Mapping and Resolutions for 2009

I added a ClustrMap to this blog in September just because it looked cool. I enjoy looking at the ClustrMaps on other blogs just to see where readers come from. It's kind of neat to look at a list of visitors to this blog and see where people are coming from. Who would have thought that someone in Israel or China or South Africa would ever see this blog? Admittedly, the readership isn't large, but it certainly is an interesting start.

In thinking about my own blog reading, another resolution that I have for the year is to actively look for international education perspectives. Taking into account other points of view can only help strengthen my teaching practice.

Any suggestions for must-read education blogs from countries other than the United States?

A New Year's Resolution by way of Halloween

I received this photo in an email from a former student a couple of days ago. I had never seen the photo before, but do remember taking it.

During the first passing period on Halloween 2004, a student I did not know stopped dead in front of me. His mouth fell open and he asked "how did you DO that?" I asked what he meant. He told me he had just seen me over by the quad a minute ago and it was amazing that I had beat him to where I was now standing. I just thought he was kidding around. Then MY students started coming by and I finally understood what was going on. Someone had dressed like me for Halloween.

As usual, the students weren't too sure how I'd react to something so bold. I just laughed. I finally saw Christina right before lunch. She really got my mannerisms and everything. At the time this photo was taken I had a striped sweater, black skirt and boots almost exactly like the ones she was wearing (that's Christina on the left).

I was surprised to find that some of my colleagues expected me to be offended. Maybe we take ourselves too seriously sometimes. So, one New Year's Resolution is to remind myself of this photo. Having a student imitate me could actually be instructive. At the very least it's entertaining if I remember not to take myself too seriously.