Metacognition

As an educator who is striving to help my students with their learning, I have great interest in helping my students develop what's called Metacognition. Metacognition has been defined as "having knowledge (cognition) and having understanding, control over, and appropriate use of that knowledge" (Tei and Stewart, 1985). In other words, Metacognition is knowing, and knowing that you know. It is one thing to be smart, and another thing altogether to known how to wisely apply that smartness.
Something for us all to strive to be consciously aware of, is not only to gain intelligence, but to use our intelligence wisely. I am striving for that in my own life; to gain learning, and also to wisely use that learning . And I hope that I am helping my students learn the same skill.

As I haven't entered a new blog post since back in April, I thought it would be a good time to update. As I have been teaching full time, and, this past summer, been teaching summer school as well, I have not had as much time to write, my time being taken up by things higher on my priority list, like my students, and my family. And I have not had anything published since 2006. Quite a while back! However, I have been writing when I can, and hopefully will have something ready to send off to my publisher in the near future. Wish me luck!

The 13th Reality by James Dashner

I have recently read the second book in The 13th Reality series by James Dashner entitled, The Hunt for Dark Infinity. I thought it was a great book! It kept me on the edge of my seat with all the twists and turns the characters went on, and all the surprises it threw at me! One of my favorite characters is Sally. I thought Sally was one of the most entertaining folks I'd met in a long time.

The target audience of this book is youth/young adult, but I would heartily recommend this book to anybody.

Far World: Water Keep by J. Scott Savage

I have recently finished a very enjoyable and entertaining book by J. Scott Savage called Far World Water Keep the first book in the Far World series.


It is about a young man, Marcus, who is disabled. He needs a wheelchair to get around, but he doesn't let that slow him down. In spite of his challenges, he and his friends Kyja and Riph Raph meet and overcome many trials that come at them, thanks to a chap by the name of Bonesplinter. No matter how hard they try, or what they do, Bonesplinter (yeah, lovely name) and his colleagues seem ready to stop them at every turn. But on the other hand, no matter how Bonesplinter tries, the kids manage to keep one step ahead, until-

Well, I don't want to give much more away, but I will say that the book was a great read, and I highly recommend it to everyone. My seventh graders particularly liked the parts I read to them, and the ones who have read it, loved it as much as I did.

Christmas

My kids and I had a great Christmas. I think it's one of my favorite holidays, and not just because of the presents. I'm thankful for the birth of Christ, and what his life and atonement mean to me. I can only try every day to be more like him, and treat other people the way He would have me treat them.

Oh my, what a busy past couple of months. School's in full swing now, with the first quarter over half way over! This year, I'm teaching English to 7th, 8th, 9th and 10th graders, as well as a Creative Writing class for Juniors and Seniors.

Here is a link to the trailer for Passage to Zarahemla. (The movie's better, though)

http://www.mormonwebtv.com/joomla/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=178&Itemid=30

Passage to Zarahemla

My kids and I recently watched a new movie called Passage to Zarahemla based on the novel by Chris Heimerdinger. Oh, boy! What a great movie. All of us highly recommend it. It's a story about a young woman and her brother (Kerra and Brock) who have been recently orphaned. The State wants to split them up, but they're not going to have any of that, I tell you what! Instead, they take off to some relatives they haven't seen in nearly twelve years who live in the little town of Leeds, Utah. Near their cousins' home is an area that's always been believed to have supernatural powers associated with it. Strange noises and flickering shadows in the brush have given the area a reputation for being "haunted". I don't want to give much more away but I will say that the folks Kerra finds when she goes into the woods are anything but ghosts! Although some of them are pretty unfriendly. I highly recommend this movie. It was great to watch, and had a very sweet ending!