TED Talk #10 What Adults Can Learn From Kids

When was the last time someone said you were childish?

Where you doing something silly?  Something fun?  Something imaginative?

Is it always a bad thing to be like a child? Think about it, what are some things that kids can actually teach adults?  To take risks, to bounce back, to be creative, get excited, to ask questions, to leap, to let it go.

Our Ted Talk speaker today is our youngest speaker yet.  Adora Svitak gave this talk when she was only 12-years-old.  Once you see it, I think you will all agree that we can learn a lot from children.

Child prodigy Adora Svitak says the world needs "childish" thinking: bold ideas, wild creativity and especially optimism. Kids' big dreams deserve high expectations, she says, starting with grownups' willingness to learn from children as much as to teach.

Check out the talk here. 

TED Talk #8: The secrets of nature's grossest creatures, channeled into robots

There has been a lot of talk of engineering on 8 White lately.  Recruitment of architects, builders, designers.  When scientists, engineers, and designers are looking for inspiration, where do they look? Sometimes inspiration is right in front of you.
So tiny.
So common.
It may go unnoticed.

Inspiration can be found in nature.
As simple as
the cockroach.



I know what you're thinking. Gross.  Just looking at that picture makes me shiver.  But cockroaches are one of the longest living creatures ever.  There must be a reason for their success. 

Maybe that success can be attributed to design.

Biologist Robert Full explains in his interesting (and slightly yucky) TED talk about the aspects of a cockroach's body that helps them adapt to their environment, stay safe, and live a long life grossing us out.  Robotic engineers have been studying the cockroach to see what they can learn and then use in their designs. 

How can robots learn to stabilize on rough terrain, walk upside down, do gymnastic maneuvers in the air and run into walls without harming themselves? Robert Full takes a look at the incredible body of the cockroach to show what it can teach robotics engineers.

Check out his talk here.  

So, the next time you're building a structure, designing a game, or creating at all, look to nature and you may see inspiration crawling across the floor. Try not to squish it. 

TED Talk #7: What Does It Take to Master Something

Everyone wants the easy route.
The quickest way to get somewhere.  Why waste time?

They enter an address into the GPS just to find a way to get to a destination a little bit quicker.
No, don't go this way.  Go that way!  It will shave 3.457 minutes off your driving time.  3.457 minutes.... Phew, that was a close one.  What a waste it could have been. That's time you can never get back.

We are always rushing.
Fastest is better.
Quicker.
Shortcuts.

Well, that may work when we are driving around town, but that's not how it is in the real world.

Usually, when someone focuses on the fastest way, they ignore the best way. How many times have you sped through a project, just to get it done?  Sure, it's a little messy.  The details are not quite developed.  Some parts may be missing.  You may have finished quickly, but show no spirit of excellence.

This is a problem.

If we truly want to be excellent at something, we need time: time to create, time to think, time to practice, time to bounce ideas around, time to play, time to explore, time to master.

You want to be a master.... a master of something :)  I challenge you to find your passion, like our TED talk speaker today, whatever it may be.  Find that passion and then throw yourself into it.  Don't just take the easy way out.  Don't just throw things together and call it finished.  Take the time.  Use the energy.  Dive deep.  Have a spirit of excellence.  After, weeks, months, years, decades... you may be able to call yourself a master one day.

It took a long time for our speaker today to find his passion.  He failed at so many other things.  He was told he was dumb.  Told he wouldn't amount to anything.  Told he was a disappointment. Then, one day,  he found it.  What he was most passionate about: the yo-yo!

Today, check out  Japanese yo-yo world champion BLACK as he tells his inspiring story of finding his life's passion, and gives an awesome performance that will make you want to pull your yo-yo out of the closet.

Let his talk inspire you to find or jump into your own dreams!

You deserve a chance to be excellent.

You owe it to yourself to become a master.

TED Talk #6: The Art of Misdirection

Focus.
Focuus
Focus.

We hear those words a lot. In terms of classes, lectures, activities, and goals.  Where we focus our attention is often where we will go.  As a dancer spins in a turn, he or she focuses on a stationary spot on the wall in front.  If they focus on their feet instead, they fall.  Likewise, our focus or concentration can also predict out paths in life.  If we think we are going to fail, we do.  If we think we are going to succeed and work hard to do so, we often do.

But what happens when something distracts us and that focus strays?  When our attention wavers to rest on something more interesting at the moment? When our eyes catch something shiny, something funny, something cooler?  When the prize set before us gets kind of fuzzy and loses the attraction? When we are distracted by something more glittery, pleasant, appealing?

Just like the dancer whose eyes fall to her feet, we fall.

Focus helps us stay on the right path to achieving our goal.

When we lose that focus or attention on our goals, misdirection comes and steals our wallets and watches.

Wait, what?

Today's TED Talk is all about the Art of Misdirection and a great illustration of what can happen when our focus is manipulated.  Don't let something flashy or shiny come and steal your dreams.  Don't let time pass without you realizing it.  Pay attention.  Stay focused.



Check out Appolo Robbins's TED Talk here.

   Hailed as the greatest pickpocket in the world, Apollo Robbins studies the quirks of human behavior as he steals your watch. In a hilarious demonstration, Robbins samples the buffet of the TEDGlobal 2013 audience, showing how the flaws in our perception make it possible to swipe a wallet and leave it on its owner’s shoulder while they remain clueless.

TED Talk #5: Truth, Lies, and IPods

The next TED Talk we're going to watch is about the power of Deception.

As we study and discuss literature, life, and current events, I'm sure many of you have discovered some instances of deception: people in power deceiving, hiding the truth from those that rely on them.  Sometimes, it's done for the better of society.  Sometimes it's done for greed.  Sometimes it's just hard to tell.  Either way, considering how truth, lies, or deception factors into what we've been reading brings up an interesting question:  Is it ever ok to lie?



Our TED Talk today is brought to you by Marco Tempest.  Marco is a techno-magician, meaning that he combines sleight of hand (magic) and technology to bring his audience the ultimate illusion.  His talk today is a clever, surprisingly heartfelt meditation on truth and lies, art and emotion.





Check out the Talk Here at this Link

As you watch consider these points in general and how they relate to the SSR novels you are reading.
- What is real?
-What are the differences between truth and lies?
-Is it possible (or good) to be totally honest all the time?
-Is it ever ok to lie?
-What is the power of deception?
-How does propaganda fit in?
-Do we deceive ourselves sometimes?
-If you're happy with the lie you're being told, is the lie wrong?
-Is it better to always know the truth?
-Is censorship lying?
-Why do leaders sometimes lie?  

Let's talk Truth vs Lies

TED Talk #4: Don't Eat the Marshmallow

Money, connections, luck, a rocket-high IQ, sure, these are all helpful things to have in life, but there is one distinct factor behind most success stories: self-discipline.  Self-discipline, or the desire to work hard today in order to reach a goal tomorrow, is a crucial part of succeeding in life.  We may know this, but it sure is hard to remember sometimes!  That extra piece of pizza smells amazing!  That purse would look so good with those new shoes!  That essay can wait until tomorrow! The coach won't mind if I miss a couple of practices!  Our problem usually is that we want what feels good today, without considering tomorrow.

Do you really need another purse??

Let's take all that money you earned by shoveling snow this winter. Did you.... A) save it for something really special and fantastic?! or B) spend it the minute you got it on candy and soda?  If you chose option A then you not only are probably playing with a great new X-box (or something even cooler), but you should also feel very proud of yourself!  In the scientific world, they call this waiting- delayed gratification.  Basically, delay of gratification refers to the ability to put off getting an immediate reward in order to gain a better reward later.

Our TED Talk today deals with just that topic.  Joachim de Posada shares his experiment about delayed gratification and how it can be used to predict success.  Joachim focuses his study on 4-year-olds.  He give the kids one marshmallow and tells them that if they wait 15 minutes without eating their marshmallow they will get two marshmallows!!.  Easy, right? Why eat one, when you can get two??  Well, it's not so easy if you are 4!!  Check out the link here to view this adorable talk.

That marshmallow looks sooooo good! 

Too often people want the reward now, instead of waiting for something better! When something good comes their way, they don't bother to think about the effect it might have on tomorrow.  Learning the secret to delayed gratification, or working towards a big reward instead of settling for an immediate smaller reward, makes a huge impact on how successful we are.  Instead of spending your money on little things, save for something big!  Instead of blowing off practice or training, work hard so you can succeed on the field.  Instead of flunking classes and limiting your future choices, be excellent and watch the opportunities open up!

Don't get caught up in just the immediate "marshmallows" in front of you now.  Wait for the bigger prize!

Enjoy the talk and don't eat the marshmallow!!!

TED Talk #18: A Life Lesson From a Volunteer Firefighter

Volunteer firefighter Mark Bezos tells a story of an act of heroism that didn't go quite as expected -- but that taught him a big lesson: Don't wait to be a hero.

Check out his talk here! 

In this Blog Post I will Explain Why You Should Never Use "I know this because..." and other ideas to strengthen your writing.

Good afternoon, writers!! We're here from lovely West Warwick, Rhode Island with 2 fantastic tips to strengthen your writing today. These teeny-tiny tips are easy to put into action and add a punch to your writing.

Tip #1: Don't write about your writing.

I don't know when this became a fad, but some writers write about their writing instead of just writing it... You've all seen this. Maybe you're even guilty of doing it yourself.
It goes a little like this.

"In this essay, I will talk about why twins are so important to the world."

or

"For my next paragraph, I will say the second reason why twins are important to the world."

Instead of just writing your claim--- Twins are important to the world. The writer chooses to do this, kind of strangish narrator voice-over of their own writing.

The narration might work for documentaries -- the lion will walk over to the pond-- but it doesn't work in writing. We just don't speak like that.

Your reader is smarter than you think.

If your writing is clear, your reader will be able to tell what the essay is about. No need to tell them. If you've done your job, the reader will know what the point of your paragraph is.

Anytime you feel the urge to write about your writing, stop, put your Chromebook down, and walk a lap around the room. When you come back, look at the page with fresh eyes and just write your thoughts. Forget the empty phrases. Get down to business.

Usually, all you need to do is to take out the narration. "This essay will be about the differences between Anne and Peter." can be changed to "There are many differences between Anne and Peter." Then go into your explanation. Simple as that most times.

Tip #2: Do not write "I know this because..."

As a writer, your job is to state your arguments or tell your story with
authority and strength.  
Paying attention to your word choices will help you succeed.
It’s important that your words are varied (different, not repetitive) and sophisticated.

One bad habit that some writers develop is to explain their evidence basically
the
same way...
over and over.
They say, "I know this because..."

"Now, wait a minute, Miss Enos! I thought we were supposed to avoid using the

word "I" in our writing!" You might say.

Well, you'd be right.

Not only do you use the word I when explaining your evidence that way, but when you
repeat similar phrases over and over and over our writing gets boring and
lacks sophistication and energy.

There are so many interesting words and phrases out there that
you could choose instead!

Don’t stick with the same words that you used in your younger days.

Get creative!  Think beyond your writing comfort zone.

Click on this document with some sentence starters
and Try some of these instead!

TED Talk #17: Living a Life Without Limits

Hi Everyone,

Get your tissues ready for this one!  Some talks are funny.  Some talks are educational.  Some talks are jaw-dropping.  Well, this talk is a combination of all those things and so much more. 

When she was 19, Amy Purdy lost both her legs below the knee. And now ... she's a pro snowboarder (and a killer competitor on "Dancing with the Stars"!). In this powerful talk, she shows us how to draw inspiration from life's obstacles.

Here is the link to Amy's talk about living life without limits.

Oh, in case you missed it, here is a video of one of Amy's best dances on Dancing with the Stars.

I hope you enjoy it.

Arlo Finch in the Valley of Fire

A little while ago, I was introduced to a new podcast called Launch that I knew I had to listen to!  Launch, hosted by a famous screenwriter named John August, chronicles John's journey of publishing his first book called Arlo Finch.  Although John has been a successful screenwriter, writing scripts for films like Charlie and the Chocolate Factory and Big Fish, this was his very first book and so a brand new adventure

I was intrigued to join him on his journey and hear about both the creative and practical process of publishing a book.  As most of you know, I'm an avid reader, so it makes sense that I would enjoy the behind the scene viewpoint. 

I'm now finished with 5 episodes of the podcast.  He's talked about pitching the idea, meeting with publishers, selling the rights, editing, production, carefully choosing fonts and colors for the titles, visiting where the books are printed and bound, and even going on a book tour to visit middle schools and bookstores.

I've enjoyed hearing about the process so much, that I knew I had to buy the book!

The book's title is Arlo Finch in the Valley of Fire.  It is a middle-grade adventure/ magical (fantasy?) book.  There is some magic and real-life mixed up.  Those kinds of books are always a favorite of mine. Sometimes we refer to stories that seem real but have an aspect of magic or fantasy as magical realism.  I love that genre!  It is fun to imagine that there are pockets of magic hidden in our real day-to-day life.  These types of books make me think, "Why not?!"


Arlo Finch is a 6th grader who has moved to the woods in Colorado with his mother and his sister.  His mother grew up there and, because of some difficulties, they have to return to her family home.  When Arlo gets there he meets a few great friends who introduce him to The Rangers.  The Rangers are a group similar to the Boy and Girl Scouts.  Arlo goes on a camping trip with them and discovers something magical in the woods!!




If you liked Harry Potterish kinds of stories or adventure stories, I would highly suggest this book!  I'm not done with it yet, but I'm really enjoying it!  There will be more in the series and I would bet they are planning to make a movie.  Check it out!  John August seems like a great guy and writer.  It's fun to support his work!

Here is a passage that's on the back cover of the book:

As Arlo looked around, the walls of his room began to vanish, revealing a moonlit forest.  Only his bed remained, and the frame of the window, thorugh which  he saw the girl.  The world on her side of the glass was sparkling with silver and read and gold, like a palace made of autumn leaves. 

Here words came in an urgent whistper:
"If I can see you, they can see you.  You're in danger.  Be careful, Arlo Finch."

Doesn't that sound good!!  See me if you'd like to borrow this book!  After I finish it, that is :)

TED Talk #16: Want to Be an Activist? Start with your toys!

Hi Everyone, 

Our talk today comes from a girl who is right about your age.

McKenna Pope's younger brother loved to cook, but he worried about using an Easy-Bake Oven

— because it was a toy for girls. So at age 13, Pope started an online petition for the American toy company Hasbro (based right here in Rhode Island!) to change the pink-and-purple color scheme on the classic toy and incorporate boys into its TV marketing.

 In a heartening talk, Pope makes the case for gender-neutral toys and gives a rousing call to action to all kids who feel powerless.

I hope her talk will motivate and inspire you all.

TED Talk #15- A Call to Invention

Hi Everyone,

Do you love handmade things?  Is working with your hands something you enjoy doing?   Have you always wondered just what you can do with a potato chip?

If you think it's fun to make stuff, then, this is the TED Talk for you!  Check out William Gurstelle's talk where he shows you how to make speakers from objects you may already have around your house! 

TED Talk #13: The magic ingredient that brings Pixar movies to life

Anyone interested in art, technology, storytelling, digital graphics, or even Finding Nemo is going to love this chat!!

See how animators create the realistic digital worlds and characters that we've come to love! 

Danielle Feinberg, Pixar's director of photography, creates stories with soul and wonder using math, science, and code. Go behind the scenes of Finding Nemo, Toy Story, Brave, WALL-E and more, and discover how Pixar interweaves art and science to create fantastic worlds where the things you imagine can become real. This talk comes from the PBS special "TED Talks: Science & Wonder."

Click here to view the Danelle's Talk