Tag: inspiration

Creative Thinking, Education, K-12, Motivation, Problem Solving, Research, Student Products, Teaching Tools, Videos

It’s Not Just a Soccer Ball

Terri Eichholz
Image of Soccket from Uncharted Play
Image of Soccket from Uncharted Play

Ever since the Doodle 4 Google theme for 2014 was announced (“If I could invent one thing to make the world a better place…”), I have been finding resources everywhere.  I’m pretty sure I could spend an entire year with a class on this theme.

For example, last week on Twitter, @theresamcgee shared a fabulous page of student projects done last year in which 4th graders dreamed up simple machine inventions to make the world a better place.

Then I went to TCEA, and Leslie Fisher (who is completely hilarious and awesome and probably my long, lost sister) shared some great inventions during her “Gadgets” presentation that make the world a better place:  Soccket – the energy harnessing soccer ball that gives hours of light after 30 minutes of play, Squito – the ball with 8 cameras that can stitch together the pictures for a panoramic view with potential to be used by first responders in dangerous situations to check out the surrounding area, and Gravity Light – lift a weight in 3 seconds that will give you 25 minutes of light as it descends.

Then, Kid President released his newest video, “How to be an Inventor.”

I mean, really, how can you not come up with an idea to make the world a more awesome place with all of these resources at your fingertips?  Practice a little S.C.A.M.P.E.R. with your students, and see what they can design!

Education, Fun Friday, K-12, Motivation, Parenting, Philosophy, Teaching Tools, Videos

The Kids Need to Know

Terri Eichholz

I can’t think of too many better ways to start a Phun Phriday than with a new video from Kid President.  I don’t even have to watch the video; as soon as I hear that giggle, I’m in a better mood!

In Kid President’s most recent video, he asks people, especially celebrities, (and most especially Rainn Williams Wilson) to tell what they think kids need to know.

I’m not a celebrity – or Rainn Wilson – but I figured I would add my advice to the mix.  Here’s what I think kids need to know:

  • “You are a genius, and the world needs your contribution.”  Angela Maiers
  • “Not every day is going to offer us a chance to save somebody’s life, but every day offers us an opportunity to affect one.”  Mark Bezos
  • “…always try to be a little kinder than is necessary” J.M. Barrie
  • “There is something you must always remember. You are braver than you believe, stronger than you seem, and smarter than you think.” Winnie the Pooh

and, of course…

“Don’t stop believing, unless your dream is stupid… then get a better dream and keep going, keep going, keep going…” Kid President

Below, you can see Kid President’s video, and one student’s response.

What do you think the kids need to know?  Blog or tweet it, and use the hashtag #thekidsneedtoknow


Careers, Education, K-12, Motivation, Videos

This is Why I Teach

Terri Eichholz
from here
Click here to see a video of these two men discuss what it means to be “visionary and brilliant.”

I know.  I just posted an inspirational video yesterday, and here I go again.  When I saw this article on BrainPickings.org, though, I realized that the two Neils – Gaiman and deGrasse Tyson – verbalized something that I believe wholeheartedly.  If I ever appear to be good at what I do, it’s because I genuinely love my job.

But if I couldn’t be a public school teacher for some reason, I think I would probably want to be Neil deGrasse Tyson 🙂

3-12, Education, Motivation, Teaching Tools, Videos

If You’ve Never Failed, You’ve Never Lived

Terri Eichholz
from the video below
from this motivational video

It’s fun to look at the stats for this blog to get an idea of what interests people.  By far, some of my most popular posts are the ones that list some of my favorite inspirational videos for teachers and for students.  Of course, that has motivated me to continue to keep looking for more videos; obviously people are hungry for any kind of spark they can find to encourage themselves and others.

I recently came across the video embedded below, and thought it would go well with a discussion about mindsets.  Each of the people cited in the video displayed a Growth Mindset when faced with obstacles.  Do your students know each name and his or her story?  Can your students name more people who should be added?  Can your students give examples of times they, themselves,  overcame failure?

Books, Education, K-12, Motivation, Philosophy, Teaching Tools, Videos

Some of my Mediocre Moments of 2013

Terri Eichholz

Mediocre

This is the time of year when people post “Best of” lists: Best Apps of the Year, Best News Stories of the Year, Best Songs of the Year, Best Posts of the Year, etc…  I try to be different when I can (if it’s not terribly embarrassing), so I decided not to take that exact route.  I briefly entertained the thought of doing a “Worst of” post – until I heard a radio story about the “Worst Movies of the Year.”  Since that idea is already taken, I decided to take a look at this year’s posts to find some of the ones that fell “in-between” according to my blog stats. Sometimes I scratch my head at the posts that get a lot of views when compared to the ones that receive little attention.  But there are some that are in the middle that might bear a second look. Maybe I posted them on a holiday, or on a big news day – or when one of the “Worst Movies of the Year” opened.  Whatever the reason for the mediocre number of views, I decided to roll a few of them out for another try because, quite frankly, I am rather enthusiastic about the topics:

  • “Make Your Own History” – this post features a video of a TED talk by Brad Meltzer.  You may remember that I have mentioned Meltzer recently, as he is the author of one of my favorite children’s books, Heroes for My Daughter. In this video, Meltzer gives a passionate speech about how we can all make history, and offers the three important qualities of great achievers. It is an excellent video to show students or teachers.
  • “I Wonder if We Could All Be a Bit Kinder” – I was deeply moved by reading the book, Wonder, by R.J. Palacio, this summer.  In this post that I wrote in August, I summarized the book, and related it’s message of the need for kindness to two other great lectures that also highlight the importance of compassion – those of Jeff and Mark Bezos.
  • “Don’t Compare Yourself to Others” –  Some people I know are becoming “connected” educators through Twitter or other social networks, and they are panicking.  They see great things that other people are doing and worry that they are not good enough.  I’ll admit that I sometimes suffer from the same feelings of inadequacy.  I wrote this post to remind those people, and myself, that our most important connections are made with our students – and we all do this in different ways.  It’s great to get new ideas, but we can’t berate ourselves for not trying every single one of them.

So, there you have it – my list of mediocre posts from 2013.  Actually, there are far more than 3.  I just chose the best of the mediocre according to my very humble opinion.

I guess that means I’m not all that different after all 😉

Education, K-5, Teaching Tools, Videos

Telegenic Ways to Survive the Week Before Winter Break

Terri Eichholz
screen shot from The Snowman
screen shot from The Snowman

Kudos to my daughter, who helped me come up with the title for this post!

So, let’s face it.  Despite our best efforts to keep our energy up, we need a bit of down time now that this week is nearing its close.  Here is a collection of short videos to help you catch your breath.

Kid President – If you haven’t seen this young man’s collection of videos, you are in a for a real treat.  Be prepared to do a little dance and to stretch your smile muscles.  These are some of his latest:

Winter-themed Animations – I have featured some of these on the blog this season, but they bear repeating (no pun intended – okay, it’s only intended if it makes sense).

Videos about Being Kind to Others (You can find more inspirational videos for students on my Pinterest Board.)

We’re in the home stretch now!  I hope some of these links help you make the distance 🙂

Just in case you missed my other “survival” posts this week, here they are:  Creative Ways to Survive the Week Before Winter Break, Logical Ways to Survive the Week Before Winter Break, and Physical Ways to Survive the Week Before Winter Break.