The Tipping Point and Droids

This is my first attempt at updating my blog from my cell phone... amazing how typing an entire post on a phone is no longer awkward or a burden, but instead is convenient and more relevant to my life. I find I spend less time on my actual computer and more time using my phone for the things my laptop was for. Facebook, games, twitter, IMing... all of it is possible on my phone. Is it any surprise the younger generations, my own included, don't find books engaging or exciting? Too much effort for not enough return?

I finished The Tipping Point last night. Like I said previously, I prefer his other books, but I realized one important thing from the lessons intended more for business minded people: if I want my classes to be relevant and important, I need to keep up with the current trends for this teenage generation, and I need to spot those students who are the trendsetters and engage them. If they start to think English classes (and the study of literature, writing, and speaking) is significant and important, eventually other students will, also. The goal is to make learning not fun or meaningful, but to make knowledge and curiosity desirable. How we do that, I don't really know.

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Oops...

Last Post: December 4th.  How long ago was that? Oh, yeah, 3 months ago.  And I haven't been keeping up with my reading.  Why oh why did I let it go this long?  Life got in the way.

Part of my reasoning for starting this blog was to force myself to start and finish a project.  Now, I'm not one to start things and leave them to rust often, but I am guilty of setting myself up for something big and then just letting it fall by the wayside for a short while.  I'm not going to let that happen with this project.  I had my reasons for starting, and I'm going to see them through.

Tonight before bed (yeah, it's already 9 and I have more school stuff to do.. oops) I'm going to read more of The Tipping Point.  I'm almost finished with it.  I hate to say, it's been a really difficult read.  I don't find it nearly as engaging as Outliers, but The Tipping Point is more business oriented, where I saw Outliers as something I could really use in my job and my life.  I'm not trying to start a trend or market anything, I'm just trying to live my life and teach some kiddies.

I'm also almost finished with The Handmaid's Tale.  PLUS a student of mine lent me one of his books, so I'm thinking I either need to add a 53rd book (oh, yeah, great plan ms. can't-keep-up-with-anything) or replace one of the books on the list with his book.

So here is my new goal: I will update my blog at the very least once a week.  And I will start reading more often, and go to the gym.  Going to the gym isn't just my random plug for physical activity (I'm getting fat again!) but I also bring my Kindle to the gym and I read on the bike.  I can't read when I run, that's strictly music time, but on the bike I love to use my Kindle.  Apparently electronic books are good for something!

Point is, I'm back, bitches.  Did you miss me?