What a busy, inspiring and amazing week! We have so many new cool features in our LMS (Learning Management System) that are making teacher and students lives MUCH better! I have had an amazing week of getting in touch with over 200 students and families. It has been great to hear your stories, talk with you about your worries and just get to know you better. Hopefully many of you got to come out and see some of your teachers this week! If not, there are more events coming up next week! I believe that we are having a club fair on Monday during your homeroom, so be sure to join in and become a member of a club that excites you! We have a truly wide variety of options out there, hopefully one (or more) will appeal to you!
During this busy time, it is always nice to stop and remember what we are here for and why. The answer to both is YOU! We are here to help you learn your content, help to hold you accountable for your involvement in your education, and have some serious fun along the way.
Many of you have already taken quizzes, participated in class discussions, and even completed your first solo lab!! :) Pat yourself on the back, that is a very big deal!
I know that this week was smooth sailing for some, and a bit rough for others. Please never hesitate to get in touch with your teachers to share your joy and pain!
Enjoy your weekend, you have earned it!!
Friday, August 20, 2010
Monday, August 16, 2010
Welcome to the School Year!!
Are you ready?? WE ARE!! :) There are some exciting things happening this year and we are ready to get rolling!! I know the beginning of school can be overwhelming, so please let us know what we can do to help!
For those returning, you are our experts! You are ready to really dive in and get moving! For those that are new students, it will all fall into place, I promise you that! It will be a journey, but we can do this together. Feel free to comment on this blog if you need help and don't know where to go!
Go Cougars!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
For those returning, you are our experts! You are ready to really dive in and get moving! For those that are new students, it will all fall into place, I promise you that! It will be a journey, but we can do this together. Feel free to comment on this blog if you need help and don't know where to go!
Go Cougars!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Friday, August 13, 2010
Free e-books and a way to read them...
So, you all have gotten a BUNCH of supplies from us, and will be seeing a lot more in your courses when school starts Monday! :) However, I always like to find and share resources whenever I can! I recently discovered a site that has a TON of free e books available for download at: http://www.planetebook.com/. I noticed a ton of classics that you may want to read for pleasure or, just maybe, could use in class. Also, this site you may have heard of (um...google, anyone) has free e books available as well! http://books.google.com/
Also available, for those who don't like the layout of the e books is goo reader at http://gooreader.com/
This application is downloaded to your desktop and makes the layout more "user friendly," plus has some bonus features!
Check it out, if you think that this is something you may be interested in!!
Also available, for those who don't like the layout of the e books is goo reader at http://gooreader.com/
This application is downloaded to your desktop and makes the layout more "user friendly," plus has some bonus features!
Check it out, if you think that this is something you may be interested in!!
Thursday, August 12, 2010
Wednesday, August 11, 2010
The Road Ahead
I found this inspirational this morning! I hope you do too!
The Road Ahead: "Sometimes I think the fates must grin as we denounce them and insist,
The only reason we can’t win is the fates themselves have missed.
Yet, there lives on the ancient claim - we win or lose within ourselves,
The shining trophies on our shelves can never win tomorrow’s game.
So you and I know deeper down there is a chance to win the crown,
But when we fail to give our best, we simply haven’t met the test
Of giving all and saving none until the game is really won.
Of showing what is meant by grit, of fighting on when others quit,
Of playing through not letting up, it’s bearing down that wins the cup.
Of taking it and taking more until we gain the winning score,
Of dreaming there’s a goal ahead, of hoping when our dreams are dead,
Of praying when our hopes have fled. Yet, losing, not afraid to fall,
If bravely we have given all, for who can ask more of a man
than giving all, it seems to me, is not so far from - Victory.
And so the fates are seldom wrong, no matter how they twist and wind,
It’s you and I who make our fates, we open up or close the gates,
On the Road Ahead or the Road Behind."
The Road Ahead: "Sometimes I think the fates must grin as we denounce them and insist,
The only reason we can’t win is the fates themselves have missed.
Yet, there lives on the ancient claim - we win or lose within ourselves,
The shining trophies on our shelves can never win tomorrow’s game.
So you and I know deeper down there is a chance to win the crown,
But when we fail to give our best, we simply haven’t met the test
Of giving all and saving none until the game is really won.
Of showing what is meant by grit, of fighting on when others quit,
Of playing through not letting up, it’s bearing down that wins the cup.
Of taking it and taking more until we gain the winning score,
Of dreaming there’s a goal ahead, of hoping when our dreams are dead,
Of praying when our hopes have fled. Yet, losing, not afraid to fall,
If bravely we have given all, for who can ask more of a man
than giving all, it seems to me, is not so far from - Victory.
And so the fates are seldom wrong, no matter how they twist and wind,
It’s you and I who make our fates, we open up or close the gates,
On the Road Ahead or the Road Behind."
Friday, August 6, 2010
What are your goals??
I am not a huge goal setter, but I am learning to improve! Giving yourself something realistic to shoot for is a great way to feel like you have accomplished something and, if you surpass your goal…wow!! That really feels great!
Some of you that are reading this blog are new to COVA and some have been with us for years! There are so many goals that you can think about in your personal or family life, and when you are schooling from home, you will notice that some personal goals blend into some school goals. I have a few suggestions for students and families as you all begin preparing for the new school year:
1) Keep it positive-you CAN do this, we can help!! Reach out to us on those tough days where nothing is going right. Sometimes we can fix your issue, other times we can just give you a shoulder to lean on. Either way is SOOOO worth it!
2) Turn in all of your work-sounds SO easy right now, but you will find yourself tempted to skip some items here and there. Start from day one turning it in, and you will reap the benefits!!!!
3) Come to your live sessions-all of our data (and believe me, there is a LOT of data) says that you will increase your chance of earning a high grade in your classes if you make the time to come to the live sessions!
4) Participate- join a club, get out in the Big Think, jump into class discussions and come hang with your teachers at events and in Tutor Time (formerly known as Office Hours). Also, (this sounds silly, I apologize in advance) be sure to answer your phone when we call and update your phone number if it changes!
5) Do your best and forget the rest- we all fall short of our goals sometimes. Don’t let it stop you. Stop, think it over, change what you can and get back to it!!!
So, what are YOUR goals?? Stop to think about where you are and where you were last year. Then try to create three to five realistic goals that you will KNOW when you have achieved them so that you can enjoy the feeling of a job well done! Also, be sure to let your teachers know about your goals so that we can help you get there and, most importantly, help to celebrate your achievement!!
If you are reading this and need help, please comment or e-mail me at mlambrecht@covcs.org.
Some of you that are reading this blog are new to COVA and some have been with us for years! There are so many goals that you can think about in your personal or family life, and when you are schooling from home, you will notice that some personal goals blend into some school goals. I have a few suggestions for students and families as you all begin preparing for the new school year:
1) Keep it positive-you CAN do this, we can help!! Reach out to us on those tough days where nothing is going right. Sometimes we can fix your issue, other times we can just give you a shoulder to lean on. Either way is SOOOO worth it!
2) Turn in all of your work-sounds SO easy right now, but you will find yourself tempted to skip some items here and there. Start from day one turning it in, and you will reap the benefits!!!!
3) Come to your live sessions-all of our data (and believe me, there is a LOT of data) says that you will increase your chance of earning a high grade in your classes if you make the time to come to the live sessions!
4) Participate- join a club, get out in the Big Think, jump into class discussions and come hang with your teachers at events and in Tutor Time (formerly known as Office Hours). Also, (this sounds silly, I apologize in advance) be sure to answer your phone when we call and update your phone number if it changes!
5) Do your best and forget the rest- we all fall short of our goals sometimes. Don’t let it stop you. Stop, think it over, change what you can and get back to it!!!
So, what are YOUR goals?? Stop to think about where you are and where you were last year. Then try to create three to five realistic goals that you will KNOW when you have achieved them so that you can enjoy the feeling of a job well done! Also, be sure to let your teachers know about your goals so that we can help you get there and, most importantly, help to celebrate your achievement!!
If you are reading this and need help, please comment or e-mail me at mlambrecht@covcs.org.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)