Click on the link below to see my digital book on Creating Digital Books.
Thank you!
Thank you!
Click on the link below to see my digital book on Creating Digital Books.
Thank you!
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It has been a fabulous weekend. Just having a mocha and apple pie scone while I think about the all the people I met at the MAEA art donference. I did two presentations on "Creating a Digital Book," and the response was fabulous. The participates were given so much information I almost thought the 50 minute slot I has was kind of tight. So, educators are having to learn how to use their newly issued iPads and they feel they are behind what their students know. I ask my self what you doing to teach yourself? Are you waiting for someone to implement a program that will provide you the tools or, are you reaching out to all the resources that are available to you to improve your skills? I know we all have busy schedules and we feel pulled in multiple directions with every thing that is going on. I know what I've chosen to do and I like the direction I am headed in, like this week I will be looking into taking myself to the Apple iPad training program. The sad part of that is there is not one in the state of Michigan, I will have to travel for it, oh well! It will benefit me, my students and anyone that I come into contact with. Sharing knowledge like I was able to be part of this weekend is amazing to me. If you have a moment please take at a look at my new book in iTunes Bookstore, it may not be much but, I feel I am on my way to something much bigger in the world of visual arts. What are you doing to enhance yourself, yoga, walking more, taking with friends and family, professional developments are you own time, learning a new program or, taking a different route to work? What ever it may be expand yourself and your horizons will only get broader! Have a great day and safe travels in life.
Well, in the woods at Blue Lake Fine Arts Camp (BL) for my second session this summer. It's located in West Michigan, about 20 minutes north of Muskegon. What's exciting for me is this is my second year being here, I love this place and opportunity to teach kids who want to be in your class. You'll find them hanging on your every word as you take them through a project or not questioning you as they are being asked to push the limits on their projects and they don't ask why but, instead they dig in a try the suggestions given to them. The outcomes of their projects are amazing and they begin to realize what they are capable of. But, on a deeper note what happens here is just magical. Staff come from all over the United States and beyond to teach here. You will meet new people, make new friends and when the session is over with a guarantee you will leave with new memories.
The cool thing is the same thing happens to the students who attend Blue Lake. What many people outside the creative world don't understand is our world can be a lonely one at times. They and myself are/were shunned at school, made fun and poke at because we are different. We tend not to see the world as others do. Our joy for art will have us working at home or school on projects for hours upon on upon hours. Here the students make connections, new friends and stay in touch with Social Networks, text messaging and other methods. I think it's pretty awesome that they do this. Many of the students have stated the friendships they make at BL are nothing like the friends they have back at home. You'll hear things like, "they get me" and "they're like me" and I have to say I, "get it" cause I was like them in school and still am today. I see things different then the average person. I am 100% a right brained person and proud of it. I do know how to use the left brain but, I work hard at it and have had to learn how to overcome many of the obstacles in front of me because of the sometimes analytical world we live in. Though I've never been formally diagnosed by a Dr. that I have ADD, I do and am very proud of it. Yes, when I grew up we were told, "he's just hyperactive," or, "he just has a lot of energy." When I was in school I had to learn strategies that would get me through public school like: moving to the front of the classroom so I could focus on what the teacher was saying and doodling because it I like art and it was a form of a fidget. Which all of these things I now use on a daily basis in my life. The best part because I am like the students I teach on a regular basis's I can help guide them through their troubled moments. Recently at one of my sessions here at Blue Lake I had someone try to talk me into what "they" thought was best for me stating, "I need to be medicated to get my ADD under control, because I have no idea what it's like to live." I am a unique person with a good heart just like my students and have learned to deal with my Learning Disability, and that is why I disposed of those thoughts immediately. I am tired of America and the first thing most people want to do is medicate everything. What happen to excepting us, me and you for who we are as people. Making adjustments to food intake, practicing Yoga or what ever technique works best for you. They say the average person will change their friends about every 5 to 7 years, I really believe this and I think biggest reason for me is because they become judgmental and try to change me/you into what they want you to be. I love who I am as a person, have a good heart and because of that I except my kids (students) for who they are and enjoy showing them strategies on how to use what they have to their advantage. So, what is your gift? Take care, and embrace every day with the gift that you were born with. Linus When looking at how you first deliver that new lesson or maybe your deep into a long project with your students, at every level we tend to ask a lot of our them. Thinking, research, remembering, collaborating, etc... at the same time we are looking for that spark to motivate and provide them with the drive they need in class and outside of school. But, what about you and I? Who provides us with that same drive or more? Yourself? Friends? Colleagues? Administrators? Yes, the list goes on. I am not sure why I have been thinking like this, call it the new year, or maybe I'm just realizing we have to find time for ourselves before we can give our students what they need and desire. And, no I do not think this is being selfish. I recently came across an article written in the Harvard Business Review by, Peter Bregman, "Your problem Isn't motivation" and I feel it is very relevant to me and possibly you. One of my favorite quotes from within the article that just grabbed me was, "Motivation is in the mind; follow-through is in the practice. Motivation is conceptual; follow-through is practical." For me the follow-through part is huge cause I am like my students, I have ADD and can tend to be all over the place at times and other times so focused that you could not get my attention for anything.
Where am I going with this, I have tons of internal motivation but really its about the "follow-through" for me. I even begun having these types of conversations with my students. Lately I start the first 5/10 minutes talking about follow-through. Who is struggling and with what? Who is doing great-all of their work is done and what did you do that helped you achieve that (I'm trying to see if I can spark peer-to-peer motivation)? If you need help who will you look to for it? For example: I tell them I am not good at math but, Ms. ????? is, have you talked to her? She loves helping students out and will go that extra mile for you. Is that "Spark" knowing we are there for them every step of the way? Sometimes just having someone you can talk to for support helps them do something you may never know they did. Like me joining Fit42.net, I feel I've became more accountable for the food I eat, the amount and what type of exercise I get. Bottom line I have online support for my health. In the end look for that little spark that is going to help yourself and everyone around will benefit beyond belief. Take care and allow the creative spirit to flow through your blood Hello everyone and welcome to my new website. Yes, this is one of my goals for the new year, redesigning my website. I know many of you are using sites like blogger (which is where my old website lives linusparr.blogspot.com), some of you use Wordpress, posterous or maybe even Tumblr. What ever it is you have found a way to get yourself and your message out there. Well for me it how easy it is to maintain and update my site. With Weebly.com I have found the drag and drop method great for my ADD, plus it has an added benefit as an educator you can set up an online classroom and connect it right here, which I will have done by the start of the second semester later in January. I know many of you have made goals for the new year, published them online shared them friends or spouses, etc... Myself, I thought hard about this and am finalizing what I want for the new year. In the last couple years I've achieved so much but, I know I'm not done so here it goes. What do I want to accomplish and what is a reasonable length of time to accomplish the goal. Because of my ADD and my tendency to be all over the place sometimes I've decided to narrow my focus down to three areas: Professional, Health and Business.
Professional Goals: 1. Establish a PLN and connection with people and businesses that enhance me and my future as an artist and educator. 2. Delete any incoming emails that just clutter my inbox. By using RSS feeds or my Google Reader I can subscribe to and read what they have to say on the weekends. If they don't have those tools by now then they will have to be considered are they worth my valuable time. Health Goals: 1. Establish a support connection that will help me maintain my health goals. I find if I make myself accountable I do better in this area. I've already signed up with Fit42.net and have connected with several other teachers from across the country. 1. Eliminate all sugar from my life (this will be hard for me). When I am sugar free the benefits I see and feel are amazing. 2. Workout: Last year this was a tough area for me. I found out late last fall that my cartilage was gone in my left knee. Why you ask, being a marathoner I had ran Chicago 05' and San Francisco 07' and now I've I run or race walk 3 miles my knee swells up like a ballon. So, bicycling because my new friend. A. Maintain current cardio workout on bicycling but, slowly increase time and distance in the saddle. B. Work in at least three days a week with weight resistance bands. C. Yoga/Mediation sessions: the goal here is to go to a yoga session or meditate at home several days a week. Last year I started this and the benefits were amazing, the goal is to get more consistent with it. Business Goals: 1. Online presence: through my online store in this website have it connect to Etsy.com and PayPal.com. 2. Continue making artwork that is conducive to my style and develop new products. 3. Attend at least 3-5 art fairs as a vendor this year. I've quite a bit of this in the past and was quite successful at it. I need to get back at it. 4. Business Account: separating my business funds out of my personal account to establish a better tax shelter. Well, enough of this for now. Time to go workout and get this day rolling. So, allow the creative spirit to run through your blood and have a great day. Linus |
Hi, my name is Linus Parr and welcome to my online world. This website has several purposes which includes blogging, showcasing my educational career, student resource and a link to my business. It also provides resources, apps and other information that I think is relevant to us as life long learners. Personal Email Work Email Plurk Google + Online Photo Gallery Archives
January 2014
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