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Wednesday Hodgepodge

Posted on by jgalvinwhite

Hello and happy Wednesday!

It’s been a while since I’ve done so, but today I’m linking up with Joyce for this week’s edition of Wednesday Hodgepodge.

Here are my answers to her prompts this week:

1. “Deep summer is when laziness finds respectability.” Sam Keen. Do you feel less guilty relaxing in July than you do in January? Elaborate.

To be honest, I don’t feel guilty relaxing in January or July! haha

That being said, I guess I’d answer that I feel less guilty in July. I have the downtime in the summer, and this has been the first summer I’ve truly had slower mornings not having to drive kids anywhere. I do try and break up my morning by having breakfast and coffee and reading blogs for a bit, and then I do some things around the house or workout.

I tend to watch Jenna and Sheinelle and then carry on with my day.

That being said, I love a snowy day in January, and as I’ve mentioned January is one of my favorite months. It just feels like a deep breath after the hustle and bustle of December.

2. What’s a telltale sign you’re upset?

I usually get quiet if I’m upset. That probably hasn’t always been the case, but more so as I’ve gotten older. Then, I tend to make my feelings known.

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3. July 16th is National AI Day. What are your general thoughts and/or experiences with AI? Have you purposefully used it? Does it excite you, scare you, or worry you? What do you see as a benefit? How about something relating to AI you see as a negative?

Oh, AI ….as a teacher, it’s been a very tricky thing to navigate. To be honest, I’m not super “tech savvy,” so I’m still figuring it out. In the Google waffle, students have access to Gemini. To me, if we’re putting Gemini in the Google waffle, that means students are going to use it. That being said, it’s still a gray area in some regards. Obviously, I have conversations with students about doing their own work, and there are some AI checkers/trackers that I’ve used when I’ve suspected students have used AI. I don’t love that it’s another thing that teachers have become responsible for…teaching students how to use it responsibly when I really wish they wouldn’t use it at all. To be clear, I don’t ever tell my students to use it, but I know it has a time and place these days.

I really haven’t used it much, and I’m probably missing out. I know AI can help create lesson plans, and I’ve done a bit of that, but not too much.

One benefit is when Trav used it to get ideas for the landscaping…that sure was handy!

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Again, I guess it’s the time we’re living in, but I do worry that kids aren’t going to grow up using their own creativity and thinking skills.

4. You’re invited to a summer pot luck and are asked to bring an appetizer, salad/side, or dessert. Which category do you go for and what are you bringing?

Oh, I’d probably bring my favorite pasta salad.

If I was bringing a dessert, I’d bring this graham cracker pudding dessert. I got the recipe from Trav’s mom years ago, and it’s a fave!

5. It wouldn’t be summer without_______________.

Well, the list could go on and on with this prompt! My first thought was “watermelon.” It’s just nice to have fresh watermelon for a few months a year, and it’s an easy side dish. That being said, my answer also could have been “It wouldn’t be summer without …” sleeping in or pool time.

6. Insert your own random thought here.

I like watching sports, and I actually caught quite a few of the Wimbledon tennis matches, and Hayden and I watched the Home Run Derby and the All Star Game the past couple of nights.

I can’t believe the World Cup is almost over. I’m not a huge soccer fan, but will watch the World Cup games. It’s been fun to see the various locations in the US (including KC), Canada and Mexico being highlighted. It seems that it’s been a success. I’ve caught most games, and I’m sure I’ll tune in to the England vs. Argentina game today…and then the final on Sunday.

For not being very athletic, I’ve always enjoyed watching sports!

I hope you have a great day.

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14 thoughts on “Wednesday Hodgepodge”

  1. I have a real problem with AI; I mean I know it’s here to stay and there are some super useful aspects of it but mostly anytime I think of using it I think of all the natural resources we waste. AI data centers use between 1 and 5 MILLION gallons of water a day! A day! Putting a huge strain on our water supply. And yet I probably google a million questions a day and even if I’m not reading the AI generated answers it’s still there and the first thing you see. It makes me feel so guilty!

    Now, being lazy in July or January doesn’t make me feel very guilty either. Pasta salads and a dessert tends to be our go to dish if we’re bringing something to share too.

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    1. Just last year, I learned about how AI connects to natural resources….thanks to my science teacher friends! You’re so right – I google things and get annoyed when the AI generated responses pop up

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  3. I haven’t watched much of the World Cup but I love the spirit around it and how it is truly bringing our world together. Love the garden design Travis got from AI- so very cool! I can imagine how complex and difficult AI is and will be in the school setting!

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  4. I do feel guilty about resting in July! I feel like if the weather is nice I need to be outside and doing something. I am better at hibernating in the winter 😉

    We watched the All Star game to see our Blue Jays, Cease, Clement and Varland. All favourites here!

    Go England!

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    1. I’m cheering for England too!
      Good point about July and being outside…but sometimes it’s too hot! That being said, I guess most of my relaxing is just in the morning.

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  5. I find it easier to slow down and relax in July, the heat does me in and I do a lot less. hahaha! That is so true, I rage clean when I am angry. That’s when my girls know something is wrong. It must be so hard trying to work out if students are using AI for right or wrong reasons. Ohh! That pasta salad looks good and the dessert too! I am looking forward to the England vs. Argentina match later on but dreading it at the same time. Eek!

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  6. I think right now we’re used to thinking for ourselves, but the generations coming up behind the current one will not know a world without AI There’s a lot to figure out and I’ve already heard some things that make me worry. We’ve enjoyed all the fun summer sporting events too and I’ve loved seeing people’s reactions to some of the lesser publicized parts of the US. Enjoy your summer. Teachers for sure need the rest and time to regroup mentally before a new year begins. I love January too. Summer on the lake is a fun kind of busy, but still busy.

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