I thought it might be good to remind people that it still out there (with even more options during play than before). If you find yourself stuck at home during the holidays with nothing else to do, why not spend a few minutes learning some new words (or proving to yourself how many you already know)?
Friday, December 19, 2008
Bored? Play Free Rice
I'm sure everyone remembers Free Rice, the vocabularly game that donates 20 grains of rice to the UN World Food Program for every correct answer you give. For awhile earlier this year the site got tons of traffic, but it's been tapering off since then (people get bored of it, it's not mentioned on the blogs any more, etc).
Thursday, December 18, 2008
On holiday
I'm in St. Louis for the holidays. There's freezing rain coming down outside, and it sounds like it's going to come right through the skylights. Anyway, I have been keeping busy indoors:
I'm planning an exciting multi-course meal for later in the month; the ravioli and sorbet from tonight were experiments to see if I can pull of some of the things I'm planning (answer: yes!). In the meantime, I have also been seeing some old friends, sleeping in, and enjoying the company of kitties:
Leia is in my lap right now, insisting that I pay attention to her, instead of this machine (she reminds me a lot of this kitty, but meaner). Andrew and I are getting a kitten when we return to Houston! I'm pretty pumped.
Saturday, December 13, 2008
Wednesday, December 10, 2008
I have a job!
...in Houston, that is. For an awesome non-profit! Woo-hoo!
I'll be working for Reasoning Mind, a Houston/Moscow-based company that is working to recreate a culture of intellectual curiosity among American students. So far, they've developed and implemented an internet-based computer program to help 5th and 6th graders develop their math skills. The focus is on one-on-one instruction, and students move at their own pace through the curriculum getting support from a variety of angles. I can say more about it, but chances are if you're reading this you've heard about it from me. To date, 4,000 students in Houston and Compton (outside of LA) are using the program, and the results a pretty inspirational. Even if they hadn't offered me the job I would be talking about this organization.
I'll be working as a program coordinator, in the implementation department; my job will involve getting the system set up in schools, training teachers on the curriculum and working to make sure the program runs as efficiently as possible and students make the most progress possible in each of the schools I'm assigned to, communicating with school administrators about results, and managing the program's reward system. Or so I've been led to believe; I guess I'll find out for real in January.
It promises to be a challenging, rewarding job, and I couldn't be more excited.
Plus, I HAVE A JOB. Which is pretty great in and of itself, but it's a million times more exciting because it's a job I really really want.
Hooray for me!
I'll be working for Reasoning Mind, a Houston/Moscow-based company that is working to recreate a culture of intellectual curiosity among American students. So far, they've developed and implemented an internet-based computer program to help 5th and 6th graders develop their math skills. The focus is on one-on-one instruction, and students move at their own pace through the curriculum getting support from a variety of angles. I can say more about it, but chances are if you're reading this you've heard about it from me. To date, 4,000 students in Houston and Compton (outside of LA) are using the program, and the results a pretty inspirational. Even if they hadn't offered me the job I would be talking about this organization.
I'll be working as a program coordinator, in the implementation department; my job will involve getting the system set up in schools, training teachers on the curriculum and working to make sure the program runs as efficiently as possible and students make the most progress possible in each of the schools I'm assigned to, communicating with school administrators about results, and managing the program's reward system. Or so I've been led to believe; I guess I'll find out for real in January.
It promises to be a challenging, rewarding job, and I couldn't be more excited.
Plus, I HAVE A JOB. Which is pretty great in and of itself, but it's a million times more exciting because it's a job I really really want.
Hooray for me!
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