9 Microblogs about Spring Break

1) The last few weeks have been a bit of a blur.  First, Kaylee's Spring Break, then my professional development courses started.  Things are settling back down, at least for a few days.  Gives me a chance to catch up on some blogging that didn't happen in the past month.

2)  I've become a bit obsessed with french braiding Kaylee's hair.  She's got a ridiculous cowlick that makes keeping her hair out of her eyes all but impossible without it.  So, I spent her spring break learning the tricks for her hair.

3) Spring has come to Japan.  And it's gorgeous.  Like, seriously.  Gorgeous.

4) We went to AsoBono.  It's a crazy place for kids to play.  They have a stroller parking area.  

Kaylee's current favorite cartoon is Doc McStuffins.  So, she's always giving dolls checkups. :)

5) I've discovered the joy of shopping for DIY stuff in Tokyo.  The craft stores are awesome.  These are shots of just a few areas of a six story fabric/yarn/related crafts store (Okadaya by Shinjuku Station).  They have an entire second building next door for fabric. 

I was very glad I had gone into this store with a specific goal (size 2 circular knitting needle for a baby sweater).  Otherwise, I would be broke and would be throwing out Kaylee's toys and Dylan's clothes to create more room in my luggage.

6) There are two projects currently on knitting needles.  A spring/fall scarf for me, and a light cotton sweater for an adorable baby back in the States.  

7) I started my professional development courses.  I'm taking one credit from NASA/NSTA (National Science Teachers' Association) on Engineering Design Process.  It's okay.  Nothing mind blowing about it, especially with my background, but for keeping up to date with the Next Generation Science Standards and other advances in STEM education, it's helpful.  There's some language and pedagogy that I need to keep up with if I don't want to sound completely out of it in some distant future when I hope to go back to teaching.

8) The four credits I'm taking at SOU are already more interesting, and that's just my opinion after doing the first reading assignment.  The class is Game-Based Learning and if you had asked me two weeks ago what it was about, I would have said it's about how to integrate video games effectively into curriculum.  Now, I think it's about something MUCH bigger than that.  Think, Mary Poppins - "In every job that must be done, there is an element of fun.  You find the fun and SNAP the job's a game."  How do we use what we know makes games fun and engaging to make life (and curriculum) fun and engaging?  

The text we're reading is Reality is Broken: Why Games Make Us Better and How They Can Change the World, by Jane McGonigal.  I'm totally hooked on this already.  It's enough to make me want to go check out a game like World of Warcraft (if it wasn't so expensive), for the perspective and experience.  

9) Ugh.  I just did a web search for Jane McGonigal for a link to use, and realized she has a TED talk I'd love to listen to.  But my headphones are at home.  How do I have a sippy cup of juice in my bag, but not headphones?!?  This parenting a toddler thing is odd.