Readability Index Calculator

Ever want to know how well written your big term paper is?

Below is a link to a pretty cool tool that I use on big papers to see how well I wrote them. When you go to this link it explains how it works a lot better than what I probably could so check it out using some of your past papers to see how your papers rank. 

http://www.standards-schmandards.com/exhibits/rix/index.php

All you have to do is copy and past a sample of your work in the text box and click calculate score. [NOTE: Make sure the method box shows Flesch-Kincaid (English).] After you click calculate score it will show a grade level number and a reading score ease number both of which are explained after you click calculate. It's pretty cool to see where your work falls on the spectrum. Just keep in mind that it doesn't tell you necessarily how well written your work is but how easy it is to understand and the grade level people will have to be at in order to understand your work. So you obviously want scores 12 or higher when writing for college level courses because your audience is more than likely other college students and college professors. 

I hope this is useful for you all!

The Five Minute University

Check this out if you haven't already... It is hilarious but SO true...

"What Teachers Make"

"What Teachers Make"

He says the problem with teachers is, "What's a kid going to learn from someone who decided his best option in life was to become a teacher?" He reminds the other dinner guests that it's true what they say about teachers: Those who can, do; those who can't, teach.

I decide to bite my tongue instead of his and resist the temptation to remind the dinner guests that it's also true what they say about lawyers.

Because we're eating, after all, and this is polite company.

"I mean, you're a teacher, Taylor," he says. "Be honest. What do you make?"

And I wish he hadn't done that (asked me to be honest) because, you see, I have a policy about honesty and ass-kicking: if you ask for it, I have to let you have it.

You want to know what I make?

I make kids work harder than they ever thought they could. I can make a C+ feel like a Congressional medal of honor and an A- feel like a slap in the face. How dare you waste my time with anything less than your very best.

I make kids sit through 40 minutes of study hall in absolute silence. No, you may not work in groups. No, you may not ask a question. Why won't I let you get a drink of water? Because you're not thirsty, you're bored, that's why.

I make parents tremble in fear when I call home: I hope I haven't called at a bad time, I just wanted to talk to you about something Billy said today. Billy said, "Leave the kid alone. I still cry sometimes, don't you?" And it was the noblest act of courage I have ever seen.

I make parents see their children for who they are and what they can be.

You want to know what I make?

I make kids wonder, I make them question. I make them criticize. I make them apologize and mean it. I make them write. I make them read, read, read. I make them spell definitely beautiful, definitely beautiful, definitely beautiful over and over and over again until they will never misspell either one of those words again. I make them show all their work in math. And hide it on their final drafts in English. I make them understand that if you got this (brains) then you follow this (heart) and if someone ever tries to judge you by what you make, you give them this (the finger).

Let me break it down for you, so you know what I say is true: I make a difference! What about you?

By: Taylor Mali

This anecdote sums up the reasons why I want to be a teacher. For all the current teachers and teachers in training, if anyone ever tells you that you took the easy route just shove this in their face and tell them just what you make... 

Something to Think About

A teacher I had back in my first years of high school wrote me a note with these words of wisdom on the back of it and I've never forgotten it... These words are something I live by and want to share them with others...

"As we grow up, we learn that even the one person that wasn't supposed to ever let you down probably will. You will have your heart broken probably more than once and it's harder every time. You'll break hearts too, so remember how it felt when yours was broken. You'll fight with your best friend. You'll blame a new love for things an old one did. You'll cry because time is passing too fast, and you'll eventually lose someone you love. So take too many pictures, laugh too much, and love like you've never been hurt because every sixty seconds you spend upset is a minute of happiness you'll never get back. Be who you are and say what you feel, because those who mind don't matter and those who matter don't mind."                 

-Theodor Geisel

My Mom

So I was looking over my first post that kinda introduced me and I noticed that I don't say much about my mom. Well that really disappointed my because my mom is like my best friend and she is one of the most important people in my life. I go to her anytime I need advice and anytime I just need someone to talk to. If I just need to share my feelings, she is there to listen. However, it wasn't always like this because obviously enough I was an adolescent at one point and went through a phase where I was pretty much pissed off at the world. I know that it hurt my mom to see me make poor choices but she was there to help me learn from it and lead me down the right path. If I knew than what I know now I would know that she was doing what was best for me and I appreciate that tremendously. That phase of my life helped shaped who I am today and so without that period of time I wouldn't be who I am now.  So I thank my mom for helping me along the way. My relationship with my mom grew substantially over the past few years and I couldn't be more happy and I owe it to my mom and how she raised me. My mom is probably the strongest and most caring individual on this Earth and I couldn't ask for a better example of what a mother should be. I love her and hope to one day be just like her when I have children of my own.

Lame Templates

Okay so I think the templates that Blogger has as the default templates are pretty lame. So if anyone feels the same, there is a solution! If you go to Google or Yahoo! and type: "free Blogger templates", a listing of websites will come up and provide templates specifically made for Blogger. 

Here is a link to a template website I like:

http://btemplates.com/

You simply: 

1) download the template

2) go to "Layout" on your blog

3) click "Edit HTML" 

4) click "choose file"

5) find the downloaded template and click "upload". A message might come up saying certain widgets are about to be deleted, just click "confirm and save". This won't mess anything up. It is just that the new template is new so there are things in the original template that need to be deleted so the new one shows up. 

Just note that sometimes the templates come out funky but you can just play around with it until you find a good one. 

Creating This Blog

Hello everyone! 

Thanks for visiting my blog. I hope you enjoy all the wonderful things I have to say. I have a very tech savvy boyfriend who is a graphic designer/web designer/web developer so I had a good idea of what a blog was and all the things you can do with it. We actually had our own blog together at one point but he took it down to redesign it. I will put a link up if he finishes it before this class is over. Anyhow, I had no trouble creating my blog and I look forward to using it for both personal and professional use.

I just finished my second year of college. I attend Indiana University in Bloomington for the fall and spring semester and because I live on campus, I move back to Indianapolis in the summer. I am an elementary education major pursuing a concentration in reading. I have completed a lot of field experiences working with students from kindergarten to eighth grade and I can tell you that I will definitely stick with the younger crowd. Adolescents are a bit of a handful and I have great respect for middle school and junior high teachers; they are brave! These past two years have gone by super quick it seems but I can't wait to graduate and start teaching. My passion for teaching seems to grow with every day. 

I am the middle child of four. I have a 14 year old brother graduating from 8th grade and moving onto to the high school in the fall and I have a 19 year old step brother who just graduated from high school and is attending Purdue in the fall (He is now my enemy since I go to IU : ) just kidding!). I also have an older sister who is 22 and is mentally handicapped but is probably one of the most lovable people you will ever meet! My parents divorced when I was in 7th grade and I live with my mom and my step father when I'm not at IU. We live on the east side of Indianapolis. I have a cat named Smokey is she is the second love of my life only second to my wonderful, amazing boyfriend Andru. We have been together for a little over 3 years and he is my everything. I truly believe we are soul mates. I am so lucky to have found him. 

I look forward to tying the knowledge I've learned from other courses to this course as well as learning new things along the way.

Here is a link to my Wiki:

http://emilybays.pbworks.com/