Playbook

August 13, 2013 Photo of the day:
"A Place to Dream While Awake"

Since I will be teaching an American Lit course this year, I decided to look through my college notes for ideas. Amid hundreds of French, English, and American lit books in my old cedar chest, I found my copy of Sark's Journal & Playbook. I remember buying this book in graduate school and filling it with doodles and inspiration. Although somewhat silly and embarrassing, it's amazing how nearly twenty years later, so many of my thoughts and feeling have remained the same (while some are completely different)! 

On one page, I listed Audrey Hepburn, Ernest Hemingway, Coco Chanel, James Dean, Elvis, Shakespeare, Scott & Zelda Fitzgerald, Sting, JFK Jr., Joan of Arc, Oprah, Anne Morrow Lindbergh, Jimmy Buffet, The Virgin Mary, and Shaun Cassidy (my first "love") as ideal guests at a cocktail party! 

For the most part, I stand by my choices!
(Disclaimer: I hope this doesn't qualify as TMI)

These were a few of my favorite things :)
I still love almost all of them except
I no longer have time for naps and bubble baths,
and ever since a painful sunburn in Nice in 1998,
I really don't like the feeling of the sun on my skin.

This seems a bit cliché, 
yet wouldn't it be wonderful?

I was honest about my fears. 
Though some remain, I have overcome others.

Here were some of my favorite quotes
as I prepared for life after grad school.

Twenty years later, 
I have accomplished many of these goals:

I live in a beautiful home, 
albeit not on the water (someday!)
with a fireplace and garden 
(but not a jacuzzi - what was I thinking?)
that I share with the man I love.

I have a successful career 
where I work to make a difference.

I strive to see beauty & inspiration,
and to be creative 
in my writing & photography (Project 365).

Though I have traveled extensively, 
I continue to suffer from perpetual wanderlust.

Make a Wish!

August 12, 2013 Photo of the day: "Make a wish!"

Dandelions: My sworn enemy 
ever since a first grade field trip
 to the aptly-named Dandelion Park, 
where a boy picked a bouquet
 of "pretty yellow flowers" for me (aww!).
I took them home, along with a bad case of hay fever!


Yet, these sunny, allergy-inducing blossoms
can be really quite beautiful.

Who hasn't picked a fuzzy dandelion,
and blown a wish to the four winds,
 a wish multiplied by every tiny grain?

I just wish they didn't make me sneeze ;)

Sea Foam Roses

August 11, 2013 Photo of the day: "Sea Foam Roses"

Although I know that red roses symbolize love,
I've always preferred delicate white roses. 


Last year, instead a dozen roses for our anniversary, 
Eric planted a Sea Foam rosebush.
Now I enjoy lightly fragrant,
pure white & blush blossoms
 all summer long - How perfectly lovely!


J'adore les chaussures!

August 10, 2013 Photo & mini-French lesson 
of the day: "J'adore les chaussures"

Every August, just in time for Back-to-School shopping, Picardy Shoe Parlour holds its annual "Blowout Sale." All shoes are discounted 30-70%! What I love best about this boutique is that it carries a few small sizes that are often still in stock during the big sale. Last year, I found adorable Kate Spade slingbacks. This year, I chose these on-trend suede, pointy-toed flats by Pour la Victoire. I love pointy-toed flats for days when I want to dress up, but plan on being on my feet a lot. This pair's mesh detail reveals ample toe cleavage (ooh là là)! They feel very French, and in case you want to channel your inner Parisienne, the shoes come with a handy Parisian glossary! All of the flirty French adjectives are in the feminine form of course (albeit sans appropriate accent marks :-/). C'est chouette, n'est-ce pas!

Google Certified Trainer


Today, I received official confirmation of status as a Google Apps for Education Certified Trainer. I am so eager to begin the new school year collaborating with colleagues and students as they leverage the power of Google Apps for education to transform their teaching and learning! I am very excited to have achieved this goal by completing the following requirements:
  • I passed six exams on Google Apps for Education, Drive, Mail, Calendar, Sites, and Other Tools.
  • I completed the application, including the following questions:
    • Why are you interested in becoming a Google Apps for Education Certified Trainer? For the past two years, I have received valuable instruction and guidance from two Google Certified Trainers. My school district and neighboring districts have hired these talented and knowledgeable individuals to provide professional development to tech-savvy teachers via "train the trainer" workshops. We in turn have used our training to provide several courses in Google Apps for Education to our colleagues during a summer teaching and learning academy. As Instructional Technology coach, I would like to provide group and individualized training as our district moves towards full integration of Google Apps for Education. As a member of the Southeastern Wisconsin Tech Coaches Network, I would also like to extend the scope of my instructional coaching to workshops, edCamps, and conferences in order to train an even larger population of educators and administrators.
    • Do you blog or create other online content related to education or technology? Please include any relevant links:
    • Can you demonstrate area expertise in educational technology? *Please list any speaking events, published articles, self-produced training materials, influential blogs, and/or any other evidence showing strong experience teaching and evangelizing the use of technology in the classroom.
      • I have presented at the following conferences to promote the powerful impact of technology on student achievement:
        • Quality Educator Convention (Madison, WI - 2013): "Student Learning Objectives: Finding Effective Ways to Leverage Change and Growth in Student Achievement
        • American Association of Teachers of French - (Chicago, IL -  2012):  "The World in Your Pocket" (using mobile apps in the World Language classroom)
        • Central States Conference for Teachers of Foreign Languages (Milwaukee, WI - 2012):  "The World in Your Pocket" (mobile apps in the World Language)
        • Wisconsin Association of Foreign Language Teachers Conference (Appleton, WI - 2011): "The World in Your Pocket" (mobile apps in World Language)
        • Great Lakes 1:1 Conference (Milwaukee, WI - 2010): Mobile learning
      • I have taught adult education courses in technology:
        • Pewaukee Academy of Excellence - Moodle training
        • Pewaukee & Hamilton Technology and Learning  Academy - Google Sites, Flipping the Classroom, Kid Blog, Google Voice, Google Hangouts
        • EdTech Challenge - Google Sites training
      • I have created several websites to promote the importance of leveraging technology to motivate authentic student learning: 
        • https://sites.google.com/a/pewaukeeschools.org/phs-tech-coach/ (personal Instructional Technology Google Site to provide resources and tutorials)
        • http://www.uneanneeaparis.com (Google Site for students to "virtually move to Paris")
        • http://pinterest.com/pewaukeetech/ (Pinterest account to curate articles and websites related to technology as well as subject-specific resources; teachers are invited to collaborate on these boards)
        • https://sites.google.com/site/larsonhorne/ (Google Site created in 2011 to persuade the Pewaukee School District that our teachers need a technology coach; as a result my position was created the following year)
        • https://sites.google.com/melindamlarsonapps (Google Site created to share mobile applications for teachers and students to promote creativity, reading, writing, listening, speaking, and cultural activities)
        • https://sites.google.com/a/pewaukeeschools.org/flippingpewaukee/ (Google Site created to provide rationale and resources for flipping lessons
    • How often are you involved with Google Apps Training? As Pewaukee High School's Instructional Technology Coach, I provide daily Google Apps Training to teachers and students. All teachers are trained in Gmail and Google Calendar features, while others have focused on using Google Docs in their classrooms and creating class Google Sites. I approach training and professional development opportunities from a personalized learning perspective. Although it is essential that all teachers and students have basic knowledge of Google Apps for Education in our school district, I recognize and embrace the idea that each student or teacher will use Google Apps for specific individual purposes and should, therefore, be provided individualized training.
    • How do you stay up to date with the latest technology? To stay up to date with the latest technology, I have attended several workshops and conferences, including Milwaukee Digital Media Conference, edCamp MKE, TIES (Total Information Educational Systems), and SLATE (School Leaders Advancing Technology in Education). I have completed graduate coursework in providing distance learning through technology, learning management systems, and social media. I am a member of the Southeast Wisconsin Technology Coaches Network that includes several Google Certified Teachers and Trainers. We meet regularly to share resources and ideas for providing professional development. Social media has also been an extremely valuable way for me to stay current on the latest technology. My personal learning network on Twitter and Google+ connects me with nearly five hundred like-minded professionals and experts in various aspects of technology.
  • I wrote a detailed case study of my proposed addition of a tech coaching position in Pewaukee.
  • I produced a one-minute training video highlighting one Google App (embedding a Google Calendar onto a Google Site).
  • I created a two-minute video detailing my background, philosophy, and innovative use of Google Apps for Education.