https://padlet.com/nathan_mercier/6g0rq6hlv42y Double-click anywhere on the wall and write about yourself, your current class/school, or family. Include your name and a title. Have fun! en-us 2017-02-05 21:39:33 UTC 2026-02-13 16:05:31 UTC hello@padlet.com https://padlet-assets.s3.amazonaws.com/icons/Templeball.png nathan_mercier https://padlet.com/nathan_mercier/6g0rq6hlv42y/wish/151691349 This Latin phrase (meaning "seize the day") has been my motto this Spring. Between CUI, St. John's, and being a Father of 3, I find that I'm squeezing every moment I can out of each day. I'm blessed to be a blessing.   ]]> 2017-02-05 21:47:54 UTC https://padlet.com/nathan_mercier/6g0rq6hlv42y/wish/151691349 lindseysmith3234 https://padlet.com/nathan_mercier/6g0rq6hlv42y/wish/151711661 My children and my husband are my driving force behind all I do.  When I am feeling stressed or sad they are always there to cheer me up.  I am very blessed to have such a supportive family.       
- Lindsey Smith
PS- I think this site is really cool and something I could use in my classroom!]]> 2017-02-06 02:41:48 UTC https://padlet.com/nathan_mercier/6g0rq6hlv42y/wish/151711661 heidi_brightbill https://padlet.com/nathan_mercier/6g0rq6hlv42y/wish/151713152 I have over 1000 students who are loving rapping about the Wright brothers while improving their rhythmic skills. Can't wait to see what other technological ideas I get to use from this masters program!]]> 2017-02-06 03:06:33 UTC https://padlet.com/nathan_mercier/6g0rq6hlv42y/wish/151713152 traci_ward https://padlet.com/nathan_mercier/6g0rq6hlv42y/wish/151857462 I teach kindergarten at a school in Huntington Beach. We are getting ready for Open House. It is one of my favorite events of the year. The students are so proud to show their families around the room and show off their amazing work. It is a lot of work but it pays off when you see the kids so excited! ]]> 2017-02-06 15:44:06 UTC https://padlet.com/nathan_mercier/6g0rq6hlv42y/wish/151857462 amy_hunt2 https://padlet.com/nathan_mercier/6g0rq6hlv42y/wish/152017746 I've been searching for a country house for almost three months. We've put in bids on three houses so far, and lost out to people with cash twice. Today we put in a bid for an adorable property, and we've already heard back. They are seriously considering our offer. I'm crossing my fingers! ]]> 2017-02-07 01:56:18 UTC https://padlet.com/nathan_mercier/6g0rq6hlv42y/wish/152017746 nancy_konkolewski https://padlet.com/nathan_mercier/6g0rq6hlv42y/wish/152028718 My third graders are learning about the solar system.  They are very excited as they are working on their solar system project to hang up in the classroom.  I am developing a lesson so they can collaborate on a digital solar system presentation as well.

]]> 2017-02-07 03:54:47 UTC https://padlet.com/nathan_mercier/6g0rq6hlv42y/wish/152028718 dsteuart https://padlet.com/nathan_mercier/6g0rq6hlv42y/wish/152277498 I don't have much on family, kids grown...moved on!  Great husband...3 doggies are my kids now.
I am enjoying learning all the cool tech ideas, this is one of them! I am hoping to share with my fellow colleagues at work. 
This week we start our fun budget project for 9th grades, plus I am having one of my 5 classes work on my assignment for this week. (hope it works???)

]]> 2017-02-07 19:38:35 UTC https://padlet.com/nathan_mercier/6g0rq6hlv42y/wish/152277498 paul_payne https://padlet.com/nathan_mercier/6g0rq6hlv42y/wish/152283713 You don't hear that much now days. Yes, my classes are currently finishing up a Square Dance unit. Why that is an 8th grade standard I have no idea.  I have team taught this unit over the past 4 or 5 years, but never as the lead teacher. To say I was very apprehensive would be an understatement. After listening to some of my colleagues tell me how much fun and how much my classes talk about and look forward to coming to my class to square dance makes me smile. I never thought they or I would enjoy it as much as we are doing. I can't wait until next year to see what technology changes I can make with this unit to make it even better.

]]> 2017-02-07 19:54:42 UTC https://padlet.com/nathan_mercier/6g0rq6hlv42y/wish/152283713 https://padlet.com/nathan_mercier/6g0rq6hlv42y/wish/152304821 I am married to a great man who is half Argentine and half Italian. And he can cook! My in-laws are fabulous people too. Our three children range in ages: Natalia is nine and was born with a rare genetic disease, but she is so amazing in what she accomplishes daily; she's my "defy the odds girl"! My middle child is my only son, Claudio. He's so innovative in that he has been creating his own reptile breeding facility, during his "free" time. Finally, Sofia is my sweet sixteen year- old who excels in her extremely high academic classes, but still pursues her love of creating animation films. As you can tell, my family is my number one priority!]]> 2017-02-07 21:11:38 UTC https://padlet.com/nathan_mercier/6g0rq6hlv42y/wish/152304821 robert_reed3 https://padlet.com/nathan_mercier/6g0rq6hlv42y/wish/152338416 I am big on using the iPad for work inside of the classroom and thankfully our district is participating in GAFE. I used a work flow app last year, but it was not all that user friendly and grading papers was a slow process. Google Classroom has really had an impact on how my students learn and how they view the iPad. As the year has progressed, I have begun to implement more into my groups, such as links within a Google Doc, Google Form to get t-shirt sizes, all the way to assigning questions. This is something that I have just begun to use, but the initial responses and replies have helped to initiate some great discussions. ]]> 2017-02-08 00:42:41 UTC https://padlet.com/nathan_mercier/6g0rq6hlv42y/wish/152338416 david_smith11 https://padlet.com/nathan_mercier/6g0rq6hlv42y/wish/152355277 I can't think of a more overused cliche.  It says so much without saying a thing.  But that is my plan.  I think I've missed my calling.  I know I have.  But growing up, I only wanted to make money.  Teachers can never be paid enough, and I thank you all for your dedication, but I want to do more and do more differently.  Maybe it's a bug, I hope it's not a phase, but I just want to see our students live up to their potential.  How?  Who knows.  Idealistic?  Yes.  All I know is that I am on a path that I have never been on and I am enjoying it to the fullest.  I can't wait to see what's around the next corner.  I have this plethora of technology at my disposal. And I want to use it to change the world.
No Grades, Just Work.]]> 2017-02-08 03:18:14 UTC https://padlet.com/nathan_mercier/6g0rq6hlv42y/wish/152355277 brian_sneed https://padlet.com/nathan_mercier/6g0rq6hlv42y/wish/152364785 Last Saturday, we had a funeral and reception, my son's basketball game, the basketball pizza party, my daughter's girl scout activity, and her quincieta practice for her cousin.  It really would have been helpful to clone myself.  So my wife went to the funeral services and I took my son to his game and his pizza party.  My daughter's girl scout leader took her to that activity.  After the girl scouts we had to get our daughter a ride to and from the quincieta. Obviously, my homework was not done on Saturday.]]> 2017-02-08 05:11:25 UTC https://padlet.com/nathan_mercier/6g0rq6hlv42y/wish/152364785 kimberly_hahn https://padlet.com/nathan_mercier/6g0rq6hlv42y/wish/152674450 I've been apart from my students and my classroom since December 2nd. On March 6th I will return to school. This has been a great time of rest and recovery, but also a time to put fresh eyes on my lessons as I guide my long term sub through the nuances of teaching both my regular and HyFlex classes. It's always a new experience to look at your own work through the eyes of another. I've found myself thinking, "this is a great lesson" as well  as "what was I thinking when I did this?" Funny, but telling.  

Can't wait to hear about the things my students have learned while I've been gone. ]]> 2017-02-09 04:44:00 UTC https://padlet.com/nathan_mercier/6g0rq6hlv42y/wish/152674450 abbey_klingel https://padlet.com/nathan_mercier/6g0rq6hlv42y/wish/152903055 Pregnancy brain is really no joke. I'll be in the middle of talking to my class or my husband about something and literally forget what I was talking about! I am 28 weeks, so things are starting to get a little uncomfortable. It is hard to be motivated every day when you wake up feeling like you haven't slept in ages! I don't know how those of you with kids manage to juggle all that you do. I can barely juggle the 2/3 of a child inside of me with everything else. So tonight my husband and I are exposing him to his first sporting event. We are headed to watch Oregon men's basketball play against UCLA. Gotta start em early, right?! 
Go Ducks!]]> 2017-02-09 19:44:01 UTC https://padlet.com/nathan_mercier/6g0rq6hlv42y/wish/152903055 https://padlet.com/nathan_mercier/6g0rq6hlv42y/wish/152974163 Hello, Tom Haun here. I have been married for a little over 20 years to my wife, Faith. We both were single for a long time, first and last marriage planned for both of us. When we got married, she was almost 37 years old and I was almost 33 years old. My standing joke is "Well Jesus laid down His life a 33, so I had to do the same!" She has taught for over 35 years, unfortunately half the time in christian schools so there is no great retirement build-up. I am currently finishing my 12th year of teaching. 'Finishing' may be the operative word. At this point, I don't know if I am continuing in the educational field, industry, or what. Looks like God is refining me.]]> 2017-02-10 05:49:48 UTC https://padlet.com/nathan_mercier/6g0rq6hlv42y/wish/152974163 catherine_darwish https://padlet.com/nathan_mercier/6g0rq6hlv42y/wish/153228974 I see and have seen that you all have similar balancing acts with all that we do!  My son and I are sort of homebodies and so he and I (he's 12) learned to work together so that I have the time to work on my school stuff AND my masters stuff but now my husband retired a little earlier than we planned originally and so some adjustment is taking place. He is ALWAYS home now so timing has become crucial for me.  He often has saved up conversations for us throughout the day and cannot wait to share with us. (His family live in Abu Dabi and Egypt so conversations are pretty short!) I often need time to complete things well & he has nothing else to do.  Our son loved getting home from school, having the responsibility of having his own key this year and taking care of his own snacks and stuff. We would normally get home and generally be ready to sit at the dining table and do our work but this is not to be!  It's nice to have my hubby home, but I think he needs a hobby....   This is going to take some time to adjust.  For all of us! (Sorry this was so long. I guess I ended up venting a little!)]]> 2017-02-11 17:11:17 UTC https://padlet.com/nathan_mercier/6g0rq6hlv42y/wish/153228974