tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-69902858940590679682024-03-13T18:00:17.297-04:00The Miles FamilyFaithCDHhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00993102663604597153noreply@blogger.comBlogger66125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6990285894059067968.post-38370027124431091032012-06-16T21:18:00.001-04:002012-06-16T21:18:46.306-04:00Happy Father's Day<h2 style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #cc0000;">Happy Father's Day!!</span></h2>
<h2 style="text-align: center;">
<br /></h2>
<h2 style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: small;">It's hard to believe it's mid June already! Time is going fast and the kiddos are learning new things every day. Today I wanted to take the time to thank Steve for being such a fantastic father to our three children. </span></h2>
<h2 style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: small;">He's been my rock through everything! He is the most compassionate and understanding man I know. He is devoted to his God and his family. I knew I was lucky to be dating such a stud 12 years ago! This year we will be celebrating 8 years of marriage! </span></h2>
<h2 style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: small;">Thank you for being a great friend, husband, and father! Happy father's day! I hope you enjoy your day and your gift from the kiddos. Thanks for allowing me to be your partner in life. </span></h2>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-JwymxJzFIAc/T90tv_UBvdI/AAAAAAAAAOc/qEr4uhWOuJI/s1600/004.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-JwymxJzFIAc/T90tv_UBvdI/AAAAAAAAAOc/qEr4uhWOuJI/s320/004.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-0rJvkXCTrPc/T90twYW7TDI/AAAAAAAAAOg/ZWTlK3V45vo/s1600/162.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-0rJvkXCTrPc/T90twYW7TDI/AAAAAAAAAOg/ZWTlK3V45vo/s320/162.JPG" width="244" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-fgA3TYXHLps/T90twj1ox9I/AAAAAAAAAOs/6742DBakDjI/s1600/176.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-fgA3TYXHLps/T90twj1ox9I/AAAAAAAAAOs/6742DBakDjI/s320/176.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-mRwhKJO06kw/T90t3wcQ-aI/AAAAAAAAAO0/Ff0LsMkQR0M/s1600/IMG_0445.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-mRwhKJO06kw/T90t3wcQ-aI/AAAAAAAAAO0/Ff0LsMkQR0M/s320/IMG_0445.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-74jUSS7DVm4/T90uSxuYUAI/AAAAAAAAAO8/d9boJzUZHgI/s1600/September,+October+2011+227.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-74jUSS7DVm4/T90uSxuYUAI/AAAAAAAAAO8/d9boJzUZHgI/s320/September,+October+2011+227.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-6MXt7dHgTCo/T90u-7HXj-I/AAAAAAAAAPE/sCyc0rO5zxw/s1600/sweetest+day.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-6MXt7dHgTCo/T90u-7HXj-I/AAAAAAAAAPE/sCyc0rO5zxw/s320/sweetest+day.jpg" width="244" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-t5v1-YO5R3Y/T90v45FAUFI/AAAAAAAAAPM/3NrXomxjJac/s1600/Faith+and+Mommy+day+1+003.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-t5v1-YO5R3Y/T90v45FAUFI/AAAAAAAAAPM/3NrXomxjJac/s320/Faith+and+Mommy+day+1+003.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-hFttfZGwtF8/T90v51FHI4I/AAAAAAAAAPU/MY8oNAkwlP0/s1600/Faith+and+Mommy+day+1+075.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-hFttfZGwtF8/T90v51FHI4I/AAAAAAAAAPU/MY8oNAkwlP0/s320/Faith+and+Mommy+day+1+075.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-pWQCDiWKMI0/T90v7B12-JI/AAAAAAAAAPc/9_Z9NwU6YhM/s1600/Faith+and+Mommy+day+1+081.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-pWQCDiWKMI0/T90v7B12-JI/AAAAAAAAAPc/9_Z9NwU6YhM/s320/Faith+and+Mommy+day+1+081.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-xUI5o1Riy2A/T90v_181bHI/AAAAAAAAAPk/vPN1bJfz17Q/s1600/Abby+10+months+and+on+011.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-xUI5o1Riy2A/T90v_181bHI/AAAAAAAAAPk/vPN1bJfz17Q/s320/Abby+10+months+and+on+011.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-9SwPIH_01rA/T90wVXMD3LI/AAAAAAAAAPw/1dvEcAan1XE/s1600/Florida+Trip+Part+II+June+2011+022.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-9SwPIH_01rA/T90wVXMD3LI/AAAAAAAAAPw/1dvEcAan1XE/s320/Florida+Trip+Part+II+June+2011+022.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<h2 style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: small;"> </span></h2>FaithCDHhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00993102663604597153noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6990285894059067968.post-10487658252776887702012-06-06T12:05:00.001-04:002012-06-06T12:25:05.507-04:00Literacy Strategy-Amy Miles<br />
<br />
<br />
<h2 style="text-align: center;">
<b>Environmental Print Mini Lesson</b></h2>
<div style="text-align: left;">
Background Information: </div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
This lesson was taught in a preschool/daycare center where I used to work. The students ranged in age from 4-6 years of age. In the past when teaching environmental print in preschool and kindergarten I taught more informal lessons. In preschool, I would ask them questions about the food items in the kitchen area when they were doing imaginative play. <b> </b>In kindergarten, environmental print was integrated into the morning message, social studies, and activities that were sent home with the students to complete with their parents. </div>
<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-iuyftfFpj_A/T897mKalARI/AAAAAAAAANs/MRivRb9hZwg/s1600/DSCN0755%255B1%255D.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><br /></a><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-upwab4yV0Kw/T8-D-uJuxQI/AAAAAAAAAOQ/D0uIJ_IldF4/s1600/189.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-upwab4yV0Kw/T8-D-uJuxQI/AAAAAAAAAOQ/D0uIJ_IldF4/s320/189.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
New Strategy:</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<a href="http://www.readwritethink.org/parent-afterschool-resources/tips-howtos/read-world-around-30299.html?main-tab=1#tabs">ReadWriteThink-Read the World Around You</a> </div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
Published by International Reading Association</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-qPHYefyn1vE/T8-D98m47UI/AAAAAAAAAOI/40x67WsRXbU/s1600/188.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-qPHYefyn1vE/T8-D98m47UI/AAAAAAAAAOI/40x67WsRXbU/s320/188.JPG" width="209" /></a></div>
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
Justification:</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
After researching various environmental print lessons and activities this lesson was short, simple and self contained. The students that I worked with only had their previous experiences with them and very limited structured teaching content experience. I needed a lesson that would stand alone and still provide the students with a learning opportunity and information they could take back and share with their families. </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-cHXLOC2s3Ms/T897UKHk-mI/AAAAAAAAANc/lxvTkVLOOGk/s1600/DSCN0757%255B1%255D.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Oc0jH4ukKls/T897gTKTvdI/AAAAAAAAANk/5nTAUX58HVI/s1600/DSCN0753%255B1%255D.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><br /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-hcJNF26IkTo/T8-D9Fc1wuI/AAAAAAAAAN4/oLhG3BGBqNc/s1600/185.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-hcJNF26IkTo/T8-D9Fc1wuI/AAAAAAAAAN4/oLhG3BGBqNc/s320/185.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
Procedure:</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
*Greet the children and introduce the lesson about EP. </div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
*Lay out labels from different brands and products of food, toys, movies, and health care products so that all students can see. </div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
*Ask each student to pick out one item that they recognize from the pile. </div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
*Take turns asking the students the following questions:</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
*How do you know what is in the bag/box/container?</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
*What letter do you see at the beginning?</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
*What sound does that letter make?</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
*Do you see other letters that you know?</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
*Do you see letters from your name in the words on the box? (for younger children)</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
*Do you see any blends? (for children who can already read)</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
*We went through the questions with three different EP items. Then we talked about how we look for picture clues to tell us what things might be. I asked them if you could tell a story with out knowing the words to the story. Then we tried it with a book one of the children picked out. The children realized how many different stories could be told from pictures. </div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
*We ended the mini lesson with a game of "I Spy" and a challenge to read labels in their pantry at home to their parents. </div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-f7dMfcJ2AeQ/T8-D9XqeVNI/AAAAAAAAAOA/D6qle30EYbU/s1600/187.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-f7dMfcJ2AeQ/T8-D9XqeVNI/AAAAAAAAAOA/D6qle30EYbU/s320/187.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
Reflection:</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
Looking back at teaching the lesson I would have created more opportunities for the students to extend their learning at home. This could have been done with a list of games parents could play with their child, a check list or worksheet for the child to complete at home, or by creating a book with the group that they could then use in their classroom. I also realized that if I had taught this lesson in a culturally diverse setting I would have needed to enlist the help of parents. Each family could have brought in a bag of labels and logos from food items and health and beauty products used in their homes. This would have been a great way to give the students a larger view of the world beyond themselves and ensure that all students could identify items from the pile. </div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
The students all responded well to the questions. Some of them needed confidence boosting as they kept saying, "But I can't read." This is when we talked about using clues around us to figure out what the words might say. </div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>FaithCDHhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00993102663604597153noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6990285894059067968.post-20737928981384722702012-02-29T12:38:00.003-05:002012-02-29T12:58:24.747-05:00Baby StepsI was in 8th grade and feeling both nervous and excited about my first formal dance at school. 8th grade graduation culminated with an evening dance for all of the students at West Intermediate. I was very intimidated by dresses and everything girly. My mom and I went shopping and I found a pair of brown and yellow thinly striped dress pants that matched a button up sleeveless top. <br />The day of the dance my friends Meghan and Mel took me to the salon with them. I sat down in the big soft black chair and held onto the hard plastic arms for dear life. A man greeted me and asked, "What were you thinking of doing with your hair?" I froze in the moment.<br />I thought to myself, <em>Me...this man is asking me what I want done with my hair. Didn't HE go to school for this, because I wear a pony tail EVERY day to school. </em>I tried to gently let him know that I was in no way a girly girl and therefor I had no idea what I "wanted" done with my hair. <br />"Ummm...I like curls and I usually wear it up." I responded quietly.<br />He took his fingers and weaved them through my hair piling it on top of my head, combing here and there, then letting it fall again to my shoulders. He wrapped his large fingers around a can of hair spray and sprayed a thick cloud of sticky spray over my head. Then he took it section by section and sprayed it even MORE! I was holding in my breath so that I wouldn't offend him by coughing at his "masterpiece". <br />The male hairstylist then curled each piece of hair perfectly and pinned it into place. Some of the pins slid effortlessly into place while others jabbed into my scalp. As he neared my ears I requested that he leave two pieces down near my ears and curl them. After a few more pins, nips, and blasts of the hairspray my hair was complete. A beautiful pile of curls impeccably placed on the crown of my head. I let out an audible sigh, thanked him and went on my way to prepare for the dance.FaithCDHhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00993102663604597153noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6990285894059067968.post-63323633861938660862011-12-03T21:11:00.003-05:002011-12-03T21:24:08.078-05:00Virtual WorldsThis week in class we talked about virtual gaming and its place in education. We read an article and watched a youtube video about Second Life, which is a virtual world similar to The Sims. I remember playing The Sims a few times but I just could not get into it. My brother loved it though! I think that because I have a hard time getting excited about it, it would be difficult to use this in my classroom. Also being a mother of 2 little ones I don't have the time available to invest in developing a "virtual world" to use with my curriculum. I also think that with the limited time teachers have to teach each topic, this would/could be a total time waster. Students could spend a lot of time and not complete the task at hand. If I taught in an area that had a laptop program I might think about doing something that deals with the virtual world, because they have time at home to complete the work and spend as much extra time on it as they would like. <br /><br />I'm all over the place on my feelings for it. Because of how involved people get in virtual worlds it becomes another gaming problem. Students will be spending more time indoors on the laptop or computer all because of an assignment that a teacher gave them!<br /><br />I don't think that VR is a fad because I remember it when I was in 6th grade with a VR game at Studio 28 and it's still around. It is evolving and there are still people out there who enjoy it. As long as there is bullying, depression, etc. there will be VR. There will always be someone who wants/needs to escape the reality that they are in and VR gives them that opportunity.<br /><br />-Amy MilesFaithCDHhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00993102663604597153noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6990285894059067968.post-6805408985901784202011-12-03T20:54:00.002-05:002011-12-03T20:54:51.873-05:00Checking out some educational technology blogshttp://www.emergingedtech.com/2011/12/education-technology-tweet-wrap-for-the-week-of-11-28-11/comment-page-1/#comment-27058<br /><br />This week it was hard to find an actual blog for some reason. Lots of them I found seemed to be articles more than a blog.FaithCDHhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00993102663604597153noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6990285894059067968.post-70428065045486949352011-11-25T19:59:00.002-05:002011-11-25T20:23:37.571-05:00Curricular Integration ProjectFor my CIP I have chosen to do a webquest of sorts for my small group of girls that I teach for 8th grade confirmation. This webquest will include outside reading (or looking up bible verses on the Internet), video links, and websites. The final project or outcome of the webquest is for the group of girls to research and select a charity that is in need during the Christmas season. Then as a collective group we will listen to each of the girls "presentation" of their project and then select a charity to do a service project at before Christmas.<br /><br />To complete the project I need to do some more research of my own and find some good links to use within the webquest. Also I am trying to decide if they will be on the "hunt" for something, if the quest will have a story line, or if it will be more of a guided project. I am also thinking about collaborating with the director of confirmation to see what tools he usually uses to teach this topic/lesson and see if I can design something that could possibly be used for all of the confirmation groups.<br /><br />By doing this project I hope to learn different ways to integrate technology into the webquest while still having the learning get a significant amount of information/learning through completing it. I am also counting on being able to easily complete the webquest since I learned how to do this about 5 or 6 yrs ago in undergrad! I also want to try and use my podcasting skills within the webquest!<br /><br />I feel that I can connect the learning from this project to what I will be doing in the classroom as this project is like a trial run. I can try out several different things and see what works and what doesn't. I also will learn from my small group of girls what parts they enjoyed, had trouble with or what they disliked by receiving feedback more quickly than I would in the classroom. By trying different items in the project I will also become more familiar with the tech tools that we learned in this class. (BTW-random note...we are watching the state football playoffs and they are using Google Earth to show where a city is in MI and then zooming in to show their high school!)<br /><br />In the future I hope to be able to more easily integrate the tech tools that we learned through this class into my curriculum focusing on the fact that the subject matter comes first and then the technology should be there to enhance the learning experience. I have also learned that it is important to have a plan in place before you just take your class to the computer lab. In my classroom in the future we will be planning out our Internet searches before we go to the computer lab to make the time in the lab more efficient. From this project I am learning that no matter how thorough or self explanitory you make your webquest or lesson you can't just assume your students know exactly what is expected of them. So its important to show examples and go through the directions before the students get on the computer. They may have questions or come across problems that I had not anticipated.<br /><br />I am excited to use what I have learned from this class and this project in my future classroom. Also to use it as a sub. I was thinking about recording some stories read by my as a podcast to play for my students when I sub if they need to listen to a story to kill some time at the end of the day (I even bought some portable Black Friday cheap speakers for this purpose!).FaithCDHhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00993102663604597153noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6990285894059067968.post-4794425435886364322011-10-29T19:04:00.006-04:002011-10-29T19:42:28.859-04:00WebquestsThis week we learned about Webquests in my grad class. I remember learning about them and creating one in my undergrad technology in education class. I believe they are a great way to keep students focused and on task while using technology. It also helps to ensure that the information they are using is valid (hopefully the creator makes sure it is!). The weakness of the Webquest is that students aren't able to sift through internet sites themselves to determine what is credible information and what is just junk out there. This is a skill that students need to develop and teachers may feel that its too time consuming! Another weakness is that like anything created by us teachers it may have bias. Depending on the topic the bias may be very clear or it may be hidden. This is a problem because as teachers we want our students to develop their own thoughts and opinions based on what they learn and experience not because its what their parents, teachers, or friends believe.<br /><br />http://questgarden.com/133/79/7/111022141423/index.htm<br /><br />Above is the link I found for a Webquest on Climate and Weather for 7th grade.<br /><br /><ol id="internal-source-marker_0.6736653957689619"><ol><li style="list-style-type:lower-alpha;color:#000000;background-font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;font-family:Arial;font-size:11pt;color:#ffffff;"><p dir="ltr" style="margin-right: 34pt; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;"><span style="color:#000000;background-font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;font-family:Arial;font-size:100%;color:#ffffff;" >Introduction. <span style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);">Strength is that the Intro is clear and simple. Weakness is that the webquest teaches the students a larger objective and not just how to compare and contrast weather and climate. This may cause students to discount the other information that is being presented. </span><br /></span></p></li><li style="list-style-type:lower-alpha;color:#000000;background-font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;font-family:Arial;font-size:11pt;color:#ffffff;"><p dir="ltr" style="margin-right: 34pt; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;"><span style="color:#000000;background-font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;font-family:Arial;font-size:100%;color:#ffffff;" >A task that is doable and interesting. <span style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);">I think students would be interested in being a reported and videographer. The weakness is that there is a discrepancy between the Intro and the task. The Intro. says the students will travel into the future and the task speaks of traveling back in time. This is important because climate is more about the atmospheric conditions or weather over time<span style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);"> therefor you need to look at the past to determine what the future may hold.</span></span><br /></span></p></li><li style="list-style-type: lower-alpha; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); font-weight: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;font-family:Arial;font-size:11pt;"><p dir="ltr" style="margin-right: 34pt; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;"><span style=" color: rgb(0, 0, 0); background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); font-weight: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;font-family:Arial;font-size:100%;" >A process (do learners know what to do and when?). <span style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);">The learners know what process they are supposed to complete and what they need to do before they can move onto the next step. The only weakness is that Process 1 fails to mention the need to apply the information to the state which they selected and where to find that information. The process has a lot of different types of information for the learners to interact with. </span><br /></span></p></li><li style="list-style-type:lower-alpha;color:#000000;background-font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;font-family:Arial;font-size:11pt;color:#ffffff;"><p dir="ltr" style="margin-right: 34pt; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;"><span style="color:#000000;background-font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;font-family:Arial;font-size:100%;color:#ffffff;" >Evaluation. <span style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);">Students have a rubric and questions to follow to make sure that they have included everything. The weakness is that items that are not associated with the subject matter receive more points than the science content!</span><br /></span></p></li><li style="list-style-type:lower-alpha;color:#000000;background-font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;font-family:Arial;font-size:11pt;color:#ffffff;"><p dir="ltr" style="margin-right: 34pt; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;"><span style="color:#000000;background-font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;font-family:Arial;font-size:100%;color:#ffffff;" >A conclusion that brings closure to the quest, reminds the learners about what they've learned...Overall thoughts. <span style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);">The conclusion seems to tell the answers to the Intro. The weakness with this is that students could simply click ahead and use that information in their project instead of viewing the videos, songs, and reading the articles that go more in depth about the information. Having a hard time finding a strength in this part, but I suppose it would be that it takes the standard taught and makes it simple to understand. </span><br /></span></p></li><li style="list-style-type:lower-alpha;color:#000000;background-font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;font-family:Arial;font-size:11pt;color:#ffffff;"><p dir="ltr" style="margin-right: 34pt; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;"><span style="color:#000000;background-font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;font-family:Arial;font-size:100%;color:#ffffff;" >And, lastly:</span></p></li><li style="list-style-type: lower-alpha; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); font-weight: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;font-family:Arial;font-size:11pt;"><p dir="ltr" style="margin-right: 34pt; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;"><span style=" color: rgb(0, 0, 0); background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); font-weight: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;font-family:Arial;font-size:100%;" >Is this a webquest you think you could use without modification in your classroom (not for the project in this class -- that should be your own creation)? What might you have to change? <span style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);">No I would not be able to use this webquest without modification. There are some areas that need some more attention to detail so that students get the most out of the project. It's a great idea and has good resources but the students are supposed to transfer this information they learn and apply to a state of their choice. I don't see a whole lot of guidance for the students with that transition. Some students could jump that gap but other students would have great difficulty trying to apply the new information themselves.<br /></span></span></p></li></ol><li style="list-style-type:lower-alpha;color:#000000;background-font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;font-family:Arial;font-size:11pt;color:#ffffff;"><span style=" color: rgb(0, 0, 0); background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); font-weight: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;font-family:Arial;font-size:11pt;" ><span style=" color: rgb(255, 0, 0);"><br /></span></span></li></ol>FaithCDHhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00993102663604597153noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6990285894059067968.post-24172160161879548252011-10-11T20:13:00.002-04:002011-10-11T20:33:31.092-04:00METSThe standard I chose to address is:<br /><br />PK-2.CC.2. use a variety of developmentally appropriate digital tools (e.g., word processors, paint programs) to communicate ideas to classmates, families, and others<br /><br />I currently teach Preschool to 3 year olds where we don't have technology available in our classroom. I think the center is against using it in the classrooms for children under 3.5-4 years old. So here is what I would do to integrate it into my current curriculum if it was allowed where I worked!<br /><br />Next week we will be learning about how our body grows. I would do the following activities during center times throughout the week to enhance the curriculum about how our body grows.<br /><br />Literacy- Students will type their names on a word processing document that is already opened. To enhance their skills the teacher can show the students how to make a capital letter.<br /><br />Math-The pictures the students "colored" on the computer will be printed, cut out and used for a sequencing activity.<br /><br />Art- The students will create a self portrait using the paint studio on the computer. First they will create a self portrait of themselves as a baby (using pre-made shapes on the computer) and then they will make a self portrait of what they look like now.<br /><br />Science- Students will use the paint studio application to fill "color" the pictures of how a plant grows from a seed to a plant.<br /><br />Once a week the teacher will ask the students a question and the teacher will type their response into a word document. This will help to model the use of word processing and for students to be involved in a print rich environment.<br /><br />Fine motor- The students will practice holding a mouse and clicking the buttons by moving it around on a piece of paper that has a line drawn on it.<br /><br />Students will be assessed by the teacher while they are involved in the activities throughout the week. Each center has 2-3 students at it.FaithCDHhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00993102663604597153noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6990285894059067968.post-51133929565096091642011-10-08T15:56:00.002-04:002011-10-08T16:07:02.558-04:00Digital Writing, Digital TeachingGVSUgraceam is the first comment on this blog post from an assistant professor at Central Michigan University. Go Chips! Who today are playing NC State!<br /><br />http://hickstro.org/2011/10/06/some-thoughts-on-digital-reading/#commentsFaithCDHhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00993102663604597153noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6990285894059067968.post-40646996786247424432011-09-22T19:35:00.002-04:002011-09-22T19:38:12.841-04:00Sharewith911I found this blog that lists some great educational technology websites. One of them I chose to read was this http://theinnovativeeducator.blogspot.com/2011/09/mobile-phones-in-schools-as-lifesaving.html?showComment=1316734486784#c3685837517615893014<br /><br />It talks about using mobile phones in schools to help save lives! The example is using your phone to take a pictures of what is happening in a school during a school shooting. While this is one of the extreme examples it could be very beneficial to law enforcement and first responders! Be sure to check it out.FaithCDHhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00993102663604597153noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6990285894059067968.post-47990347593172699042011-09-12T21:37:00.002-04:002011-09-12T21:52:07.573-04:00Technology: Home and SchoolTechnology at Home:<br /><br />In our home we have a desktop, laptop, iPod touch, iPod nano, PS3, and 2 Plasma TV's with Netflix streaming and the ability to connect to the internet. We also have cell phones, but we don't have a texting plan so that puts us a little behind the generation that we currently teach. For me I feel we have plenty of technology in our home! My husband would disagree since he loves to have the latest and greatest of things. He is currently dreaming of a projection TV system for the basement along with an iPad.<br /><br />I currently teach at a preschool and we have hardly any technology. There is one student computer in the Pre-K classroom and it currently doesn't work. In my classroom I bring the iPod touch and connect it to a speaker doc. I use it a lot to play movement songs, relaxing songs for nap/rest time, and songs to bring the students together when they aren't following directions! I think that having more technology would be amazing in preschool. These children can't write yet so they only have their words to express themselves. How cool would it be to have a webchat with another classroom! Pen pals for 3 year olds via Skype.<br /><br />When I worked in the middle school setting technology was always being talked about. How can we get easy to use technology that's free into the classroom so that teachers can use it! Our technology teacher taught us after school about virtual field trips, how to navigate and search for ones that are free, as well as how to set them up in his classroom. I think that as teachers we need to think about how the technology works to engage our students. We don't want to use it just to use it. How can we use it to get our students excited about the more boring topics??<br /><br />I would hope that with greater opportunities with technology in the classroom that my students would benefit from it. Would they be able to learn more about different cultures by taking a virtual field trip to another country? Then could we work to set up a Skype session where the students could do a Q and A to learn more about what its like to be a child in another country. Facebook has really opened up the opportunities to meet and stay connected to others around the world. We just have to take advantage of it and bring it into the classroom and have administrators and technology directors that agree with it!<br /><br />I hope that this class will introduce me to different ideas about technology, new ways to use technology and the different successes and struggles in school districts across Michigan!<br /><br />Have a great week!<br /><br />-Amy MilesFaithCDHhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00993102663604597153noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6990285894059067968.post-3468672961837256952011-09-07T20:28:00.001-04:002011-09-07T20:37:16.649-04:00It's been a long time!It's been too long my friends!<br /><br />Abby is getting big (2 years old now) and Luke ( 5 months old) are doing great. I also started taking classes towards my masters and will be posting here for one of my classes!<br /><br />-AmyFaithCDHhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00993102663604597153noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6990285894059067968.post-44008256695765627342010-08-15T21:38:00.002-04:002010-08-15T21:48:36.796-04:00Just sharing something that came from my bible study...Don't feel sorry for me this is just part of the grieving process...<br /><br />My Beth Moore study posed this question/statement: Oh, Beloved, surely you've found yourself still standing after a time when the enemy came seeking your slaughter! Testify here of his foiled plans.<br /><br />Satan thought Faith's diagnosis would tempt and turn me away from God. Then he thought that the need for ECMO would, nope...so he tried surgery with a silo bag, nope...a blood clot, nope and then cardiac arrest. What Satan didn't know and I didn't truly know is that God was standing with me the whole time. I found out the night that Faith coded that He was with me the whole time. He wrapped his arms around me and told me it's going to be ok. Your heart will ache but your precious baby will be with me healthy and whole in Heaven. I held my baby as she slipped away. The saddest moment but the most comforting moment. I never spoke out loud but I talked to her in my head. Her spirit now in Heaven free of saddness and pain. That moment has changed me as a mother, wife, and person. Sure I still get scared. But I know now more than ever before that my God is a BIG God and He does good work. I hope to someday be able to put into words what I have learned from all of this without using cliches. To speak from the heart, but the words are hard to find. That last night with her replays in my head often. Brings me to tears to think about it. But I can't help but think that there is a reason or purpose that it replays. Something that I am not yet aware of that I am supposed to see in that moment. An intensely personal moment in my life, but I am not afraid to share it.<br /><br />I hope my words can comfort someone, bring them peace, help others in someway. I just felt the need to share this.<br /><br />Love,<br /><br />AmyFaithCDHhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00993102663604597153noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6990285894059067968.post-60788095099035157262010-07-08T21:13:00.002-04:002010-07-08T21:33:42.986-04:00Long, long timeWow it's been a long time since our last post. We were remembering Faith in the Smoky Mtn. National Park. Since then my nephew David was born a tiny 5lbs 5oz on April 30th. He's growing so fast and his momma and daddy love him so!<br /><br />My sister, her fiance, nephew, Abby and I went down to FL. We went to a CDH conference and got to meet David. It was super hot already in May!!<br /><br />Steve finished the school year and has a job for next year woohoo! Praise God! It's so nice to have him home and to get to hang out as a family.<br /><br />We have been swimming and hanging out with friends. Our run Journey to Faith was a success. On Friday, June 18 we drove down to Ann Arbor and marked the route. Stayed the night with the Jacoby's (Faith's primary care nurse) and had a great meal and even better entertainment. A storm blew through and knocked down a power line in front of their house. Well really out in the road but it was crazy to be that close to a downed power line. So we got to call 911 and hang out in the dark :) In the morning we got up and headed to Ann Arbor and took some pictures at the Ronald McDonald House.<br /><br />The first day of the run was amazing! I don't think we could have asked for a smoother day (maybe a few degrees cooler). The Saranac High School Cross Country team did an amazing job and so did all of the other participants. Day two was a little bumpy at the start but things quickly smoothed out and we had another fantastic day! The PR people for the Ronald McDonald House called and said that the newspaper was going to do a story. We were excited about that! Then at 2:30pm as I was biking while Tricia and Anna were running we got a call from WZZM13 our local ABC TV station. They met up with us with about one mile left and filmed us running to the cemetery. Steve and I led everyone the last mile to the cemetery, we got a flower and placed it on Faith's headstone. Then we hugged and circled up for prayer. It was a great ending to a fantastic weekend! WZZM13 did an interview and we were on the 11pm news coverage. They did a super job on telling our story. So Journey to Faith 2010 was a success and we met our fundraising goal of $2,500!<br /><br />Since then we celebrate Abby's first birthday party. My mom flew up from FL and stayed for about a week. At Abby's one year well baby check she woke up with a fever and was diagnosed with an ear infection. Then Saturday she woke up with a gunky eye and Sunday she had a yucky cough! We are still trying to kick the cough. She has a recheck for her ears on July 15 and two weeks after that a weight recheck since she was in the 10th%.<br /><br />We have been playing in the yard lots with Abby and last night she was practicing standing up. Today she took one step on her own! Our days of a walking baby aren't far away.<br /><br />Steve has been helping to motivate me and has been running with me. I am finally up to running 1.5 miles and walking a mile or more afterwards. I want to run my first 5K in 10 years sometime soon. Maybe in September. So I was thinking about blogging about that. I know its a little boring but hey maybe it will be motivation.<br /><br />Hope everyone out there is doing well in blogger land!FaithCDHhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00993102663604597153noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6990285894059067968.post-61204196455732562772010-04-04T21:25:00.003-04:002010-04-04T21:30:04.695-04:00Great Smoky Mountains TN<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_ly9_Rf3ne1M/S7k85t24vwI/AAAAAAAAAMw/i9Zod8YXybY/s1600/Chimney+Tops+021.JPG"><img style="WIDTH: 320px; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5456459385796083458" border="0" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_ly9_Rf3ne1M/S7k85t24vwI/AAAAAAAAAMw/i9Zod8YXybY/s320/Chimney+Tops+021.JPG" /></a><br /><div><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_ly9_Rf3ne1M/S7k83y_BICI/AAAAAAAAAMo/Xso8tMdZ7E4/s1600/Chimney+Tops+014.JPG"><img style="WIDTH: 240px; HEIGHT: 320px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5456459352812625954" border="0" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_ly9_Rf3ne1M/S7k83y_BICI/AAAAAAAAAMo/Xso8tMdZ7E4/s320/Chimney+Tops+014.JPG" /></a><br /><br /><div><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_ly9_Rf3ne1M/S7k83embkXI/AAAAAAAAAMg/NIIipuu6SVs/s1600/Chimney+Tops+006.JPG"><img style="WIDTH: 240px; HEIGHT: 320px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5456459347340792178" border="0" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_ly9_Rf3ne1M/S7k83embkXI/AAAAAAAAAMg/NIIipuu6SVs/s320/Chimney+Tops+006.JPG" /></a><br /><br /><br /><div><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_ly9_Rf3ne1M/S7k82qXCe9I/AAAAAAAAAMY/PH5BHof6s84/s1600/Chimney+Tops+004.JPG"><img style="WIDTH: 240px; HEIGHT: 320px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5456459333317589970" border="0" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_ly9_Rf3ne1M/S7k82qXCe9I/AAAAAAAAAMY/PH5BHof6s84/s320/Chimney+Tops+004.JPG" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><div><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_ly9_Rf3ne1M/S7k82BOKC0I/AAAAAAAAAMQ/Rp8mwSdOcQk/s1600/Chimney+Tops+003.JPG"><img style="WIDTH: 320px; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5456459322274483010" border="0" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_ly9_Rf3ne1M/S7k82BOKC0I/AAAAAAAAAMQ/Rp8mwSdOcQk/s320/Chimney+Tops+003.JPG" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><div></div></div></div></div></div>FaithCDHhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00993102663604597153noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6990285894059067968.post-15483832850692958682010-03-03T12:21:00.007-05:002010-03-12T16:17:23.770-05:00Book Drive 2010<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_ly9_Rf3ne1M/S5qvWQE2BJI/AAAAAAAAAMI/TzjiG2TsoxU/s1600-h/103_0142.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 200px; height: 150px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_ly9_Rf3ne1M/S5qvWQE2BJI/AAAAAAAAAMI/TzjiG2TsoxU/s200/103_0142.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5447859496065303698" border="0" /></a><br />Wow we just want to say a HUGE Thank you to everyone who helped out with the book drive this year! We have been blessed with amazing people in our lives and now all of us are passing on the blessing to families with children in the hospital at Mott's and DeVos Children's hospitals.<br /><br /><br /><br />In 2009, we gathered 370 books for Mott Children's Hospital at the University of Michigan. This year we added plush animals and shifted to only new books.<br /><br /><br /><br />Thank you to all who donated:<br /><p></p><p><br /></p><br /><p>The Robinson Family</p><p>The Olivarez Family</p><p>The Crawford Family<br /><br />The Heald Family<br /><br />Desiree Casillas and Matt Steingass<br /><br />The Price Family<br /><br />Tom and Cindy Miles<br /><br />The Wheeler Family<br /><br />The Feazell Family<br /><br />The Baker Family<br /><br />The Kruskamp Family<br /><br />The Michel Family<br /><br />C & R Family Chiropractic (paitents donated too)<br /><br />Amanda Dickens<br /><br />The Wilkins Family<br /><br />Brenda Page and Family<br /><br />Amber and Milena Viau<br /><br />Jennifer Grace and Taylor Herington<br /><br />Lou Miller<br /><br />Erin Zimmer<br /><br />Tressa Doepker<br /><br />Shari Ebner<br /><br />Marisa Grace Mogg<br /><br />The Claybaugh Family<br /><br />Amanda Duncan-Cyr<br /><br />The Ansell Family<br /><br />The Carroll Family<br /><br />The Machuta Family<br /><br />The Klynstra Family<br /><br />Meghan, Jason, and Brianna Hathaway<br /><br />Pat and Jim Hathaway<br /><br />The Austhof Family<br /><br />Jane Palmondon<br /><br />Chris Johnston<br /><br />Jan Fortino<br /><br />Mike Evans<br /><br />The Gardner Family<br /><br />The McCarthy Family<br /><br />Saranac Community Schools<br />The list is not complete...I may have missed someone. If I have I am so sorry and please let me know.<br /><br />We delivered 130 books and 55 plush animals to Helen DeVos Children's hospital!<br />We will be delivering 168 books and more plush animals to Mott Children's Hospital on Friday!<br /><br /><br />Again we can never thank you all enough for your donations. Without you we would not be able to do this. You are bringing hope and a smile to children's faces!<br /><br /><br />Love,<br /><br />The Miles Family</p>FaithCDHhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00993102663604597153noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6990285894059067968.post-69520229273540184562010-02-22T20:21:00.002-05:002010-02-22T20:36:31.044-05:00Birthday Weekend!Well it's official...I'm 28! This past weekend we got some books ready for the book drive with stickers on them and the thank you's all ready. Then we went back to MP, saw Avatar, visited my Grandma Grace, ate at the Pixie and I went to Women's Comedy Night at a church in MP. It was a very busy day! But lots of fun. We stayed at Steve's parents house and forgot to turn up the water heater so Sunday morning we drove back to GR to shower real quick before church. Sunday was just as busy! Drive, church, lunch, made cupcakes, 8th confirmation class, Meijer and then home.<br /><br />I was so tired I took two naps today while Abby slept! :) I must say it was pretty nice!<br /><br />Our church just finished a great series called Victorious Secrets. You can listen to it online! <a href="http://cornerchurch.org/pages/page.asp?page_id=68901">http://cornerchurch.org/pages/page.asp?page_id=68901</a> After church I went to the prayer corner and asked for prayers. I have been worrying lately, more than normal. Worrying about what I will do to keep my family safe if there is a fire or if Abby chokes. Abby has been sleeping on her belly with her face buried in her hands. I have been praying for God to keep her safe. I need prayers to stop worrying. Give my worries up to God. I thank God for every day with Abby and Steve and pray that we will have many more.<br /><br />I get the feeling that my worries will always increase around this time of year, because last year when I was pregnant with Abby around this time I was worrying about all kinds of crazy stuff. Faith's birthday is coming up March 6th. Steve is costuming for Star Wars night at the Griffins game. Then Jenn, Taylor, Lou and his son and I are all going to the game. Abby is going to stay home with a sitter (which we have yet to find)!<br /><br />We hope that you all have a great week!<br /><br />Take care,<br /><br />Amy, Steve, ^Faith^, and Abby MilesFaithCDHhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00993102663604597153noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6990285894059067968.post-5748774395375310872010-02-18T12:55:00.002-05:002010-02-18T13:03:08.067-05:00Birthday week!What a week of birthdays! Friends birthdays, CDH angel and sibling birthdays and then mine!<br /><br />Where has the month gone already! Abby is still doing the wounded soldier crawl (half an army crawl) and gets around really well. If I am making baby food in the other room she cries at the sound and tries to find me. She's a cutie!<br /><br />She is eating three meals a day. The last few days she has been napping well which is new!<br /><br />My sister in law is getting closer to the 28 week mark. Continued prayers that they stay pregnant and baby David continues to grow stronger. (They are dealing with gestational diabetes, incompetent cervix and borderline pre-eclampsia).<br /><br />We are still collecting new books and plush for the hospitals. The books can be sent to 2275 Fawnwood Dr. SE, KEntwood, MI 49508<br /><br />We are also doing a fundraiser for the Ronald McDonald House of Ann Arbor by selling Party Lite candles through the 26th of Feb if you are interested.<br /><br />Not much else going on! Hope that all is well your way.<br /><br />Love,<br /><br />The Miles FamilyFaithCDHhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00993102663604597153noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6990285894059067968.post-41606254116051622052010-02-01T13:22:00.001-05:002010-02-01T13:22:23.634-05:00New Orleans and Orlando Jan 2010<div><embed src="http://www.onetruemedia.com/share_view_player?p=a4a23e3abe3ada371dad2f" quality="high" scale="noscale" width="408" height="382" wmode="transparent" name="FLVPlayer" salign="LT" flashvars="&p=a4a23e3abe3ada371dad2f&skin_id=701&host=http://www.onetruemedia.com" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" pluginspage="http://www.macromedia.com/go/getflashplayer"></embed><div style="margin:0px;font:12px/13px verdana,arial,sans-serif;line-height:20px;padding-bottom:15px;width:408px;text-align:center;"><a href="http://www.onetruemedia.com/landing?&utm_source=emplay&utm_medium=txt3" target="_blank" style="text-decoration:none;">Make video montages at <span style="text-decoration:underline;">www.OneTrueMedia.com</span></a></div></div>FaithCDHhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00993102663604597153noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6990285894059067968.post-64919691554098170262010-01-24T14:04:00.002-05:002010-01-24T14:17:20.545-05:00From New Orleans to OrlandoAbby and I successfully made it to New Orleans and spent the last week with the Michel family. It was AMAZING! I really couldn't believe how at home we felt and it felt like we had known eachother a lifetime.<br /><br />We enjoyed some Popeye's, gumbo, grilled red fish, beneits from THE Cafe Du Monde downtown New Orleans, King cake and many other treats. We went and had the girls' pictures taken at Penny's in their tutu's and headbands. They turned out sooooo cute. The pictures should be in the first week of Feb. Thursday we went into the city and delivered bags to the NICU in memory of Drake Alexander Michel for Project Sweet Pea. Then we went into the French Quarter and walked and walked and walked. It was very interesting to walk around the city and just take it all in. Friday we were supposed to relax but went shopping instead. We had a fantastic time and I don't think it could have been more perfect.<br /><br />Abby did well on the plane rides...though its a little difficult to nurse an almost 7 month old on the plane :)<br /><br />We arrived here in Orlando on Saturday around noon. We hung out at Bob and Carol's house (my bro's) and made them dinner. It was good to see them again, since its been almost 6 months! Today we are celebrating my dad's birthday early. Sometime this week we might do Disney, since Abby is free!<br /><br />Our friends had their twin boys on Jan 21, 2010 at 35 weeks. They are both doing pretty well. Just working on gaining some weight. Please keep them in your prayers.<br /><br />Talk to you all later!!<br /><br />Pictures will come after Thursday..I forgot the cord to the camera.<br /><br />Love and kisses from FL!<br /><br />Amy and AbbyFaithCDHhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00993102663604597153noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6990285894059067968.post-89639092801184843552010-01-16T20:28:00.003-05:002010-01-16T20:42:27.472-05:00Off to New Orleans we go!Abby and I are heading out to New Orleans on Monday to meet a family that is very dear to our hearts. The Michel family is welcoming us into their home. We met them online at CHERUBS, a CDH support group. We stayed in contact as our babies were due just days apart. Their son, Drake, decided to come about 2 weeks early! Faith had other plans and was not budging! We kept in contact while our kids were in the NICU. Then when our world came crashing down as Faith passed away..we packed up and headed home. The next day, Sunday, April 6th, 2008 Drake passed away. I was in total shock. This was not happening. Christy and I continued to stay in touch and talked often. Journeying through our grief together. Months passed. Christy had started trying to conceive again. Months passed again. Steve and I started trying to conceive. 2 months passed. Another negative test. Christy called the day after her birthday to tell me she was PREGNANT! We were so excited for her! She told me to test again and that maybe it was too early to tell before. So the next morning I tested again and it was positive. We were pregnant together again!<br /><br />We talked often during the pregnancy and were so excited when we found out that the babies were healthy and that we were both expecting girls!!! Did I mention that Abby was due July 4th and Celia was due July7th? God works in mysterious ways. Our girls were born about 33 hours apart!<br /><br />So now we finally get to meet up! We are going to get the girls pictures taken together, shop, eat and have fun.<br /><br />I just love sharing the story of how our lives have come together and stayed together. I hate CDH and wish that we didn't have to meet this way. But meeting such an amazing person and sharing this journey with her is priceless.<br /><br />Love you Christy!<br /><br />See you Monday!!<br /><br /><br />--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------<br /><br />Saturday, Jan 23rd Abby and I are flying to Florida to see her grandparents, Aunt and Uncle, and family. We are arriving on Jacob Robert Grace's birthday and angel day. His first year in Heaven. We know that he is playing with his cousin Faith and so many other babies. Please pray for peace that day. It will be difficult for our family.FaithCDHhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00993102663604597153noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6990285894059067968.post-14008126430132811342010-01-03T22:11:00.001-05:002010-01-03T22:11:30.660-05:00My Montage 1/3/10 at OneTrueMedia.com<div><embed src="http://www.onetruemedia.com/share_view_player?p=a218d5f35f98b41afebb63" quality="high" scale="noscale" width="408" height="382" wmode="transparent" name="FLVPlayer" salign="LT" flashvars="&p=a218d5f35f98b41afebb63&skin_id=1702&host=http://www.onetruemedia.com" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" pluginspage="http://www.macromedia.com/go/getflashplayer"></embed><div style="margin:0px;font:12px/13px verdana,arial,sans-serif;line-height:20px;padding-bottom:15px;width:408px;text-align:center;"><a href="http://www.onetruemedia.com/landing?&utm_source=emplay&utm_medium=txt3" target="_blank" style="text-decoration:none;">Make video montages at <span style="text-decoration:underline;">www.OneTrueMedia.com</span></a></div></div>FaithCDHhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00993102663604597153noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6990285894059067968.post-49041469642892060262010-01-01T14:52:00.000-05:002010-01-01T14:53:11.323-05:00Friends of Faith Book DriveHappy New Year to everyone!<br />2009 Blessed us with the birth of our second daughter Abby Grace Miles on June 29, 2009 at 10:58pm. She is a happy and healthy 6 month old today.<br /><br />Now that 2010 is here I would like to tell you about our planned events for 2010 in memory of our Sweet Pea, Faith Grace Miles (3-6 to 4-5-08).<br /><br />Friends of Faith Book Drive<br />Donate new books or new plush animals this year! We apologize but we are not accepting used books this year. Last year we filled the Family Resource center at Mott's Children's Hospital with over 300 new and used books. Thank you to everyone who donated!<br /><br />Our focus this year will be on collecting new books and new plush animals to donate to families with a child or children in the NICU/PICU. Depending on how many items we receive we would like to donate some items to DeVos Children's Hospital here in Grand Rapids, MI and some to Mott Children's Hospital in Ann Arbor, MI.<br /><br />How you can help: Purchase a new book or plush animal and send it to Amy and Steve Miles, 2275 Fawnwood Dr. SE, Kentwood, MI 49508<br /><br />Right now Kohl's has Dr. Seuss books and plush animals for $5 to support Kohl's Cares For Kids. So if you purchase one of these and donate it to the Friends of Faith book drive you are helping children TWICE!!!!<br /><br />Dr. Seuss stories are dear to our hearts, because we read them to Faith each night.<br /><br />Thank you to anyone who can help! We really appreciate it!<br /><br />Hugs and love from Michigan,<br />Amy, Steve, ^Faith^, and Abby MilesFaithCDHhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00993102663604597153noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6990285894059067968.post-10972193550538017562009-12-09T20:49:00.005-05:002009-12-09T21:01:34.977-05:00Oh the weather outside is frightful...<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_ly9_Rf3ne1M/SyBWIY6Wr4I/AAAAAAAAAL4/_4G9pMcT7jY/s1600-h/DSC03726.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 150px; height: 200px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_ly9_Rf3ne1M/SyBWIY6Wr4I/AAAAAAAAAL4/_4G9pMcT7jY/s200/DSC03726.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5413421454225485698" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_ly9_Rf3ne1M/SyBWHzfAevI/AAAAAAAAALw/9TZCSTc484Y/s1600-h/DSC03687.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 200px; height: 150px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_ly9_Rf3ne1M/SyBWHzfAevI/AAAAAAAAALw/9TZCSTc484Y/s200/DSC03687.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5413421444178672370" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_ly9_Rf3ne1M/SyBUvxI964I/AAAAAAAAALo/NqcJmrlkt7o/s1600-h/DSC03730.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 150px; height: 200px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_ly9_Rf3ne1M/SyBUvxI964I/AAAAAAAAALo/NqcJmrlkt7o/s200/DSC03730.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5413419931720870786" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_ly9_Rf3ne1M/SyBUvqHrPQI/AAAAAAAAALg/lMhXEnwdhFc/s1600-h/DSC03734.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 200px; height: 150px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_ly9_Rf3ne1M/SyBUvqHrPQI/AAAAAAAAALg/lMhXEnwdhFc/s200/DSC03734.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5413419929836403970" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_ly9_Rf3ne1M/SyBUurzEbnI/AAAAAAAAALQ/gW-lOJ8pmQ0/s1600-h/DSC03740.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 150px; height: 200px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_ly9_Rf3ne1M/SyBUurzEbnI/AAAAAAAAALQ/gW-lOJ8pmQ0/s200/DSC03740.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5413419913106976370" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_ly9_Rf3ne1M/SyBUuBfKqEI/AAAAAAAAALI/Z8qX5zZtQvo/s1600-h/DSC03735.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 200px; height: 150px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_ly9_Rf3ne1M/SyBUuBfKqEI/AAAAAAAAALI/Z8qX5zZtQvo/s200/DSC03735.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5413419901749209154" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_ly9_Rf3ne1M/SyBUvHWQWMI/AAAAAAAAALY/hLgO2E5WPUQ/s1600-h/DSC03744.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 200px; height: 150px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_ly9_Rf3ne1M/SyBUvHWQWMI/AAAAAAAAALY/hLgO2E5WPUQ/s200/DSC03744.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5413419920502315202" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />Winter Storm warnings, snow, rain, ice and a blizzard warning describe Wednesday and possibly Thursday too! Steve's school was canceled so we all stayed home where it was warm and watch a movie and had a photo shoot in the evening. Here are the pictures we took of Miss Abby!<br /><br />Hope all is well!<br /><br />Love,<br /><br />The Miles FamilyFaithCDHhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00993102663604597153noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6990285894059067968.post-67705132978427346952009-12-08T14:56:00.002-05:002009-12-08T15:07:15.573-05:00Roly Poly girl!Abby is starting to master rolling both ways! She hasn't figured out that rolling can take her places yet... She has been eating rice cereal for awhile now and loves it. Yesterday she tried organic bananas and enjoyed them. Next week we'll be trying sweet potatoes! I am using a book called Super Baby food that teaches you how to make your own baby food using organic fruits and veggies. I am excited to start making and freezing it!<br /><br />Abby's grandparents are coming from FL next week to celebrate Christmas with us. We are excited to see them again. My mom took care of Abby while I was working. <br /><br />We have blizzard like conditions on the way from a storm that was out in Nevada just Yesterday!!!!! We are preparing and hoping that Steve gets a snowday. <br /><br />We hope that everyone is having a great holiday season! <br /><br />love,<br /><br />the Miles family!FaithCDHhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00993102663604597153noreply@blogger.com0