IMEA Presentation

Calling All Music Teachers!

How many times have you wished that you could hear exactly what you needed to at a clinic? You're spending over an hour of your time and I'm sure we've all been to a presentation in which we did not find the value. Now is your chance to help customize a session to meet your needs.

I have been selected to present at the IMEA All-State Conference this year and I couldn't be more honored. My presentation will be entitled "The Virtual Podium: Band Communication Blogging". However, you can help customize the content right now by leaving comments on this blog post! By helping you are proving the power of this type of communication tool!

I'm looking for input of any kind so that my presentation will benefit you. For example:

• Format. Do you want me to post a big screen and create a blog in front of you?
• Examples. Do you have pages you'd like me to use in my presentation? Send 'em!
• Student applications. How will this work for them?
• Parent application. How will this work for them?
• Public Relations. You're doing great things! Let them know.
• Administration support. We could all use that right?
• Other internet communications...ideas here are welcome!
• Professional networking. Personal blogs and networking sites.

Does any of this sound interesting/not interesting to you? That list is kind of my starting point, any feedback is appreciated. Thank you for your time and I look forward to making my presentation/clinic better with your help!

Teaching Portfolios

http://langwitches.org/blog/2009/07/17/digital-teaching-portfolios/

I just took this from Brenda's Plurk. Basically I'm just posting this to remind myself to go check it out.

This is blog about E-Portfolios for teachers. Check it out!

Birthday Trip

It's been a great first trip of the Summer for us! Jes and I are both busy with rehearsals for Seussical(I'm serving as the Musical Director, while she is on stage as the Amazying Mayzie). However, we got the night off for her birthday so I planned a secret getaway for her 24th birthday.

I picked Galena, IL because Jes is really into history. Well maybe not so much history, but she likes things that are pretty and natural like all the rolling hills, ivy, and limestone walls. She also likes row houses so pretty much any historic downtown is going to be neat to her. I'd never been there so I did some searching on http://www.galena.org/. I found some great little events for our whirlwind vacation.

We left early Thursday after I ran down to Panera to grab breakfast and her favorite sweet treat, the frozen caramel coffee. The trip up was non-descript, but once we hit town I knew I'd picked the right place. Main street was perfect. Lines of old buildings holding restaurants and shops.

We had a great time escaping for the day and a half. We walked Main Street, checked out shops, ate some great food, toured a winery, did a wine tasting, took a trolley tour, and enjoyed our first stay at a Bed and Breakfast.

We tried to take quite a few pictures so I will let a slideshow tell our story. You can also view the pictures on my Flickr page http://www.flickr.com/photos/KFreesen/

Here's a slideshow of our pictures from the trip.

Hope you are enjoying your Summer!