Texas needs Tech-savvy Teachers

My blog this week is written as part of an assignment for the course I am currently taking, Fundamentals of Educational Technology. Although my subject was assigned, I would like to preface it by saying that I whole-heartedly believe in the ideas I am proposing or I would not be posting them on my blog page.

The majority of students entering Texas classrooms today are tech-savvy. It is critical that the people entrusted with the task of educating them have the tools they need to adequately prepare them for the future. The state of Texas faces a daunting task of bringing our education system up to speed to meet the needs of this new generation.

It is critical that Texas educators be provided ongoing professional development. In order for effective changes to be implemented, teachers must also become learners and have ongoing opportunities for exposure to new ways of incorporating technology into the curriculum and classroom.

In order to achieve this goal, all beginning teachers are now required to meet Technology Applications educator standards. Veteran teachers receive ongoing professional development and over time are expected to master the SBEC Technology Applications Standards for all teachers.

The Texas Long-Range Plan for Technology 2006 - 2020 includes the following standards for Educator Preparation and Development.
　
"All educators are required to:
• graduate from an educator preparation program that models current technology in instructional and administrative practices PreK-12.
• exit educator preparation programs knowing how to use technology effectively in the teaching-learning process as demonstrated by the SBEC Technology Applications Standards.
• develop new learning environments that utilize technology as a flexible tool where learning is collaborative, interactive and customized for the individual learner.
• ensure full integration of appropriate technology throughout all curriculum and instruction."

Long-Range Plan for Technology, 2006-2020 (2006, November). Retrieved Sept. 2, 2009, from http://ritter.tea.state.tx.us/technology/lrpt/LRPTCompleteDec06.pdf
　
The task of preparing educators to meet the needs of students in the 21st Century also presents educational institutions with a tremendous challenge. Educator training programs must include new ways to teach that will positively impact the academic achievement levels of their students. Professional development for veteran teachers must emphasize the continual process of learning about technology and incorporating its use in the classroom. If teachers and administrators are to prepare today’s students for the world they will live in tomorrow, they must have the tools, knowledge, and skills they need to make significant changes in our educational system.

For the Women .... Are you a Mary or a Martha?

Every church desperately needs some Marys. We need them to pray for our children, to put passion in our worship, to write songs of praise and sing songs of glory, to kneel and weep and lift their hands and pray. We need them because we tend to forget how much God loves worship. Marys do not forget! To sit at his feet and spend time with Him.

Where my treasure is

When I turned 12 my parents wanted me to participate in a fraternal type organization designed for young women. I guess you could compare it to a sorority because you had to be voted on to get in, the meetings were held in secret, only open to the members, and dues were required. We even had a secret password and handshake! Woo-hoo! As a part of this organization, I would be able to learn some things that I am sure they felt were important for a young woman to learn. I would have the opportunity to participate in service projects, hold positions of leadership, be taught certain disciplines, have good role models, and my personal favorite, wear formal dresses.

Aly Mac - 7 weeks old

God's love letter

Twice in the last couple of weeks I have had people tell me that when they tried to read the Bible they just opened it randomly and started reading wherever their eyes landed. They both reported that what they read either did not make sense to them or they didn't like what it said. I have heard this type of Bible reading referred to as the "lucky dip" method and there was a great story behind it which illustrated why using this method is not always the best idea. So I began to research online to see if could find the illustration. The following text is quoted from a website from the Middletown Bible Church, Middletown, Connecticut.

Appreciating God's handiwork

Earth's crammed with heaven,
And every common bush afire with God,
But only he who sees takes off his shoes;
The rest sit round it and pluck blackberries.

Elizabeth Barrett Browning

What really matters

Another volunteer team arrived today, almost 11 mos. since Hurricane Ike wreaked it's havoc on the little town of Bridge City, population 8651. One of the sponsors who was also from Texas told me that she had not heard about what had happened in our town. I told her about the fact that there were 3400 homes in Bridge City and only 14 were spared from the flooding. With eyes wide she replied "I had no idea!" She was amazed to hear our story as well as the college students who were volunteering their energy. The team only spent one afternoon at the church, but accomplished a great deal. There were about 35 in the group, so if you multiply that by the number of hours they spent working, that equals ALOT of volunteer hours. Over and over we heard, "Thanks for letting us come!" and "We are glad to help do whatever we can." One of them wanted to get a contact number so he could arrange another team to come back and work again. What a blessing!

Matt's family

Praise You in this Storm by Casting Crowns

July 28, 2009

1. Storms are not necessarily a means of God’s judgment on the wicked.
Job 21:18 Job says the wicked are not carried away by the storm like chaff, even though it seems as though they deserve God’s judgment. Evil people are often spared during times of calamity and allowed to escape disaster.

2. The worst storm is yet to come and will result in total destruction.
Job 27:21 Job says the ultimate fate of the wicked is to be carried off and swept away by the east wind, total destruction and loss of everything.

3. The source of the storm may be generated by the enemy.
Psalm 55: 8 David longed to escape from the oppression he was experiencing from his enemy.

4. Storms can be a used by God to bring us into submission to his will.
Ps. 83:15 Asaph wrote a song asking God to pursue or chase his enemies and terrify them by sending a storm.

5. Storms provide an example of God’s control of nature.
Ps 107:29 The psalmist says that sailors have witnessed and know that the winds and the waters of the deep respond to God’s commands.

6. God provides a place of refuge for his people from the storm.
Is 4:6 Isaiah predicted a time of restoration when God would provide a shelter and a hiding place for Israel.

7. God is our refuge from the storm.
Is 25:4 The oppressive acts of ruthless people are like a storm beating against a wall, but God is our refuge from the storm.

8. God brings destruction like a storm.
Is 28:2; Is 29:6; Ezek 38:9

9. God demonstrates his power in the storm.
Nah 1:3

10. Storms obey the voice of the Savior.
Mark 4:37

11. Storms provide an opportunity for us to demonstrate faith.
Luke 8:23

Aly Mac Comer

My life without Christ

I see now more than ever what my life would be like without Christ. I was saved at a young age. It was on a Thursday, June 9th, the summer before I turned nine. It was during Vacation Bible School and our Pastor brought an object lesson where he took a clean clear glass of water and put a drop in it and the water turned black to illustrate sin and the effect it has on our lives. Then he put in another drop of something and turned the water red to represent the blood that Jesus shed to cleanse us from sin.

The desires of my heart

You know if someone would have told me a year ago that by the fall of 2009 I would be going back to school, I never would have believed it. Today I received my pre-acceptance letter to the Master's program at Lamar University. It has been a dream of mine ever since we moved to Bridge City, to return to school and further my education. About 14 years ago, I was a stay at home mom (for a brief time) and I remember going over to Lamar and talking to someone about going back to school. At the time I was not really sure what I wanted to do, but I remember coming away very discouraged because basically I was told I would have to either get a second Bachelor's degree or take another year's worth of courses before I could move forward toward a Master's. So since I still had 4 kids in school, I gave up the idea, thinking well maybe some day.

Well, now it looks like "some day" is well within my reach. Just goes to show you should never give up pursuing your dreams. In fact, as I reflect on the past year I have seen so many dreams come true in my life. Looking back it is easy to focus on the many losses that I have experienced, but in reality, I have been so blessed beyond imagination.

During the past year, I have lost some very close relationships. In August of last year I lost my job. In September we lost our house to the storm, as well as our church. In January, we totally lost our home to the fire. But when you think about it all from God's perpective, and He always sees the beginning and the end at the same time, then you see how He has made my dreams come true.

First, my relationship with God is closer today than it was a year ago and I have found so many friends I never knew I had. I have made many new friends. We have also had several new families join our church.

He gave me a dream job at Lamar. I am now doing the very thing I always dreamed of doing "when I grew up". Counseling and working with children. Yes, the students I work with are children. Most of them are young and in need of direction and guidance. Many of them didn't have parents that attended or completed college. I actually get to be creative at work, which is something that can only be appreciated when you have been put in a situation where all creativity is stifled.

Of course, then there's my house. Every little girl dreams of one day having her "dream house". One of my friends came over and walked into our new master bedroom and said "Don't you just feel like a princess every time you walk in here?" She knows exactly how it feels, to feel like you have found your dream house. A place you feel comfortable to call home.

I've always dreamed of visiting New York City. I'm going in less than 2 weeks. And what's so amazing about that is, my work is sending me. It's not costing me to go there. Amazing!

And then to have the opportunity to go back to school. Well, again it's another dream come true. I used to have an "agenda". I felt the need to succeed and to get ahead in life. That dream is gone. I no longer feel driven to make my dreams happen. Because now I understand that God knows the desires of my heart and He has a way of making all my dreams come true. Psalm 37:4 says "Delight thyself also in the LORD: and he shall give thee the desires of thine heart." He knows better than I do what is best for me and in His own time, he will pour out His blessings if I will simply remain faithful and committed to Him.

Ephesians 3:20-21 says "God can do anything, you know—far more than you could ever imagine or guess or request in your wildest dreams! He does it not by pushing us around but by working within us, his Spirit deeply and gently within us."

Don't stop working in me Lord, and thank you for giving me the desires of my heart.

My Big Brother

My brother has known me longer than any other person living on this earth. He knows me pretty well and yet he still loves me. Yes, imagine that! Where most brothers tend to pick on their younger siblings, mine never really did. I think because he was eleven when I was born, and the fact that we have no other siblings, that he was really proud to have me, even if I was a girl! As a matter of fact, he's always seemed a little more partial to girls. He loved his own daughter tremendously, and is now raising his oldest grandaughter who he also adores.

I remember watching home movies of my eleven year old brother carrying me around as a fat little baby. You could see his sense of pride in the fact that he was playing the role of the "big brother". I am told he was the one who first carried me to church. Growing up I always wanted to go wherever he went. Driving to the corner store to buy balogna or going to Burger King on Sunday night after church with his friends.

As the years went by, he graduated from high school about the same time I was starting grade school. He attended college a couple of years before he got married and moved out of our house. Even then, as a young teenager I felt a close attachment to him and wanted to spend all the time I could with him and his wife, having sleepovers at their house or going out to eat with them on Sunday afternoons after church.

My brother and I are alike in a lot of ways and yet different too. He has beautiful handwriting, I on the other hand, do not. He is left-handed like our mother, I am not. He takes his time to think about things and work them through, I tend to be more impulsive and just want to get the job done and move on to something else.

We are alike in the fact that we both delight in sharing pictures, going on new adventures, and working with numbers. We both have a love for the Bible and discussing it's practical application to life. Sometimes I wonder if I learned to appreciate these things from him, or would I have enjoyed these things anyway.

My brother is the type of person who would do anything for you. During my Senior year in high school, he offered for me to come and live with him and his wife during a time that was extremely difficult for me. Our parents were going through a divorce and it seemed only natural that we should be together. He and his wife took care of me during my college years until I found my life mate and was married. Since that time, he also became a brother to my husband who never knew what it was like to have a brother. His wife is like the sister I never had.

I have often thought that if something happened to my husband, I would always have my brother. He would help me get through whatever comes my way. I could never imagine ever being without him to lean on. But the truth is, since he is eleven years older than me, he may not always be there. And since he has had such a tremendous impact on my life, I just want him and everyone else to know that I have the best brother anyone could ever have or ever imagine on this earth. Our relationship, which has lasted over 51 years, is very special and I am so grateful to him for giving me so much and sharing his life and his wife with our family.

God is good, all the time!

Want to hear something truly amazing! We have a volunteer group that arrived yesterday,(Tuesday) from Shelbyville, Tennessee to work at the church. When we requested the group to come we did not know, and they did not know, what tasks would need to be completed once they arrived on site. On Monday Jack went to pick up the kitchen cabinets from Silsbee. This is one of the last things to be completed in our Family Life Center. The amazing thing is, on Tuesday, Jack found out that these volunteers are experts at installing cabinets, having done this many times on church work projects in the U.S. and in foreign countries. God knew exactly what we needed and then provided. God is SO good!

But my God shall supply all your need according to his riches in glory by Christ Jesus.Philippians 4:19

At peace with God's plan

It's been a great week! I am finding that I am becoming more and more at peace all the time with God's overall plan for our family. I think the older we get the more difficult it becomes to accept changes in our lives, especially when they are sudden unexpected changes, such as losing a job, a loved one, or losing anything that is precious to you. But the past few months have taught me that I need to be more willing and ready to embrace the changes in my life and trust God to get me through it. Everyone will tell you that "this happened for a reason" and that "God has something better for you", but it's really tough to believe that when you are right in the midst of it all. But once again, I find myself looking back at the events of my life and marveling at God's faithfulness and provision.