• Harrison Ford is The Ocean
• Robert Redford is The Redwoods

Images & video from http://natureisspeaking.org/

Nature is Speaking: The Redwood

As we continue forth this "Nature Is Speaking" November, it's fitting for environmental activist Robert Redford to be the voice of "The Redwood."  In it too is the voice of Lena Redford.  (I notice a commonality, there!)

Click to view past Green Team Gazette posts spotlighting this Conservation International mini movie series:

• Julia Roberts Is Mother Nature
• Harrison Ford is The Ocean

Images & Video from http://natureisspeaking.org/home.html#popup-gallery and http://natureisspeaking.org/

Nature is Speaking: The Rainforest

"Nature is Speaking" this November here at Green Team Gazette.  Today is brought to you by Kevin Spacey as "The Rainforest."

To view any of the previous posts this past week from Green Team Gazette spotlighting this Conservation International mini movie series, click through the listing below:

• Julia Roberts Is Mother Nature
• Harrison Ford is The Ocean

Images & video from http://natureisspeaking.org/

Nature Is Speaking: The Ocean

As mentioned in yesterday's post, I'm dedicating the first week in November to "Nature Is Speaking" "Humanifesto" mini movie series from Conservation International.  Yesterday, we started with "Julia Roberts is Mother Nature."  Today, we will see and hear nature speaking about human impact through Harrison Ford as "The Ocean."

Images & video  from http://natureisspeaking.org/ 

Nature Is Speaking: Mother Nature

According to Dictionary.com, a "manifesto" is a "public declaration of intentions, opinions, objectives, or motives, as one issued by a government, sovereign, or organization."

So what's a "humanifesto?"

According to Conservation International and NatureIsSpeaking.org, it starts like this:

But, it does not end there.  By Clicking the Nature Is Speaking link, you can scroll through to read more.  To see that nature will continue to evolve.  The question is:  will it continue with us?  If you're like me, you rather hope so.  But what "it" needs, is us, actively working to protect the many parts of the Earth we are working on depleting.  

Conservation International created 7 (with an 8th coming) videos, narrated by voices you'll know, with messages we need.  For the next 7 days, we're going to be sharing!  May this be a November where people are listening, since Nature Is Speaking!

To Start:  "Julia Roberts is Mother Nature."

Images & Video from http://natureisspeaking.org/

Tech Tidbits: Autumnal Events

In my role during my new day job this year, I am the Technology Specialist. Along with integrating technology in the classroom & curriculum (and troubleshooting), to the 3 year olds to the 5th graders, I am known as the iPad Lady. Everyone loves the iPad Lady, and the iPad Lady gets a lot of hugs from the li'l guys. Life is good!

So of course I had to capitalize on it this Halloween & go as "The Queen of iPads."

This is a new position to my school, so I do a lot of inventing as I go along. Part of this led me to create a weekly email I call "Tuesday Tech Tidbits." In it, I address any tips or tricks we need to have on our radar at our school, but some of the more fun things I do is share resources. This week, I shared some of the upcoming events of Autumn. Here's a smattering here for you to peruse, use, choose, or refuse! ;-)

Fall & Fall Foliage

• BrainPopJr: Fall    [This is a subscription site.]
• Peak Foliage Dates (from the Farmer's Almanac): Listed by state; potential for mapping activity based on peak dates
• US Dept of Forestry: Fall Colors 2014: Includes 3 min. movie about why leaves change color, interactive maps, links to global fall pics
• Enchanted Learning: Fall Leaves (includes printables)    [This is a subscription site.]
• CybraryMan: Fall
• Chemistry of Color

Daylight saving: This weekend: Nov. 2, 2014
Spring Ahead, Fall back

• BrainPop: Daylight Saving Time    [This is a subscription site.]
• Enchanted Learning (includes printables)          [This is a subscription site.]
• Daylight Savings Time Explained: 6 minute powerpoint style movie of history, facts, & how technology & economics are related. Might make for interesting debates pro/against it for older students.
• Social Studies for Kids: informational read for older children on history and a link to other countries that observe it.
• CybraryMan: Daylight Saving (scroll down to the right spot)

Election Day: Tuesday, Nov. 4, 2014

• BrainPopJr: Rights & Responsibility [This is a subscription site.]
• Enchanted Learning: US Election Day (includes printables)          [This is a subscription site.]
• Election Day: CybraryMan

Veterans Day: Tuesday, Nov. 11, 2014

• Veteran's Day for Kids: Interview with a Tuskeegee Airman (5 min video)
• Enchanted Learning: US Military (includes several printables)          [This is a subscription site.]
• USA for Kids: Veteran's Day
• Cybraryman: Veterans' Day

Picture of me on Halloween from my calendar; Leaf image from http://images2.layoutsparks.com/1/175857/Fall-Leaves-beautiful-Autumn.jpg; Fall Back image from http://www.creationswap.com/artwork/12/7/52/16065/12752_16065_5.jpg; Election day from http://bloximages.chicago2.vip.townnews.com/cleburnetimesreview.com/content/tncms/assets/v3/editorial/3/35/3350acde-3a02-5f46-a706-087e6145462f/53cf243914b2c.image.jpg, Veteran's Day http://veterans-day2014.com/veterans-day-clip-art-microsoft-vintage-christian/veterans-day-clip-art-christian/

Going Green At Halloween

Halloween is in the thick of the autumnal season.  The richness of the colors, the crispness of the leaves, the scampering of squirrels, and brightness of the pumpkins all shout out during this time of the year.  That, combined with the spookiness of the wind in the trees, the candlelit jack-o'lanterns, some wind-blown ghosts....Halloween has a lot of natural elements to it.

Given that, it's the perfect time to go green this Halloween:

• Check out 6 great tips from EarthShare.org's article "Celebrate Halloween & Make it Green."

• World Wildlife Fund's 10 Green Halloween Tips.

• Learn more about the non-profit, grassroots initiatives of the organization "Green Halloween," which started in 2007.  Their goal:  to make holidays more eco-friendly through positive, healthy, sustainable choices that maintains all the fun!

• Don't forget to check out our Archives of past GTG Halloween green scenes & routines.

Green Halloween Logo from http://greenhalloween.org/content.php?page=helpout; Green Jack-o'lantern from http://blog.wayspa.com/how-to-have-a-green-halloween/;  WWF pic from http://www.jumpintoabook.com/2013/10/weekend-links-halloween-prep-time/; GTG logo.

From "What's Possible" to "A World of Solutions"

Every great movie deserves a great sequel.

In my last post, I wrote about the short climate change video that was narrated by Morgan Freeman for the Sept. 23, 2014 United Nations Climate Summit.  That video, "What's Possible," painted a picture of world I think we'd all like to live in and a call to leaders to help us get there. Now, versus later.

In the sequel, "A World of Solutions," Morgan Freeman is back.  "Climate change" often has an air of "doom and gloom" associated with it.  Yes, it's a planetary problem that can be huge, overwhelming, and depressing.  But out of the peril of the problems rises a need for the buoyancy of change and a willingness to take action & make things happen.

I tell my students all the time: every good story needs a problem and a solution.  Morgan Freeman, director Louie Schwartzberg, producer Lyn Davis Lear, writer Andrew Dickson, the Moving Arts Studio, and the Lear Family Foundation are offering that solution in "A World of Solutions."

Together, we can make it happen:  "through actions large, and small."




Video from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rm5DxojGAEI ; image from https://vimeo.com/68328395 & http://tippytoediet.com/2013/08/whats-your-problem/