Showing posts with label Education. Show all posts

Wednesday, February 19, 2014

A Truth Journal: Presidents Day: Weird Presidents and Fun Trivia

A Truth Journal: Presidents Day: Weird Presidents and Fun Trivia:

From Denny: Presidents' Day comes and goes in a flash. Some years it's wildly popular generating interesting articles and other years, well, no one cares. Seems like this year is one of those off years for interest, especially with the winter Olympics in full swing in Sochi, Russia, garnering so much attention.

Poking around online I found some amusing - and downright weird - facts about the U. S. Presidents you may not know - just when you thought you heard it all. Yeah, trivia kings and queens live at our house.

Let Good Times Roll 17 Inch Laptop Sleeve

Let Good Times Roll celebrates Mardi Gras all year long!

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Vintage Bicycle 17 Inch Laptop Sleeve

Vintage Bicycle, a curious blast from the past, to warmly decorate the present.

Visit Denny Lyon Gifts @ CafePress.com - see what's new! And a special thanks to those of you supporting this effort! You rock!

Saturday, June 8, 2013

Poems From A Spiritual Heart: Legacy of Love

Cosmic consciousness by h.koppdelaney @ flickr

Poems From A Spiritual Heart: Legacy of Love: From Denny: ... Mentoring others is important no matter what stage you are living in your life. You can be young or old. You can teach the young, those older, those your same age. Teach what you know and share your life experiences. You never know who you will inspire. And, as you teach, you learn from them too. Never feel what you know is not important enough to share. Never be too proud to receive knowledge from others eager to share what they have just learned or figured out. For today's shared knowledge just might answer tomorrow's problems - for them and for you. Mentoring: it's a fair exchange, don't you think? :)

Monday, November 5, 2012

A Truth Journal: Will Your Kids' Mock Election Votes Influence Your Vote?

From Denny: As a way to teach students the election process mock elections occurred across the country last week. Right here in Louisiana, involving 88,600 students across the state from 280 public, private and home schooling, they voted President Obama into a second term. Louisiana broke for Obama by a margin of 51.29 percent to Romney's 48.71 percent.

From Angie Franklin, the gifted program teacher at Peabody Montessori in Alexandria, Louisiana, "Our objective was to make sure the kids here in the school knew what the election process was. And why it's so important, every four years, to vote."

Lulu Name Large Mug

Lulu feels special when you drink coffee with her in the morning! - check out more pet name designs!

Please support Warriors Pearl Foundation - helping homeless female military veterans come home. Visit Denny Lyon Gifts @ CafePress.com

Louie Name Round Ornament

Funny Louie deserves his own Christmas ornament to show him how special he is! - check out more pet name designs!

Please support Warriors Pearl Foundation - helping homeless female military veterans come home. Visit Denny Lyon Gifts @ CafePress.com

Tuesday, February 14, 2012

Funny Valentines Day Video: Say I Love You X 100 Languages

From Denny: Enjoy regular people on the street mugging for the camera and saying "I Love You!" in their language. It's a grin fest that will make your day. It's also an ad for memrise.com to visit their site to learn how to say the famous phrase in over 100 languages. Happy Valentine's Day!

Poem: Legacy of Love

*** Views today: 10,167 and Thank You!

*** Never feel what you know is not important enough to share: mentor!

From Denny: This week a famous American teacher passed out of this life and into a new adventure. His name was Jaime Escalante and it was his life story told in the movie "Stand and Deliver." He was well educated and worked at NASA. Yet when he read of the failing schools in Los Angeles he quit his high-paying job and went to teach advanced math at one of those failing schools, Garfield High School. He fought the public school system's failing mindset cemented into the old ways of doing things, believing low income kids were not smart enough or motivated enough to learn advanced math. Escalante proved them all wrong: the educators who ran the schools, the parents and the students.

Escalante brought faith in his students and passion to the job of more than teaching: He was a mentor of gigantic proportions. Today, many of his students are successes, working at NASA or teaching the same calculus to their students that he taught them. Most of all he taught a group of people to believe in themselves. He taught the educators to never give up their faith and reach higher so their students can succeed in life.

Cosmic consciousness by h.koppdelaney @ flickr

Mentoring others is important no matter what stage you are living in your life. You can be young or old. You can teach the young, those older, those your same age. Teach what you know and share your life experiences. You never know who you will inspire. And, as you teach, you learn from them too. Never feel what you know is not important enough to share. Never be too proud to receive knowledge from others eager to share what they have just learned or figured out. For today's shared knowledge just might answer tomorrow's problems - for them and for you. Mentoring: it's a fair exchange, don't you think? :)

Legacy of Love

Have you ever thought about…
All the knowledge in the Universe?
Have you ever thought about…
Your place in millions of information bits?
Have you ever thought about…
Why your experiences were important?

Did you know that on the other end of that information
Lived someone waiting for you to tell them about it?
Did you know that in the world every day there is
A person sharing what they know with someone else
Who yearned for the solutions to their problems but
Did not know where to find that knowledge – until you?

The old speak of their long lives while the young listen.
The young shout their enthusiasm while the old smile.
When tough times strike we all stretch out helping hands.
When Life is sweet we lift up our hearts in shared Joy.
Kindness and sharing creates more kindness and sharing,
Giving comfort and ease to many hearts, lightening the load.

When at first we meet as strangers we become friends.
Sharing our experiences we relax into deep friendships.
Family we become when we give Love and receive Love.
Have you ever seen all the thoughts floating in the Universe
Wondering of their origins and how long they were seeking?
Sharing what you know is your legacy of Love.

Denny Lyon
Copyright 4 April 2010
All Rights Reserved

A Powerful Mentor: Remembering Jaime Escalante

Visit msnbc.com for breaking news, world news, and news about the economy

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Photo Credits

Galaxies and universes by Torley @ flickr

Cosmic consciousness by h.koppdelaney @ flickr

Fun in the rain by Nina Matthews Photography @ flickr

Looking into eternity by jasleen_kaur @ flickr

Helping hands by batega @ flickr

Artist's concept of the universe by NASA Goddard Photo and Video @ flickr

Walking into the sun by Harold Laudeus @ flickr

Wednesday, August 12, 2009

7 Funny Back to School Education Quotes!

From Denny: Kids are already going back to school on the Gulf Coast to earn extra days if hurricanes or swine flu outbreaks strike. Parents are rushing around getting supplies and school uniforms. Excitement is in the air for the coming football season as this is a football crazy state: L.S.U. Tigers! (Geaux Tigers!)

To give you parents a chuckle as you decompress from all the flurry of activity starting up again, here are some enjoyable and memorable quotes about school and education, enjoy!

* If the Romans had been obliged to learn Latin, they would never have found time to conquer the world. - Heinrich Heine

* In the first place, God made idiots. That was for practice. Then he made school boards. - Mark Twain

* It is a miracle that curiosity survives formal education. – Albert Einstein

* If there were no schools to take the children away from home part of the time, the insane asylums would be filled with mothers. - Edgar W. Howe

* There are three good reasons to be a teacher - June, July, and August. - Anonymous

* Labor Day is a glorious holiday because your child will be going back to school the next day. It would have been called Independence Day, but that name was already taken. - Bill Dodds

* As long as there are tests, there will be prayer in schools. - Anonymous

Photo by Looking Glass @ flickr

Education, Kids and Teens, teachers, prayer, back to school, funny quotes, America quotes, Mark Twain, Society and Culture,

Tuesday, August 11, 2009

How Do You Best Develop Talent and Character?

From Denny: Today's quote is an interesting one to ponder and comes from the famous writer, Goethe. He talks about how our talent best develops in calmer times instead of chaos. Isn't it odd how usually it is when in extreme chaos we try to develop our creativity and talent? Then we often wonder why we get so easily frustrated and can't find our balance.

For me, I found that when I'm somewhat stressed that stress actually propels my creativity. When things are too easy we often lose our edge. Goethe did make the observation about it is our talent that best develops during more tranquil times. In that he is referencing how in tranquil times we have more reflective time. More time for reflection and we can analyze how we want to achieve our goals. When times are tranquil it is easier for our minds to be orderly, rested, and, therefore, more receptive to sudden illumination of insight!

His opinion about the long slow development of good character is accurate. How interesting he chose to link both talent and character in the same line as mirror-imaged twins. Can it be that to fully develop our talent we must also focus upon good character? In order to develop good character might we also focus upon nurturing our talent? Perhaps talent and good character are life-long companions, forever linked to the address of excellence high up on the mountain peak of vision.

Quote

Talent develops in tranquility, character in the full current of human life. - Goethe

Photo by Lauren Close @ flickr

Society and Culture, Education, Internet Encyclopedia of Philosophy, Ethics and Morals, Goethe,

Friday, June 26, 2009

Happy Birthday to One Talented Trumpeter!

Jeanne "Gabriel" Pocius, left, with Haiti's Minister of Culture, Director of Music Programs, Florence Elie in June 2009

From Denny: Happy Birthday to a dear friend in Boston, Massachusetts by the name of Jeanne Pocius! She’s a classical musician, teaches and tutors trumpet to adults and children alike. Like a lot of public school music teachers she recently experienced the budget slashing of her music program - and their teachers. Goodbye job. To her credit and good character, she still went out there and performed for several charity benefits that raised money for her local school system because she believes that much in a quality public school education.

It's a shame to put our best teachers out on the street. Through music kids develop a personal discipline that will stay with them for a lifetime. A love of music will also help with the adult years ahead when they are feeling stressed during tough times.

The musician’s life can be a tough one and hers is no exception. They go from gig to gig to pay the bills, never able to put down roots any where. Again, to her credit - since she adores teaching children - she connected up with some missionaries in Haiti who were participating in the country’s culture program of teaching music to their children. Jeanne now goes to Haiti several times a year to teach: for free.

Haiti is one of the poorest nations on the planet and yet they have a Minister of Culture who has created a free program to teach music to children. “Do ya think?” that maybe America could take a page out of their playbook?

A few years ago my very talented friend wrote a wonderful book called “Trumpeting by Nature: An Efficient Guide to Optimal Trumpet Performance" [UNABRIDGED] (Paperback or Kindle edition) that is most useful for both beginning children and adults, full of lots of photos to help demonstrate technique.

I’m featuring this book in The Social Poets Amazon book store under Books on Music (just look above the posts area for the store banner in orange) as it is informative and practical teaching for both the amateur and professional alike. You may have a budding musician in the house or a relative who plays on the weekends and feels stuck on a plateau of playing ability and wants to advance, then this book is a great gift, easy to read.

Cover via Amazon

Reviews at Amazon

"Everything You Wanted To Know About How The Heck To Get a Note Out

P. Olguin (Whittier, CA) All I can say is WOW. This is a complete reference, with illustrations and thorough explanations of how to achieve the optimum set-up for yourself. As a working professional musician, I am always looking for tips on how to make my playing more efficient, more musical, more powerful. It doesn't matter what level you're on, you will learn a great deal here. The best part is, although this book is quite thorough, it is not some dogmatic, rigid, my-way-or-the-highway approach to playing. Jeanne's approach is a flexible (like one's playing should be) cafeteria-style menu of information, technique, philosophy and encouragement. This is destined to be a classic, and rightfully so.

Calling all trumpeters

Martin J. Rooney (Boston MA) This is a great book for any level trumpet player. This book will absolutely help any trumpet player improve their playing. Clear, concise, and best of all, IT WORKS! Text is excellent and the photos, which are top quality, illustrate her points very well.

I truly have seen everything :-}

Wilmer Wise (Brooklyn, NY) My copy of Jeanne G. Pocius "Trumpeting by Nature" came today. WOW! In clear English Jeanne has addressed every question a trumpet player may have. The fonts are great for the older comeback player. It's a sight for sore eyes.

I Wish I Had This 25 Years Ago!

Ralph Longo (Beverly, MA) For those of us who learned to play the trumpet incorrectly or inefficiently, this book is a revelation... What is in this book will help you learn to play at your highest level for a lifetime."

Jeanne is one of those child prodigies that can play over 10 instruments, though concentrates on the trumpet. Nothing is more fun than getting a phone call on your birthday and on the other end is this trumpet playing Happy Birthday like it’s a live concert! Now that’s unique! She is always serenading those close to her, blessing us with the sweet melody of her music. She is a fun and friendly person which is why children respond so well to her; she makes music fun!

Jeanne is available to play weddings for those of you in the Boston area. When other musicians run late (read that as they don’t show up on time when the wedding has started) she pitch-hits the other instruments to make sure the wedding is perfect; talk about a work ethic!

Jeanne also tutors both children and adults. She has tutored people from all over the world who visit regularly to brush up on their technique (and moral support). She can be contacted through Skype: (617) 326-7824 SKYPE ID: jeanne.gabriel.pocius. And Jeanne’s Email: jgpocius@yahoo.com.

Spread the word, folks, and let’s support the arts by supporting talented musicians and teachers!

Happy Birthday, Jeanne!

Thursday, June 25, 2009

How to Truly Do the Art of Listening

Listening History Graph Image by Corporal Cacaphony (ClintJCL) via Flickr

From Denny: Here's a tricky one that reads like a "word problem" from high school math class! It reminds me so much of the typical Asian spiritual adept when teaching...

"I tell you everything that is really nothing, and nothing of what is everything, do not be fooled by what I am saying. Please listen carefully and try to hear what I am not saying." ~ Charles C. Finn

Wednesday, June 17, 2009

How Did The "You" Come to Be?

Lord Tennyson Image via Wikipedia

From Denny: Continuing along the vein of yesterday's fabulous and mystical quote, this quote can be meditated upon two levels.

You can think of it as a life-long education from all the people with whom you have interacted. You can also think of this on a spiritual level of interaction - that you have absorbed those bits and pieces you have incorporated into your being to make you strong in life!

"I am a part of all that I have met." ~ Alfred Lord Tennyson

Friday, June 12, 2009

How Does Music Speak What Words Cannot?

Man striking stalactite formation with his knuckles to produce musical notes Image via Wikipedia

From Denny: Definitely qualifies as weird but interesting! This photo takes the cake on what you can utilize to make music AND its a natural substance, standing ready to be played. You sure can't buy this musical instrument in any music shop! :) How did this guy ever figure out he could make music from this place?

"Music expresses that which cannot be put into words and that which cannot remain silent." - Victor Hugo

Sunday, May 31, 2009

Helen Keller's Take on Definition of Happiness

Helen Keller in 1905, activist, lecturer and author - Image via Wikipedia

From Denny: Helen Keller was both a pioneer and blind, deaf and mute in a time long before computers, society's compassion or teachers who understood she was smart but locked inside a body that did not function like everyone else.

It was amazing to read about how Helen grew as a person as her teacher figured her way through the process to reach and educate her. It was a great accomplishment for both student and teacher.

Sign language was just beginning to develop at this time as the educational system was starting to address the needs of the deaf, moving away from writing them off as stupid and unteachable. What Helen learned along the way was deep, thoughtful and inspirational. There are many incredible quotes attributed to Helen Keller.

“Many persons have a wrong idea of what constitutes true happiness. It is not attained through self-gratification but through fidelity to a worthy purpose.” — Helen Keller

Friday, April 24, 2009

4 Science Articles You Might Enjoy

From Denny: Since I have too many interests I've parked them on other blogs in addition to this one. Apparently, most people start a blog, lose interest, abandon the first one to start another blog. Not me. I just keep expanding to ADD more blogs! (totally crazy, I suppose - but hey! I'm happy...)

Anyway, articles about how the brain works, astronomy, psychology, some math and physics on basic levels is what I park over at the blog The Soul Calendar. It keeps climbing in the traffic rankings quite nicely and I happily write about whatever catches my interest for the week! Life is good!

I'm still poking around the web for children's resources for parents and science projects readers might find interesting. If you know of any sites or projects, speak up and shoot me an email at warriorspearl@gmail.com, much appreciated!

Here are a few posts you might find an interesting read:

Is My Brain Making Me Buy Things I Don't Need?

Double Amputees Shed Light on Brain's Flexibility

Robolegs Help People Walk

Hurricane-Killing, Space-Based Power Plants

NASA Photo by Image Editor @ flickr