Iowa...and a video

Sorry that I haven't posted a post in a few weeks. I have been visiting family and friends in Iowa and have enjoyed every minute of it. It's insane how fast the two and a half weeks went. It seems like a blur and I have no clue where the minutes went by. I do hope that my goal was met and that everyone here had a chance to spend time with Eli.

I hope that everyone gets a chance to view the middle video called "The Last Lecture (10 minute version)". I hope that something that you hear will help you make your life just a little better...and become a tigger!

Learning Slowly...

Blogging is such a NEW thing for me...but, I really am enjoying it. I have enjoyed reading one of my friend's blogs in which she posts hilarious old 80's...and even earlier pictures, sometimes self-incriminating. They are hilarious and I tell everyone to check out her blog...you will find it on mine (all of those 2 people that view this, including the person I am writing about), under the pseudonym of "The Kolbs".

I am a teacher...and while I try to become a better teacher every year, this year, I guess is not any different. I have been learning a ton on my craft through taking Masters' courses through Southern Utah University. Southern Utah University is a great college...especially for training teachers. I like to compare SUU to my alma mater, University of Northern Iowa. I love the fact that from these two institutions, students are taught my professors who were actually teachers (some professors weren't, but the word some is the KEY word). I know that some colleges, or should I say a lot of colleges, employ professors to teach pre-service or any other major (may it be business, political science, etc.) who have never set foot in the classroom or...started or owned a business or ran for a political office. I think that real world experience...and bringing that experience to the classroom, is extremely beneficial and gives the professor or teacher more credibility.

Now, this doesn't mean that I enjoy reading readable research in the teaching field...and that I don't have my favorite researchers such as Nell K. Duke or Michael Pressley. I have learned a lot from these individuals just from the research that they have conducted...and my respect grew tremendously for Michael Pressley when I learned that he visited real classrooms (many different classrooms) in order to find out the characteristics of effective classrooms, teachers, and schools, instead of relying on others.

So, to get back to my original thought...I have learned a lot through my Masters' classes and through these classes, I have found and learned the tools that will make me an effective teacher. I think that everyone who takes these classes will find out what makes an effective teacher, but to put it into action is another thing. One thing that I have been focusing on for my class next year is writing. My goal is to have them compose one writing piece a month. I think this goal is doable. I have bought several books on writing instruction and have found that one guru in writing has changed her mind in what kids can write about. Her idea is that kids shouldn't write fantasy, adventure, non-fiction, historical fiction, etc. stories, but journal-like stories ONLY. She has made a change in this, but it's still pretty stifled. My belief is that children should not be pigeon-hold in one specific writing genre, such as non-fiction writing...the kind of writing you would find in newspapers or the National Geographic. But, that there should be a balance between non-fiction writing and fiction writing.

What do you think?

Eli...

I wanted to write a few words about my awesome son, Eli. I want to make a list of observations that I have seen. Thank goodness for the blessing of being able to stay home these past few months to be able to see him grow into a baby. Everyday is a new adventure!

1. I love his smiling eyes.
2. He has the cutest lips...girls are gonna love em' too!
3. I love hearing the loud smacking sounds of him sucking his hands.
4. I love helping him up by having him pull himself up (with my or his mom's help) and then helping him stand.
5. I love bouncing him up and down....up and down....
6. I love when he takes a bath the face that he makes, which reminds me of my Grandma's in Iowa, as he kicks the water.
7. I love when he talks.
8. I love when he cuddles up.
9. I love seeing his face when he sleeps.
10. I love seeing him wake up.
11. Last, but certainly not least, I love it when he finally focuses on me or his mom and his eyes start to smile.

I love him and am so thankful for the choices that I made as I was growing up to be able to marry a good girl in the Temple for time and all eternity...and that lil' Eli is mine and Shanna's forever. He is such a good boy...I couldn't have asked for such a better boy than I have in Eli.

The Fourth of July

We just celebrated the Fourth of July by watching the fireworks. This was the first time Eli had ever seen or HEARD the fireworks before. As we sat there in the dark at the park, the lights went out at the Sun Bowl and all of the sudden BOOM and BANG...the bright, flashing, colorful, sizzling fireworks lit up the clear desert sky. Along with the sights came the sounds which didn't fare too well with Eli. So, before he went into a full out scream, we gave him a bottle and I cuffed my hands over his ears to muffle the sounds. It was a lot of fun to be able to see the fireworks. As I was sitting there, I was wondering if people understood the significance of the traditional fireworks show? When Francis Scott Key was composing the poem which would later be our National Anthem, he was witnessing explosions and bright lights that came from the explosions. These sights that he was seeing, we reenact through a fireworks show.

Thank goodness we don't have to witness bombs exploding in our country...

Back...from the dead

Okay...as I looked back at my BLOG...I have found that the last posting was LAST YEAR! I am a horrible blogger...probably because a ton of things have happened this past several months (i.e. having a son, moving, work, and finishing up my Master's degree). But, I have friends in my ward (church) who are daily bloggers and so, I felt guilty and decided to give this a try.

I read a friend's blog this evening and found that she was talking about politics. Politics and religion are two subjects that can be very confrontational and a little upsetting to talk about to some people. I have found by being a political junkie (my wife hates it when 4:00 comes around when I turn it to the news) that we have two completely different individuals running for the presidency. I find it funny that by having an innocent conversation with a Wal-Mart employee that talking about George's check that he sent out to almost everyone (seeing that $600.00 or if you're lucky more will buy a lot of things) can turn confrontational. I also find it funny that living in Utah, if you talk about Obama just a little, you can make an instant enemy, since Utah is the reddest of all states. But, I don't think that you should vote for someone just because they are either a Republican or a Democrat. I think you should really look at the person's true character, if they have true judgment, if they have wisdom, and if they will really have people with these same characteristics surround around them then we will be okay.
Now, one individual who is running for a while didn't wear a lapel pin or put his hand over his heart when the National Anthem was being played. Why is it that if you don't do these things you aren't being patriotic? I don't wear a lapel flag pin, but I am still patriotic. I also now the counterargument, but he's running for president. So...I see individuals wear that pin and they are the most unpatriotic or undemocratic individuals I have seen.
In the book The Audacity of Hope, the author states the things that he believes in. "I am very angry about policies that consistently favor the wealthy and powerful over average Americans, and insist that government has an important role in opening up opportunity for all...I think America has often been a force for goo than for ill in the world" (Obama, pgs. 10-11, 2006). I would suggest that those of you who are studying the different candidates to read and study what they say.

Question: Why do people wear sunglasses when the sun isn't out?

Christmas Memories

This past Christmas has been amazing. I was able to spend quality time with my family here in Iowa and the most amazing thing was to feel my son kick. I hadn't been able to feel anything before, my wife could, but not too much as to feel it on the outside (so to speak). I can't wait to see what he looks like, his personality, to be able to teach him many different things, to give him tools to help him be successful!

This January, my brother comes home from his mission. I can't wait to see him as well.

Also, this January...I will be working on my first manuscript to be published. I will keep you posted on that journey.

Publishing News

Well, a few years ago while I was teaching in Texas I conjured up some literature guides to help my students read books. Basically it was to help them read and be accountable for what they read while I worked with struggling students. Those guides, along with others have matured into something I am quite proud of. I sent one to a small publishing company in Dallas, Texas and found out yesterday that they want to publish the guide that I sent them along with others that I have written.
I am quite excited about this. I have always dreamed of this and I believe it will be happening. One of my colleagues said, "John, you don't even have your Masters yet and your getting published". Another, whose a Doctor in Education, said, "John, I have doctorate friends who are trying to get published!"
This is pretty amazing. I had an idea, fostered that idea, and watched it grow into the tree that I have know. I guess this dreaming tree has come to a reality!