Category: Uncategorized

February 2021: I’m Back

My last post was in December 2019. I’m no different than anyone else, 2020 was a year I will choose to forget and it ranks right up there with 2009 when I had cancer. 2020 consisted of finding out that my body is getting old and I did not know how to help myself.

I had a series of falls that resulted in fractured shoulder, smashed wrist, bruised elbow, sprained shoulder and contusions on my pinky, elbow and head. In addition, I had started eating what I shouldn’t eat, six years ago I was diagnosed with celiac disease.

Now I am on the mend and its a brand new month.

This month I will be reading the following books (plus more):

Forgiving What You Can’t Forget By Lysa TerKeurst” I will share the book review when I am finished and let you know what I think. Some of you may have completed her bible study of the same name. If so , let me know what you think AFTER I post tthe review. Don’t worry I’ll remind you!

James Liu’s e-Book, “How To Get Your Own Students Online And Charge What You’re Worth,”

He has a Facebook page plus a 21 day challenge to help individual who what to teach online and earn money. I am also part of another group where I am in the process of writing a curriculum .

Take Joy by Jane Yolen. This book is almost out of print. I was able to get used book (and I o mean used) So far I’m really enjoying the book.

Finally:

Challenged to Change Group with Nicki Koziarz

A 40 day journey that I will share, my challenge is to follow my planner: I can do this!!

Flooded: The 5 Best Decisions to Make When Life is Hard and Doubt is Rising by Nicki Koziarz  | Mar 16, 2021

I am part of the launch team for this book.

All of thebooks I mentioned above will have their own blog posts in the near future.

I’m back and better!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

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Reviewing Books

What is an opinion?

More than just reading a book and giving your opinion

As a teacher I often tell my students that an opinion is something that a person says to you with facts that support their belief. According to Miriam Webster and opinion is

“a view or judgment formed about something, not necessarily based on fact or knowledge. i.e. I’m writing to voice my opinion on an issue of great importance”

I’ve always wanted to be a book reviewer because I thought it would be a great way to get books to read for free. However,it really isn’t free because

  1. there are times I really don’t like the book or don’t know why I like the book.
  2. A review is needed in multiple locations
  3. the amount of time involve.

In any case:

My purpose as a book reviewer is to write a review to convinces you (the reader and hopefully a long term follower) that I read the book and I am giving you an honest account of the book. In addition, I send the book reviews to various outlets so that the publishers and book review sites will keep me on their list and send me more books. Finally, I hope to develop a well respected blog that may earn me some money by convincing author’s and publishers that my blog is the place to be and have a review written. (Yes the almighty dollar rears it’s ugly head) Long term goals yes, but the main purpose still remains I live books and wan them to stay in the society so that people will read them even if it is in a ebook (which I use). I just consider reading to be such an important skill for all of us to have and we should all read for pleasure.

This is why I started to write reviews and got involved in the world of book reviews. However, I was recovering from and didn’t allow myself the grief process to run its course, so I became depressed overweight and angry (mainly at God because this is not where I was supposed to be; another blog) I like books and I like my blog. I want to get back to where marketers and publishing companies were sending me notices about their upcoming books.

Stay tuned!!!

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Mystery Book Giveaway

Grand prize (all 11 books): Michelle Dragalin
TOXIC TOFFEE by Amanda Flower – Shanna Alley
STEAMED OPEN by Barbara Ross – Wendy Lee
A BODY IN THE BACKYARD by Elizabeth Spann Craig- Joanne Merrill
A CUP OF HOLIDAY FEAR by Ellie Alexander – Cherry Darche, Carolyn O’Hare, and Dawn Lehnert
WORD TO THE WISE by Jenn McKinlay – Kimberlee Sams
DEATH IN A BUDAPEST BUTTERFLY by Julia Buckley – MaryJo Edgar
SHOT THROUGH THE HEARTH by Kate Carlisle – Marcia Cramer
THE DIVA SWEETENS THE PIE by Krista Davis – Deana Dale
CHAI ANOTHER DAY by Leslie Budewitz – Katherine Lenzovich
A PLAIN VANILLA MURDER by Susan Wittig Albert – Doris Jackson
SILENT NIGHT, DEADLY NIGHT by Vicki Delany – Joanna Schaab

I couldn’t believe that I had won all 11 books!. I filled out the form and sent it in and forgot about it. I don’t win things like that or maybe I would bet one. I’m very excited that I won all ELEVEN of them. Considering I like all of the authors listed and keep up with their series. Here is the link to the contest if you are curious: https://susanalbert.com/mystery-unscramble-giveaway/ and according to Susan Albert-Wittig’s blog Kate Carlisle supplies the idea.

Some of you may or may not be asking yourself now: Don’t you have those books?

The answer is: Yes and No

The books I have are all e-books, these are actually books. I’m so excited!!!

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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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Writer’s Blog: As a writer I . . . .

BOOKS AND OTHER HELP for a Writer

Writer’s Notebook: Biographies, Alphabet books, Backyard Zoo and Guinea Pigs

I love to share information that I have picked up on writer’s journey and help other writers.  I am not famous.  I am not well known.  I just like to help.

guest blog.jpgIn this blog, I would like to share some ideas that help me as a writer.  The picture above illustrates what my desk looks like; I have books on all the above topic.  I suffer a bit from ADD, and so I need to be able to turn my attention from one subject to another.  I also keep the information in my writer’s notebook.  Recently a favorite singer of mine had his backpack stolen, he said that of all the things inside the one item he really misses is his song journal.  I can relate, my writer’s notebook is a journal that I keep all my information in regarding my projects. If it were to go missing, I would lose a lot of research, data and various quotes that I have developed or have received from other authors.  Also, it holds information from my contacts at 12×12, Critique groups, and Social media groups.  My writer’s notebook is priceless, someone else would probably toss it in the nearest dumpster. All this information gets transferred to my calendar, files and other areas. Yet the original information all stays in my notebook for my reference. My little desk behind me holds the material I need for my work.

Stages of a Story Development

Each story in development is at different stages, also, I include research for my online work.

GP WRiters.jpg

A story in development has various stages.  The most important is the stage where I need to fully concentrate on that particular story.  Right now I am working a story about guinea pigs.

The place I love to work at is the library.  There is an enclosed room with a whiteboard that I can spread out on and work.  Everything is available, and there is no distraction, plus it has a small cafe and easy access if I need a book or some help from a friendly library.  On the desk, I have my laptop, which doubles as a tablet, a kindle, and tablet plus water and time.     This way I can focus on one subject at a time, did I mention the room is enclosed!!!

My desk at home often looks like this:

A Mess!!

Writing is a process, a development there are many areas that a person must take into consideration they develop and write a story.

In conclusion:

Find out what works for you and organize your life to suit you!  Work for yourself and in a way that suits you!  My way works for me because I need to move, yet have all my stuff centrally located for when I am online teaching or meeting with people.

Develop your environment to suit yourself!!               

Shared with Kissing Authors & Astronauments SHere’s the link to your blog post for sharing:

http://www.amyrivers.com/blog/whatsyourstory-featuring-michelle-draglin

 

51 Talk  http://www.51talk.com/na?referrer=4869960

Social Media:  Linkedin  https://www.linkedin.com/in/michelle-dragalin-e-ds-3ba1315/

 

Disclaimer:  The 51 Talk link will direct you an application process as an online teacher.  A successful application process will result in monetary gain for myself.

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Week in Review

 I am a new creature in Christ: old things have passed away, behold, all things are new                                                                                                                                                                   -(2 Corinthians 5:17 KJV)

“Did you turn your clock ahead an hour?  Daylight savings time began at 2:00 a.m.

The Project List for February remains unfinished, so it rolls over to March and so it continues . . .

I am very proud of myself this year, I have four binders that provide me with everything that I want to accomplish this year.  One of them provides me with an income almost equal to my previous job.  Thank you God for this accomplishment.

Screenshot 2017-07-02 19.36.05

Books to Review:

There are a number of books to review, I feel the main character in Under the Tuscany who uses the book reviews as a way to avoid her life events.

2015-06-20 01.25.33

However, there is one conversation that I need to keep on the forefront of my mind this year: “Plan for events that have not occurred, they have no possibility of occurring but plan for them anyway because they will arrive.”

drum-rollMystery Thriller Week: It’s coming be preparedread-all-the-books

Writing:

I’m writer again!!!

!writer

Be prepared because it’s a journey!!!

 

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