What would you choose?

My family and I have previously hosted international exchange students.  Our first exchange student was Nat (Natchaya) from Bangkok,Thailand. She was very quiet and mild mannered. Our second exchange student was Lena from Frankfurt, Germany. She was not so very quiet and mild mannered; in fact I would venture to say the two very polar opposites of each other.
Last night, our kids decided we needed to have a family meeting. The three of them had gotten together and talked about "convincing" mom and dad to host again. Needless to say, we have decided to host again next year. We want to host a male this time for a change in pace. Additionally, we do not want to host someone from the same country that we have previously experienced. My husband does not want to host anyone from Mexico or Spain (or the related countries). I thought maybe a student from Russia, Savannah wants someone from Italy, etc.
My question to each of you is this...
What country would you choose to host an international exchange student from and why?

My Very First Poem

I vaguely remember creating a poetry notebook in the 5th grade. I remember what the cover looked like and my first poem (the one I created).  Here it is:

Autumn
Autumn's here, see the leaves?
Autumn's here, feel the breeze?
Autumn's here, can't you tell?
See her talking over there?
The summer said goodbye she'll be back next year;
Autumn is really here!

Favorite Snow Activity

I must admit, snow is not my friend. Come on, what kind of friend would allow you to repeatedly ditch your car (because of them, no less), freeze your fingers, toes, and nose, and create more housework just for the sake of creating it? The worst part of snow is the scooping and agonizing back pain that seems to inevitably follow. Like I said, snow is not my friend.
Don't get me wrong, snow evokes some very fond memories and feelings. I love curling up on the couch in my nice warm snuggie with a cup of freshly brewed, piping hot coffee (with a hint of eggnog) to watch my favorite evening show or to read a few more chapters in my latest novel. I love the smell of the flames that flicker over the burning wood in the fireplace.  Perhaps my favorite snow activity, however, is watching my children laughing and playing in the snow. I love to watch them sled down the hill in the backyard and crash land near the base of the patio. Gazing at them reminds me of my own childhood and the times we would ride on the hood of an old car through the country side be pulled by a my step-father's truck. Oh to be young again.. well perhaps, snow could be my friend-sometimes.

Does Technology zap creativity in our youth?

Lego Starburst Machine

 Technology is limitless. Some may argue that technology is taking away  the creativity and youthful curiosity of our young. After watching this you tube video created by a former colleague's son, I beg to differ. What are your thoughts? Can you create something "more"?

Why Blog with Another Classroom?

Have you ever heard the adage: two heads are better than one? You know for the longest time, I felt as if that was a crock of hooey. However, throughout my schooling and even raising my own children, I have learned and discovered a lot of truth in those words. Two heads, are indeed, better than one! Collaboration and communication are essential components of all successes in my opinion. When it comes to education, we learn so much through our communication and collaboration with others. Still confused? Think about this, when you were young I am sure that you played with friends at a playground. Who was it that taught you boys to throw and chase girls with worms? Who was it ladies, that taught you to giggle and scream as you ran away? My guess is that no one person taught you these things, but rather that you learned them through interaction and observation of others doing the same thing. I feel that collaborating and communicating with another classroom of learners will give us the opportunity to broaden our horizons and expand our learning as we travel through this journey together. So my question to you is why NOT blog with another classroom. 

Technology Rules

Technology Rules