TSL Educator Blog

As an educator, I will tell you that the key to life is reading…but I never really believed it. When I was a child I didn’t like to read (you don’t know what you don’t know!).

I grew up in the 70’s where this new medium, television, was just going main stream. I loved the visual aspect of a television. I like to hear sounds and see color pictures move. I remember that type of information easily so it was more fun to me. The problem was this: there was a new media in the main stream but no one used it educationally. Then the early 80’s hit and movies became more visually awesome!! Yes, the original Star Wars episode had, by today’s standards, bad special effects. But boy, compared to other movies of the day, it was AWESOME!! In fact, it was so awesome, that is the only movie I remember going to see when I was young with my entire family!!! I believe we had five of my six brothers and sisters born at the time, we were on food-stamps I’m sure, too, but it was a big enough idea that my entire family went!!! Very memorable to me. Yet again a new media in the main stream but no one used it educationally. Next were video games. “Pong” was simply captivating to me. So much so, that I made friends who had video arcade systems so I could go and play the games. My family had none for a few years and then it was the old ones that were already cheaper to buy because they were out of date!! I loved color, motion, and sound. It was easy to be drawn in and captivated by the media. However, again a new media in the main stream but no one used it educationally. Today the graphics in video games, movies and television are outstanding!! Music, video…all digitized. It is hard to see what is real and what is computer generated. These are not new media, but again, is anyone using it educationally? Today we have Twitter accounts, Facebook accounts, and the like where social networking is dominating the media of today. Still again (do you sense a pattern here?) a new media in the main stream but no one is using it educationally.

The one constant through all of this? Books.

Later, my story with books and why I wanted to read. Then what can reading do for you. Finally, how can we use the new media in the main stream today in an educational setting.

I read a quote the last few days: “What is the difference between a man who can’t read and a man who won’t read? NOTHING!!”

The next series of blogs will be a discussion on reading: what to read, how can reading be beneficial, why should you read.

Time, is flowing like a river…

Sorry, Alan Parson’s Project! Don’t hit me with a bad singing lawsuit!!!

Americans are selfish and spoiled. We have so much to do. But what is the best things to do? TV watching, skateboarding, taking a nap, are activities that bring “relaxation”, or so American media tells us. But, are those activities getting you anywhere?

Book reading: If you read a topic for five years, you will be an expert (I read that is some famous book!). You are the same today that you are going to be in five years except for the people you associate with and the books you read (Charlie Tremendous Jones).

I have no time to read! There are so many things I have to do first! After you read “First Things First” by Stephen Covey, you might see that after 15 minutes of Bible reading and prayer every day, that 15 minutes of reading will be your most important asset.

Homework: Another important activity for children, even if they say, “I have no time for homework!” Students have soccer after school, then there is 4-H and I have to practice piano, clean the horse pens and watch “American Idol”. Most of those teenage tasks are good to do. A few may be even great things to do. But the discipline of homework and book learning will last your entire lifetime. LEt’s make homework a priority. Soccer will be valuable until you quit the team because you don’t like your coach, or you get out of school and find there are no adult soccer leagues in your town. 4-H will help you until you move into the city or tire of taking care of animals. Piano can last you a life time, especially if you play for church worship. Cleaning horse pens; see the 4-H argument. “American Idol”! Give me a break! Go make and chase your own goals and dreams instead of watching others do that!!

Homework can give you skills for life. It can make you a life long learner can adapt and change to their new occupations, they make faster and more advances on the job, they appreciate other people more and actually stop and admire the power of God as he reveals it in the world around us.

Take some time…do your homework…struggle…over come obstacles…be successful…have good self-esteem because Jesus loves you