Motivating athletes to give it their all and perform above their potential are common notions in the sports world and you will find these ideas expressed at all levels of competition and all ages. Even for 4th and 5th graders there is intense competition in athletics. The good news is there are also many more opportunities to play then when I was that age. Giving 110% is a phrase that has been around for a while and may owe some of its success to the fact that it is a simple and straight forward way of telling someone to perform beyond their normal capacity. It may be a bit hokey to some, but I believe it can be a great motivator. I have been using it with my 13 year old and I think it paid off for him recently. Read More
Sep102011
Remember Where You Were on 9/11
Events that Live in Infamy
Everyone who is old enough to remember the events of 9/11 will also remember exactly where they were and what they were doing on that day. When I was a kid, I remember people saying they could remember exactly what they were doing on the day John F. Kennedy was killed. I was just under three years old at the time so I had no recollection of the events but most of the people I knew who were at least a few years older than me not only had a vivid recollection of the event but more interesting, where they were and what they were doing at the time. I have to admit, I always thought that was a bit odd. Most of us can remember lots of traumatic experiences, big world events or smaller personal experiences but not always our own particular circumstances at that time.
The USS Arizona, JFK's Funeral, World Trade Center Memorial
The “greening” of roof-tops has become increasingly more common as environmentally friendly building practices go from novelty to mainstream. The Gail Borden Library in Elgin, Illinois has just completed its first “Green Roof” phase. Utilizing a pre-planted and pre-grown vegetated roof tray, from Live Roof , the existing roof membrane has been dramatically altered. It now boasts a lush garden in shades of greens and earth tones.
- Portions of the new green roof are visible from the Teen Center at the Gail Borden Library in Elgin, Illinois
Jul132011
Reading About Blogging
What to write, when to write, how to write and how much to write. Essentially, the question is: how to Blog? This may be the big question or “big idea” we are all searching for. Lately, I have found myself looking for the answer to that question. I’ve been reading about topics that have included things like autoblogging, guest blogging and e-books. Other topics of interest have been traffic generation and backlinking. I have to say (and I think I have said this before) there is so much information out there, that at times, it can be mind-numbing. Read More
Poplar Creek Public Library
For the last few months, the tension and anticipation have been building at Frye Gillan Molinaro Architects as it was made known that a major accolade was on the horizon. Up until that point, a very successful Poplar Creek Public Library in Streamwood, Illinois had already won a Chicago Chapter AIA award and received some press. Now there was news that more homage was on the horizon . . . but it was a secret and needed to stay a secret . . . until now.
The new glass tower along Park Avenue acts as a beacon
May052011
A Year of Great Costumes
This was the year of great costumes in our household. This came about because of my eldest son’s Social Studies class. We went hard to work creating a rather elaborate costume for “Egypt Day,” spent less time but still pulled-off a pretty good costume for “Greek and Roman Day,” and as a bonus, came up with a nice homemade Halloween costume for #2 son (the Viking). The visual props, like costume building, have made Social Studies a bit more interesting for #1 son. A subject that he might have found boring in the past, came to life for him through these projects. Social studies has not been the only subject to show improvement. The team teaching approach which spreads an event like “Egypt Day” across other subjects has helped to improve his performance across the board. For example, there has been a complete turn-about in his interest in reading. At last, he found content that he likes and now reads daily without any prodding from his parents. Read More
