I’m overdue for a BRAND NEW cardio playlist for 2012.  I pride myself in finding the latest, the most unique, the most motivating songs to keep you from getting bored on those cardio machines.  This list is no exception . . .

“Called Out in the Dark” by Snow Patrol . . . Brand new from this fabulous group!  An absolutely perfect tempo to warm up.  This is your life; this is your time ➟

“Eyes” by Kaskade (feat. Mindy Gledhill) . . . I LOVE, LOVE this one ‘ cause eyes are the windows to the soul and love is plain to see .♡  At 2:23 is when you should step up your game a bit faster on the mill!!

“Domino” by Jessie J . . . speaking of love , this one will make you happy and spin yourself out of control!!

“Paradise” by Coldplay (Fedde Le Grande remix) . . . I absolutely adore the original but this is the version for cardio!!

“These Days” by Foo Fighters . . . This group has a way of hiding profound lyrics behind smash rockin’ music.  One of these days your heart will play its final beat – but not today as you work it with this!

“Every Car You Chase” by Snow Patrol Vs. The Police . . . . One of my very favorite songs of all time paired with another fave ~ an ingenious mash-up!!  I dare you to stop during this!

“Joanna” by Little Comets . . . I’m not sure what I like about this song.  I just do:

“Video Games” by Lana Del Rey . . . A silky, sultry way to close your cardio. HEART this and the Cali footage too!!

Share on Facebook

Want to indulge without the bulge this holiday season?!  If you exercise now and push yourself a little harder with your cardio (4 days of cardio instead of 3? or 30 minutes instead of 20 minute sessions? or Run/Walk instead of Walk?), you will be able to partake in the festivities wholeheartedly!!  

“The One You Say Goodnight To” by Kina Grannis . . . My right now song.  Positively perfect beginning.  :-)

“Dakent“ by Banger (VooDoo Bear Remix) . . .  the xylophone will appeal to your inner child!!  A unique, creative instrumental that has an inspiring beat for your beginning.  At about 40 seconds in, the beat increases to get your heart rate off and running.

“Phazing Disposition” (JRowe Mashup) . . . . a remix of “Sweet Disposition” from 500 Days of Summer.  Time to start kicking things up.  This version moves your groove to a stronger beat.  I’ve meshed mine so that this song begins before “Dakent” ends – perfect transition!!  (Flash mob choreography is improving my remix abilities!!)

 ”Big in Japan” by Martin Solveig . . . remember Solveig’s song “Hello?”  This may be even more heart-throbbing!!  Great to get you in your faster zone ⟾~

“So Much Love” by Fedde Le Grand . . . . LOVE this song!!  This song will find you in your happy zone!!!  Love, music, dance:  the necessities of life.  I adore the heart-shaped hands:

“Good Feeling” by Flo Rida . . . Leave it to this artist to provide a workout wonder song . . . Workout video too!

“I Like How It Feels” by Enrique Iglesias . . . Just when you start to get tired, you need this feel-good number!  ”Cause this is our time!!

“We Found Love” by Rihanna – This is one of those songs that just sounds happy!!!  And, yes, love is usually found in a hopeless place.  Celebrate it!

“Without You” by Eddie Vedder . . . another from his Ukelele songs.  This song is simply beautiful – lyrics and tune.  I saw this show over the summer; this is a fabulous live version of this song.  Download it from Vedder’s Ukelele album.  A smooth cool-down.

BONUS SONG FOR THE LADIES:

“Rumor Has It/Someone Like You” Mashup by GLEE - Okay, gentlemen may not like this one as much.  Girls, this one is good for your cardio mix as you pound the pavement and feel lucky that you dodged that bullet from the one who made the mistake!!!!!!!

Share on Facebook

Don’t just fall into autumn . . . jump into the new season with a refreshed, more toned you.  It’s been a while since my last playlist and IT’S TIME!!!!  Are you like me?  Do you get bored playing the same music at the gym?  These might give you some ideas . . . 

Pumped Up Kicks by Foster the People . . . . This is a PERFECT one to get you in the mood and get your own kicks pumped up!!  I can’t get the chorus out of my head!!!!! Turn this one up ~

Bruises by Chairlift  . . . I’m sure we all can relate to this one.  Each one of us has that person whom we tried to do handstands for but kept falling over.  ;-)

Beautiful People by Chris Brown and Benny Benassi . . .  Brown brings it again with another catchy, can’t-help-but-move tune.  I adore positive, life is good beats and this is definitely one of them!  People everywhere ARE beautiful!!!

Walk by Foo Fighters . . . Such a heart pumping song that is perrrrfect for cardio!!  Funny video too with great Los Angeles footage!!

One Club at a Time by Midnight Red . . . This one reminds me of dancing this summer with my daughter.  She’s a vibrant soul and you will be to0 if you let the music take you away during cardio! (I couldn’t find the original video but this is a good live shot)

Party Rock Anthem by LMFAO . . . I can’t not include this one (how’s that for a double negative?)!  Now if only we had a “shufflin” epidemic spread like the one in the video!  LOL!!

Beggin‘ by Madcon . . . . This is a great one to strut your stuff to.  Not crazy about the video but the song rocks me.

Can’t Keep by Eddie Vedder . . . I’m loving the softer side of Eddie we’ve heard lately.  This is a unique tune to rock your world – yes, rock with a ukelele!!  Love this whole album!!  Watch for the whale in this amazing video →

Share on Facebook

I discovered this touching short story during my first year of teaching and am still enamored with it. My students and I recently performed  a text rendering with this piece and I was reminded of its heartwarming conclusion.  Particularly during this online dating era when too many gawk over profile pics, it is that much more refreshing.  (I threw in a little exercise as I typed it to add a little fun to your reading):

Appointment with Love

by s.i. kishor

Six minutes to six, said the clock over the information booth in New York’s Grand Central Station. The tall, young army lieutenant lifted his sunburned face and narrowed his eyes to note the exact time. His heart was pounding with a beat that shocked him. In six minutes he would see the woman he had never seen, yet whose written words had sustained him unfailingly.

Lieutenant Blandford remembered one day in particular, the worst of the fighting, when his plane had been caught in the midst of a pack of enemy planes. In one of his letters, he had confessed to her that he often felt fear, and only a few days before this battle, he had received her answer:

“Of course you fear…all brave men do. Next time you doubt yourself, I want you to hear my voice reciting to you: ‘Yea, though I walk among the shadow of the valley of death, I shall fear no evil, for Thou art with me.’”

He had remembered and it had renewed his strength.

Now he was going to hear her real voice. Four minutes to six. A girl passed close to him and Lieutenant Blandford started. She was wearing a flower, but it was not the little red rose they had agreed upon. Besides, this girl was only about 18, and Hollis Meynell had told him she was 30.

“What of it?” he had answered. “I’m 32!” He was 29.

His mind went back to the book he had read in the training camp. “Of Human Bondage,” it was, and throughout the book were notes in a woman’s writing. He had never believed that a woman could see into a man’s heart so tenderly, so understandingly. Her name was on the bookplate: Hollis Meynell. He had gotten hold of a New York City telephone book and found her address.

He had written; she had answered.

Next day he had been shipped out, but they had gone on writing. For 13 months she had faithfully replied. When his letters did not arrive, she wrote him anyway, and now he believed he loved her and she loved him.

But she had refused all his pleas to send him her photograph. She had explained: “If your feeling for me has any reality, what I look like won’t matter. Suppose I’m beautiful. I’d always be haunted that you had been taking a chance on just that, and that kind of love would disgust me. Suppose I’m plain (and you must admit that this is more likely), then I’d always fear that you were only going on writing because you were lonely and had no one else. No, don’t ask for my picture. When you come to New York, you shall see me and then you shall make your decision.”

One minute to six…he pulled hard on a cigarette. Then Lieutenant Blandford’s heart leaped. A young woman was coming toward him. Her figure was long and slim; her blond hair lay back in curls from her delicate ears. Her eyes were blue as flowers; her lips and chin had a gentle firmness. In her pale green suit, she was like springtime come alive. He started toward her, forgetting to notice that she was wearing no rose, and as he moved, a small provocative smile curved her lips.

“Going my way, soldier?” she murmured. He made one step closer to her. Then he saw Hollis Meynell. She was standing almost directly behind the girl, a woman well past 40, her graying hair tucked under a worn hat. She was more than plump; her feet were filled into low-heeled shoes. But she wore a red rose on her rumpled coat. The girl in the green suit was walking away.

Blandford felt as if he was being split in two, so keen was his desire to follow the girl, yet so deep his longing for the woman whose spirit had companioned and upheld his own; and there she stood. He could see that her pale, plump face was gentle and sensible; her gray eyes had a warm twinkle.

* * *

Before you read any further, Grading Girl wants you to create your own ending to the story, and to reason why you ended it that way.   Now to continue:

Lieutenant Blandford did not hesitate. His fingers gripped the worn copy of “Of Human Bondage” which was to identify him to her. This would not be love, but it would be something precious, a friendship for which he had been and must ever be grateful. He squared his shoulders, saluted, and held the book out toward the woman, although while he spoke he felt the bitterness of his disappointment.

“I’m Lieutenant Blandford, and you – you are Ms. Meynell. I’m so glad you could meet me. May – may I take you out to dinner?”

* * *

The story is not over yet. Have you figured out Kishor’s ending to his story, and did it coincide with yours?   This is not to say Kishor’s ending is the most important point . . . the point of GG’s exercise is to help you discover what your view of love—particularly romantic love—is.” Here’s how the author concluded the story:

The woman’s face broadened in a tolerant smile. “I don’t know what this is all about, son,” she answered. “That young lady in the green suit, she begged me to wear this rose on my coat. And she said that if you asked me to go out with you, I should tell you she’s waiting for you in that restaurant across the street. She said it was some kind of a test.”

I hope you enjoyed reading it as much as I do!!!  GG gives “Appointment with Love” an A+ for its message of inner vs. outer beauty.

And here is the method I used to share this special story in class . . .

Text Rendering

adapted from NY Times Learning Network lesson by Shannon Doyne

Choose and distribute a text for everyone to read silently. Ensure that everyone has tools for underlining and/or highlighting sentences, descriptions and phrases they want to read and hear out loud.  When students are ready, tell them that they will read aloud parts of their choice — whatever struck them as interesting, memorable, likable, eye- or ear-catching, etc. Give them a moment to make their selection.

Explain that, unlike other oral reading experiences they have probably had, they will not be called on to read in a circuit around the room, nor will volunteers put their hands up to read, nor will they be called upon to read. Instead, they will read aloud their passages as they are ready or “moved” to speak, waiting for someone else to finish.

Before they begin, tell them that there may be pauses between readers and moments when several people start reading at the same time. Tell them that when this happens, to just let one of the readers “go” and then wait their turn. Also assure them that it is fine to read the same passage aloud a second, third or fourth time, as each reading can bring new understandings and interpretations, just like re-reading a difficult passage until the reader understands its meaning. Read your own selected passages, too, along with your students. Finally, tell students not to comment, but rather to just read and listen.

If there is time, do the activity again, this time with students reading in an order that “answers” or elaborates on the last passage read. Encourage them to use different tones and inflections as a way to “reply” to previous readers, too. As the order becomes less random, conversational patterns will emerge.  When the reading is over, give students time to write about their observations about their experience.

This worked well for my reading class, demonstrating the difference between reading aloud and silently.  That little voice we hear in our heads when we read may not carry the inflection, tone, or stress that our out loud voices may; hence, we may lose some of the mood or purpose or emotions.  In today’s iBook era, reading aloud is becoming a lost art.  That is very sad to me.

Share on Facebook

Raise your hand . . . how many of you are working out just a little harder to get toned, tanned, fit and ready for summer?  Me too – and here’s the songs helping me get there.  Enjoy!!

“Go Your Own Way” by Fleetwood Mac . . . Classic rock worthy of modern playlists.  Go your own way with your cardio and leave ‘em in the dust.

“Rolling in the Deep” by GLEE cast . . . A handful of the GLEE covers are better than the originals – this is one of them.  Much more passionate as a duet, use this one to fuel your fire.  This acapella duet provides a unique backdrop to your gym-shoed feet.  Trust me, try it as a power warm up before picking up the pace!

“Heartbeat” by Enrique Iglesias ft. Nicole Scherzinger . . . I looooove to dance to this one – and you will too!!!  A wonderful feel-good song.  ♡ ♥ ♡

“Use Somebody” by Kings of Leon – DAVID GUETTA remix . . . I heard this remix this weekend & got super-excited.  #1 DJ plus #1 band = perfect cardio mix!!  The 7 minute length will keep you going . (Don’t like this remix?  No sweat – the fabulous original never gets out of tune!!)

“Baba O’riley” by The Who . . . A rock break from the remixes; I dare you to keep up with the pace.  A surprisingly good song to use for intervals.

“Penguin” by Avicii . . . A move-motivating club mix.  I ♡ the dancey piano!  Want something different from the Top 40s?! . . . . this is your song.

“Don’t Stop the Party” by The Black Eyed Peas . . . enough said.

“15 Steps” by Radiohead . . . . Time to calm the pace a bit.  This one’s perfect when counting your steps on the stairs or treadmill!

“Addicted to Love” by Florence & The Machine . . . a sexier, sultrier version to this 80′s piece.  This should be the section of your workout where the sweat starts to seep through.  Are you addicted?!

“White Balloons” by Sick Puppies . . . One needs closure in cardio.  Leave this lovely song for last and the lyrics will linger.

Share on Facebook

Music is a universal language that truly does transcend boundaries.  Whatever native tongue one speaks, emotions evoked through music is unequivocally understood.  It’s no wonder music does so much to motivate our movement through exercise.  EXERCISE FOR YOUR HEART AND SING FOR YOUR SOUL! Here are the latest songs motivating me right now. ☞

“Someday” by Rob Thomas . . . Sometimes we don’t notice just how good it can get!  This uber-optimistic song will positively kick off your cardio!  Do you have someone you wish you could get through to?  Listen to this as you sweat it out and let the magic happen.  I ♥ the video too!!

“Ramble On” by Led Zeppelin . . . While I love running with this one on a trail near grassy fields, it works equally well on the treadmill.  You just have to put your mind there!  And as an English teacher, I appreciate the rock & lit connection to The Hobbit!

“Happiness” by Alexis Jordan (Wideboys Club Mix) . . . This one goes out to my baby niece – there’s never been a happier soul born!!!!  She loves bouncing to this song and this remix will get you bouncing too.  Everyone needs a little happiness inserted in their cardio.  I can’t say enough about the feel-good mood this song evokes!!  M mm mm mm . . .

“Born This Way” by Lady GaGa . . . Baby, you were born this way so make the most of it.  Give it your all, be truly present during cardio and you’ll get more out of your exercise.  Whether you’re a fan of GaGa or not, let yourself listen to the words and your feet will carry you to burn more calories.

“Yeah 3X” by Chris Brown . . . Remember the infamous wedding video with Chris Brown’s other big hit “Forever?”  This one gets people dancing in the aisles like that!!

“Your Love is My Drug” (Dave Aude Remix) by Kesha . . . There is no better drug in the world!!!  The version of this song makes me happy inside and out!!!  Find someone that loves life as much as you and you’ll never have a sad day again! xoxoxoxoxoxoxo

“Space Age Love Song” by Flock of Seagulls . . . This is one of those special songs that would go on my “life playlist” – a long, happy story which I’ll devote to another post.  In any event, this dream tune will keep your feet flying with an 80′s flare.

“Paranoid” by Garbage . . . You won’t be paranoid by the time you’re done.  This is one of those songs you don’t always think of for cardio but it works! In cardio, variety is where it’s at!!

“If I Every Lose My Faith in You” by Sting . . . I love this man.  This video is fabulous.  This song rocks my world.  Keep the faith, turn it on as you reach the home stretch, and your satisfaction will last long after your cardio is complete.

“Uncharted” by Sara Bareilles . . . You’re going down for the last section of your cardio.  Can you recognize the artists appearing in this video??  Shout out to my favorite pianist Ben Folds!!

Share on Facebook

Let the luck be with you!  St. Patrick’s Day marks a day to begin transforming your winter dreams into spring action!!  Check out the music below to help you feel lucky as you work out your goals for spring and summer!!  While not all the songs directly connect to luck, all will evoke a go-lucky, invigorating feeling to kick off the new season.

“Animal” by Neon Trees . . . Here we go again!  A lucky month to kick off cardio goals.  This perfect tempo, fun pop song will keep your spirits up.

“Paddy’s Revenge” by Steve Mac . . . The ULTIMATE St. Patrick’s Day cardio song.  Check it out!!!!!

“BulletProof” (Dave Aude Remix) by LaRoux . . . the sound effects add oomph to this song.  Crank this one up and let your superhero power out!!

“Smack My B*** Up” by Prodigy . . . for the longest time, I thought this song was “Snap my Picture.”  I’ve LOVED this one for cardio for a long time now.  Remember the Charlie’s Angel scene when the girls kick serious butt as this song plays?!  That’s the kind of power this song evokes!!

“Higher” by Taio Cruz featuring Kylie Minogue . . . just the right point in your workout when you’re trying to run into a higher zone.

“Drum Trip” by Rusted Root . . . I saw these gentlemen live – invigorating, kick off your shoes performance.! Picture yourself running through a grassy field with the gentle breeze blowing.  That’s the kind of visual you’ll get from thisdifferent vibe.

“Ray of Light” by Madonna . . . Crank this one up!!  I heard this for the first time during my first morning in California 13 years ago!!  I fell in love with both instantly!!  (this one still sounds fabulous cranked up in the car too)

“Beautiful Day” by U2 . . . what better band for an Irish holiday?!  A beautiful song that always makes me smile.

“Coming Home” by Diddy with Skylar Grey . . . a good one as you come home to the finish of your hard workout.

“The Only Exception” by Paramore . . . the one song in the world I can actually sing decently, and it works wonders as a cool down.  Never underestimate the power of the slow song on the treadmill!!

Share on Facebook

The search term “Valentine’s Cardio Playlist” is showing up fairly frequently in my StatPress, so it looks like it’s time to offer my latest playlist for the Love Day!!  Check out GG’s last February’s Valentine Playlist for more tunes to exercise your body and soul.

1. “Love Today” by Mika . . . this song makes me want to hug everyone in the gym!!!

2.  “Marry You” by Bruno Mars . . . this is my current right-now song!!!!  It brings my speed way up on the elliptical or treadmill.  The Glee version had me smiling allll night long when I saw it on the show, too!  The man I marry must be willing to dance down the aisle . . . or at least play along!

3.  “Magic Carpet Ride 07” by Mighty Dub Katz  . . . It’s time in the workout to get down to business.  This sexy beat will raise your heart rate.  Btw, the video gets a solid C for its rather strange interpretation.

4.  “Stereo Love” by Edward Maya and Vika Jigulina . . . . a sultry, authentic beat to get you in the mood! (have to double click to watch on YouTube)

5.  “Viva La Vida” (Telemitry Remix) by Coldplay . . . I have seven versions of this song on my IPod.  Not a love song, but listening to this song reminds us how much we love life!!

6.  “California Love” by 2Pac . . . because it’s the sunshine state and my second (first?) home!!  Every good playlist includes a mix of genres and this is one hot rap song.

7.  “Cosmic Love” by Florence and the Machine . . . Let yourself flail around to this one!!  A medium beat to begin the last quarter of your workout.

8.  “She’s Got You High” by Mumm-ra . . . not your traditional love song, but the sing-song chorus will keep your feet in pattern on the pavement or platform.

9.  “Every Little Thing She Does Is Magic“ by Sting . . . Speaking of ‘not your traditional,’ Sting’s collaboration with the Royal Symphonic Orchestra is magical in itself.

10.  “Breathe Again” . . . I seem to be attracted to songs with the words ‘breath’ or ‘breathe’ in them.  What kind of heart doesn’t look back?? Sad songs are good for the soul, and this one hits home hard for the last song.

Share on Facebook

Free Hot Technologies

~ Jotform.com . . . Website for creating electronic forms.  Best of all, data can be collected and imported to Excel.  This site allows you to be much more paperless and “green.”

~ Qik.com . . . Website that allows you to share live video.  (Teachers, if you assign your class a project that requires them to interview people, they can use their phones to record and then use qik.com to store and playback the interviews for their project almost immediately.)

~ Wolframalpha.com . . . Computational knowledge engine  [Example given:  3x + 2, enter your birth date, enter your name, Burger King Whopper, AAPL Stock Look-UP.]  Also does data comparison.

~ Xtranormal.com . . . You are able to animate movies by typing text, picking characters and camera angles.

~ Toondoo.com . . . Easily make comic strips about a variety of topics.  Cartoon characters are easy to edit and the gallery has a vast amount of pictures and backgrounds to choose from.

~ Glympse.com . . . Geographic location sharing with your smart phone.  Useful for parents!!!  (New York Times rated it as one of the top 10 must have iPhone applications!)

~ Posterous.com . . . From any email address (Gmail has largest capacity to send attachments), send Posterous PowerPoint attachments, Word docs, music, etc, and it will create a free webpage with all your content.

~ Live.com . . . Can open any version of Word, PowerPoint, etc.  Has a sky drive (25 GB free) to save per account and internet TV useful for showing clips.

See my previous free technology site recommendations here:  Technology Tools to Try

Share on Facebook

As a teacher of a senior writing course and as a mother of a college freshman on an academic full-ride scholarship at a Top 25 university, I have particular interest and personal experience in college preparation.  Below is a collection of videos, sites and articles that I’ve used personally and in the classroom.  Share these and let me know what you think:

VIDEOS I SHOW MY SENIORS:

1.  William and Mary Admission Prompt:  Many students envision the admissions officers as formal, unapproachable, stuffy old souls.  This illustrates that they are, in fact, normal peeps just like them.

2.  Did You Know? . . . Fabulous video on the progression of technology!!  This is a few years old now but still very powerful message.  Students need to understand why they must keep up – correction – stay ahead.

3.  The 2010 version of “Did You Know?  Not as powerful but the statistics are worth reading:

SITES I SEND MY STUDENTS TO:

1.  7 Prestigious Undergrad Scholarships:  Students should apply for these!!  I’m having my second semester students choose (at least) one.  The essay they create for the scholarship will be a graded assignment!

2.  100 Blogs That Should Be Required Reading in College:  very comprehensive!!!

3.  NY Times – DeMystifying College Admissions and Aid:  The New York Times has a wonderful site devoted especially to college-bound students.  My seniors love exploring this!

~    Going Beyond Cliché – How To Write a Great College Essay:  from that same NY Times site . . . another example of how practical the site is.

4. Beloit College Mindlist List – These lists put it all in perspective, illustrating the cultural milestones that helped shape their lives thus far.

ARTICLES I ASK MY SENIORS TO READ:

1. Five Impractical College Majors That Just Might Make You Rich : Food for thought as students ponder their future majors

2.  The Joys of Attending College Far From Home:  For those wondering if they should attend out-of-state, one student perspective . . .

3.  Which College Ranking Set Should You Use: A helpful debriefing of distinctions between the listings.

Share on Facebook