For the last couple of weeks, I have been reminded of the fragility of the human spirit and the power of hope. But it is more than hope. Hope seems more passive to me now. I hope I will be healthy and happy, but how do I going about putting that hope into action. What … Continue reading Relentless Hope: The Power Of an Avocado
Category: Education
Kitchen Literacy: Fall Treats
Kitchen Literacy: When adults invite children into the kitchen to cook, they provide memorable experiences. When the recipe is connected to literature, children become more involved in reading as a form of enjoyment. They are intrigued by the comforting, adventurous, and magical qualities food has in these stories. Children feel a great sense of accomplishment as they open the oven door and see the results of their efforts.
Room to Read
I love having the opportunity to read and write with children and figure out why they are having trouble. I calm my monkey mind and I focus in on the student reader.
Writing Community
I have seen myself as a writer ever since I could hold a crayon. I drew and wrote letters, telling stories to anyone who happened by. Usually, that person was my mother. She was a teacher and always encouraged me. She’d look at my scribbles and pictures and ask me to tell her about them. … Continue reading Writing Community
Song of the Sky: Some Thoughts on Clouds
Songs of the Sky: Looking out towards the horizon, the sky and sea seemed infinite. Maybe that’s what intrigued Alfred Stieglitz about clouds: their ever-changing shape above Lake George and reflected on its surface. For over a decade Stieglitz photographed clouds. He first called his cloud work, Songs of the Sky, after the music he could surely hear as they drifted.
Listen to Their Songs
As we drift into August, I am beginning to get weary of learning. I desperately need a respite before the tsunami of teaching in a pandemic begins to swell again. This latest webinar feature A.J. Juliani as the keynote. I have heard this dynamic speaker before, and I was eager to hear what he had to say. What I didn’t expect was his final words of encouragement to teachers in the form of a video from Clint Pulver, a motivational speaker. Clint is an author, musician, and employment retention expert. He helps companies and organizations retain, engage, and inspire their workers. Clint believes that a single moment is transformative, and he demonstrates this in a video about his school experience about his interactions with his teacher Mr. Jensen.
Experience of Place
For the past thirty-six summers, my husband and I have been fortunate to be able to wander and travel around the country – our beautiful diverse country: mountains, plains, deserts, and coastlines. Most summers are now spent in the Green Mountains of Vermont or the White Mountains of New Hampshire, or the rocky coastline of Maine. This year is different. Very different. This year is a summer of home and schoolwork. As I look towards the fall, I yearn for those wondrous summer places. I look back at photographs and remember.
Most Likely to Create
Humans are social animals and as such we seek community. We yearn for communication and understanding. We want to be seen and most definitely heard. There are all kinds of communities to which I have belonged. I have been part of a community of quilters, dancers, painters, teachers, cooks, readers, martial artists, and writers. As part of those communities, I was able to build strong bonds with others who shared similar interests and passions.
Every child needs a champion.
Ernest Hemingway famously wrote, "Do not worry. You have always written before and you will write now. All you have to do is write one true sentence. Write the truest sentence that you know." This is mine: Every child needs a champion. As the world seems to be spinning off its axis, this statement is especially true. Children need champions - people who help them feel safe, cultivate their curiosity, and instill hope. I became a teacher because I wanted to be a champion for young people. I have been blessed that I have been able to do this important work for the last forty-two years. So blessed.
Word Dancer: Literature, the Arts, & Education 