Author: Michelle Dragalin

Michelle Dragalin-- a Christian, writer and a teacher. All of my interests wrap around, intersect and mesh with these areas of my life. I have linked (almost) all of my social media sites so we can share our opinions.

Create a Perfect Product

Those of you, (I know there are only a few) may remember that I wanted to be a newspaper columnist. Erma Bombeck was my hero, but there were many others that wrote columns that I read and enjoyed. For whatever reason they stopped, but Erma Bombect was always there until her death.

This has been a dream of mine since I started reading the newspaper in elementary school. Over the years, technology became part of my life and it started in middle school, because I loved being an audio-visual tech. It was great to be called upon and asked to fix a problem that the teachers couldn’t fix. Now I want to combine the two, technology, writing and education. It was a great combination in my opinion.

In addition, to this blog, I am developing a Teacher Store where my products can be sold. I need a beta group to help me develop products that online/hybrid teachers need. My goal is to help teachers who are an online teacher or hybrid teachers and develop the materials and resource that the need to be good teachers Brick and Mortar, Hybrid and Online Teachers have require similar materials but they need to be tweaked for their delivery. Over the next few blogs, I will develop the specific kind of beta group that I need to help me make the products that they need.

Can you help me?

Please think about it and continue to read my blog. I really want this to be specific to online/hybrid teachers.

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A Week in Review 2/17/2019

Five years ago I realized that I was not as young as I though I was, I was not. This is not where I thought I would be at this stage in my life. I thought my writing career would be further along, I did think I wold be working at home, but I thought I would be earning more than I am currently.

However, I’m not making it a woe is me type situation. Although, well, that’s for another time and another blog. :

“May we never despise small beginnings

Instead, we can embrace the place God has us. We can serve faithfully & joyfully without clamoring or demanding for more.

Because our early days of preparation aren’t small. They’re necessary. And God’s ways and timing are always best.”

There are several parts of this verse that apply to my current situation and place in life. I just never thought that I would at this low level. I fell like I am experiencing the theme of the movie “Groundhog Day.”

In addition, I would like to say to anyone who feels that this is not the place they thought they would be at this stage in there life. This is one of the reason I chose increase as my word this year. Increase in all areas, especially in confidence in myself and position in life.

This is my thought for this week. Have a great week!!

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Lynn Cahoon: A Preview of Books and Novellas

Main Character: Jill Gardner, Owner of “Coffee, Books, and More” Store, South Cove, California

A Scene for Tourist trap from the blogger.

Jill is a transplant from the big city.  She was a lawyer, married and on the fast track to success.  Life happen and she moved to South Cove, CA and opened a Coffee/Book Store.  Thanks to an inheritance she receives in the first book she brings her aunt on board to help manage the store.  One thing leads to another and she becomes an important part of South Cove. Read the books & novellas, help her solve the mysteries and keep up with her life as it changes in South Cove.

2014: +Guidebook to Murder +Mission to Murder +If the Shoe Kills

Books by Lynn Cahoon

(Multiple reviews:   blog link:  https://michelledragalin50.com/2017/05/09/lynn-cahoon-book-reviews/)

2015:         +Dressed to Kill                                                + Killer Run

(Multiple reviews:   blog link:  https://michelledragalin50.com/2017/05/09/lynn-cahoon-book-reviews/)

2016:         + Murder on Wheels                                        +Tea Cups and Carnage

(Multiple reviews:   blog link:  https://michelledragalin50.com/2017/05/09/lynn-cahoon-book-reviews/)

  (Blog link: https://michelledragalin50.com/2017/05/16/new-books-from-lynn-cahoon/)

2017:          Hospitality & Homicide

  Killer Party: (Blog: https://michelledragalin50.com/2017/07/18/a-new-book-in-the-tourist-trap-series/)

2018:          A Deadly Brew                           Rockets Dead Glare*                                   Santa Puppy*

2019:          Corned Beef & Causalities*                      Mother’s Day Mayhem*

CAT LATIMER MYSTERY

Blogger's view of A Cat Latimer Mystery scene
Series: By Jlfdz – Own work, CC BY-SA 4.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=44017023

Cat Latimer has returned to hometown after her ex-husband dies to wrap up his affairs and set up her career as a writer.  She is finding several pieces of information that shed a new light on her break up with her ex husband and their relationship. Cat is starting over, sort of, she has hired a cook and handy man to help her run her writer’s retreat. Of course, since it is a mystery series, she has a case to solve. The area is located in Colorado where I live so I recognize some of the sites explored. This is a series that you to keep up with because there are some twists and turns.

Main Character: Cat Latimer, former English professor, owner of bed and breakfast in Colorado

2016:           A Story to Kill  (Blog Link:   https://michelledragalin50.com/2017/05/16/a-story-to-kill/)  

2017:          Fatality by Firelight    (Blog Link: https://michelledragalin50.com/2017/05/16/a-cat-latimer-mystery-by-lynn-cahoon/)                                   

     Of Murder and Men    

2018:          Slay in Character   

2019:          Sconed to Death   

FARM-TO-FORK MYSTERY Series:

Angie Turner has returned home with her best friend after her grandmother had died.  She and her friend begin the process of opening a farm to fork restaurant and all of the work that it entails.  In addition, to headaches of staffing, supplying and running a restaurant Angie becomes embroiled in a relationship and three murders (one per book) that need to be solved in order for their restaurant to return to “normal” operations.

Main Character: Angie Turner, owner of the farm to table County Seat restaurant, Idaho

2018: Who Moved My Goat Cheese? Killer Green tomatoes

2019: One Potato, Two Potato, Dead

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Author: Lynn Cahoon

Lynn Cahoon is an author that I discovered via Netgally. (Netgally is a website that influence the sale of book by offering advanced copies of ebooks to book reviewers.) This author, Lynn Cahoon, has written three series that are published by Kensington/Lyrical Underground. She also writes contemporary romances set in a small town under the pen name Lynn Collins. I have not read any of the romances that Ms. Cahoon has written at all. I really don’t like romances.

This post is about what I know and read about Lynn Cahoon. Based on the information i have received she is a breast cancer survivor and it sounds like she reorganized her life by writing. I was very impressed with her profile, her output in the last few years I have read all of her books in the following three series:

TOURIST TRAP

CAT LATMINER

FARM TO FORK

I have really enjoyed each and every of the books. Since I haven’t posted all of the reviews for the books in the series. In this post and the series to follow I will post the reviews and also the links to Amazon, Good reads, in addition to sending copies to her and her publisher, which is standard

Look for all of this, as it will be coming soon.

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2019 THE WORD IS INCREASE

Golem (GTN) Value Increase
increase

Joshua 1:8-10 ESV

This Book of the Law shall not depart from your mouth, but you shall meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do according to all that is written in it. For then you will make your way prosperous, and then you will have good success. Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be frightened, and do not be dismayed, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go.” And Joshua commanded the officers of the people,

2019

My word is increase.  This word is both a verb and a noun according to Google online definition:

“verb

/inˈkrēs/

  1. 1.

become or make greater in size, amount, intensity, or degree.

“car use is increasing at an alarming rate”

synonyms: grow, get bigger, get larger, become greater, enlarge, expand, swell; More

noun

/ˈinkrēs/

  1. 1.

an instance of growing or making greater.

“some increase in inflation” (2019)”

The first thought may be that I am looking for an increase in finances, I AM!.
However, I am also looking for:

PRAY

PASSION

STEADFASTNESS

SPIRTUALGROWTH

JOY

THANKFULNESS

PEACE

PATIENCE

KINDNESS

REFLECTION

GOODNESS

FAITHFULNESS

CONFIDENCE

ATTITUDE

COURAGE

WISDOM

BALANCE


 

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Appreciation Week

Week ending October 6, 2018

Appreciation Time

Verse of the Week:

John 14:27: “I leave peace with you, I give you My peace. I don’t give it to you as the world gives it. Don’t feel troubled or afraid

 

Harvest what you sow!

Time to Decide What Goals Should be Completed:

The Fourth Quarter for the year 2018 has started.  W3 have just finished the first full week of this Fourth quarter. As a result, there are 12 weeks left to determine what and how you would like to end 2018.

I chose the above verse, because one of the ways that you can determine how to end the year would be to sow what you want harvest by December 31, 2018. To help you decide to ask yourself “What can I do to reap a good harvest?” or determine what it is your want or need to accomplish and reach out to someone else.  This will boomerang a harvest back at you.

I know what I want to reap before the end of this year.  However, I have spent a lot of time writing and telling myself what I want, what I need and why when I have been working so hard it hasn’t been happening?  Well, John 14:27 has given me my answer.

Now I need to find people who want what I want and help them get it without being prideful.

Give it a go and have a great week!!

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Distance Education

Distance education is a growing trend in education and training and is therefore, rapidly transforming the field of training that companies will offer their employees as well as, education for students birth to 100. The defined of distance education “as institution-based, formal education where the leaning group is separate, and here interactive telecommunications systems are used to connect learners, resources, and instructors (Simonson, Smaldiino, & Zvacek, 2015) provides a basis for what distance education. However, the definition should also include “separated by geography and sometimes time (Laureate Education, n.d.)”. As both a student and my career as an educator has been impacted by distance education.

The four components of distance education:
A. Instructionally based
B. Separation of Teacher and Student
C. Interactive telecommunications
D. Sharing of data, voice, and video experiences (Simonson, Smaldiino, & Zvacek, 2015)

Are part of my experience in education, first as a student I received my degree in special education by attending weekly classes at a local school, where the instructor was visible to us on a large screen. Not only did he instruct our group of students, but another group of student in another city. We all received the same lecture and as stated in the definition, we received the same resources. If a student wanted to speak during the discussion or ask a question, we had to push button that allowed both groups and the instructor to hear the comment or question. The class was conducted in real time. All of our assignments were sent via email and tests were in the classroom or via computer.

Next as a freelance educator, I conduct lessons with individual students or groups of students in real time, but they are in another part of the country and world. In addition, all other communication is completed via email or a special app. I develop curriculum and work as an adjunct professor for a institution in Florida. I developed the material for the class and recently did a Facebook live as an introduction to the class. Methods of delivery do not limit themselves to a large screen or a video camera, but also Google hangout, zoom, and Facebook just to name a few. In addition, I have conducted webinars (both synchronously and asynchronous ly) as part of professional development for other educators in the US.

Distance education provides a cost effective means for individuals to learn and study at their own pace, with the assistance of real time instructor who can answer questions, provide materials and help them to progress with their education or training. I think Dr. Simonson is correct in his view that distance education will become the “traditional method” of education and training for the next generation.

References:

Distance Learning Timeline Continuum. Laureate Education (Producer) n.d. Distance Education: The next

generation (Video file) https://class.waldenu.edu

Simonson, M., Smaldiino, S., & Zvacek, S. (2015) Teaching and Learning at a Distance: Foundations of Distance

Education (6th Ed) Information Age Publishing, Inc.

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