My name is Tod Baker. I like teaching (especially in international schools), photography, reading, writing, baseball, dogs, and playing for the trophy at my uncle Gary's annual croquet tournament. Here I post about these interests and some family news as well.
I am the IT Coordinator at International School of Tianjin. You can also find my thoughts about teaching and learning with technology at Watch Your Bobber, IT K5 and occasionally at U Tech Tips.
It's become a tradition for us now. Each Chinese New Year vacation Tati, Gabo and I wake up one morning and decide to take a taxi to Ancient Culture Street, a re-creation of a nineteenth-century Chinese street. We walk around enjoying the Chinese New Year decorations, throngs of shoppers and, if we we're lucky, some Temple Fair activities. These photos show some of the scenes we came across on Monday.
Last Saturday night, we had a fabulous time celebrating the Chinese New Year! Anders and Sang Min hosted the night with delicious food and drinks and spectacular view of the fireworks in the city. It was one of the best displays of fireworks that I have ever seen in Tianjin. It's really awesome to get so close to such big explosives. The sounds, smells and sights just blew me away. Thanks Anders and Sang Min for a great night! 新年快樂！
Gabo received an award during the elementary assembly last Friday. Lately he has been asking more questions and sharing more, so his teacher Ms. Bevan decided to recognize his efforts. Congratulations Gabo!
I'm spending the weekend in Beijing at the Create the Future workshop. "This workshop is designed to open doors to new modes of teaching and learning and focus on the learner (teacher and student) as a communicator, collaborator and creator." While I'm arguing the value of globally collaborative projects Tati and Gabo have been at the Pearl Market shopping. So far, Tati has a new iPhone ($150) and Gabo a new PSP loaded with dozens of games ($50). We're heading home this afternoon.
Sasha and I played outside in the snow this afternoon. She loved to poke her nose into the snow! This might be the heaviest snowfall we've had in more than a decade. It's been snowing for about 10 hours and it's still falling. Will they be able to clear the streets in time for school to start tomorrow? Snow day on the first day back from vacation? What are the odds?
Each year the IST faculty performs a pantomime for the school community. Our pantos tend to draw inspiration and a plot from the latest challenges and accomplishments at school. This year's panto highlighted accreditation processes, new facilities (again), and H1N1. In the photos you can see me playing the role of Little Red Riding Hood falling for the charm and good looks of the big bad wolf. Don't ask.
I would like to try making one of these some day. The first challenge is to find the right long, tedious event to shoot. Not that I don't like baseball but because it can be a long game with low action it is well-suited for a time-lapse presentation. Don't you think?
