I’ve been searching for a new word for the new year. One little word which will capture how I am moving in the world right now. I used to move with youthful confidence, quick to react as if my feet were on fire.
The Light Still Shines
When December comes, the light in the sky dwindles; days are shorter and night is longer. We walk in the dark now with the cold settling deep in our bones. It is dark by 4 o’clock, and we still feel like we have the whole day ahead of us, but the light is gone and with it our energy.
Hungry for Joy
hese bring momentary solace, but still, I yearn for something more, something less ephemeral. I guess that’s a tall order to ask for – permanent joy. I don’t expect permanency, but maybe just little more moments, more moments of unexpected joy. That would be nice.
Jingle, Jingle, Gingerbread
I enjoy three things: children, cooking, and holidays. Last week, I was able to put all three together. Nothing says “HOLIDAY” like gingerbread, so I decided to make gingerbread houses with our 1st grade classes, twenty little girls in all. Nothing could bring more joy than that! Of course, the motto, “Divide and conquer,” came … Continue reading Jingle, Jingle, Gingerbread
A Measure of Success
Since I was a child, I’ve measured my success by all the small moments I’ve had connecting to people through personal interactions and poetry. Connection to me equaled success. Oh sure, I had thoughts of fame and money but that all fell away as I matured. It’s not that I lost my ambition, it’s just … Continue reading A Measure of Success
Working in the Wonder Studio: The Play’s the Thing!
In the Wonder Studio this month, the 5th graders have been busy creating models of tree houses, ornaments, carts, and a sundry of child-generated crafts. The thing that all the students like best about Wonder Studio is that no adult is telling them what to make or how to make it.
Working in the Wonder Studio: Self-Reliance
I know people sometimes look at the things the Wonder Studio makers have created and see just a mess of paint and glue and cardboard. But I see treasure, pure childlike imaginative treasure. And in that treasure, I see creativity, determination, and resourcefulness, which will stay with them a lifetime. And that makes all the difference!
Autumn Affinity
Autumn is a season of loss. The leaves change color, dry, and fall from their branches. The trees become temporary skeletons and the sky turns smoky gray. There is a quietness that settles in like the cold. It is a time to go inward, to remember and to be grateful.
Pumpkin Time Celebrations
I love October in the Northeast. Green turns to gold and orange, and deep plum. The outside world is burnished a tawny brown. The smell of pumpkins and apples is in the air. Fall is a time to celebrate the harvest and the bounty it brings. The leaves blow off the trees heralding the coming of winter and the anticipation of snow.
Joy-filled Reading
Learning to read is difficult work. There are 26 letters, each having one or more sounds. Reading is blending the sounds into words to make meaning. It is a long and slow process. And I recall many faces filled with joy as they read their first words and sentences It was a complete light of satisfaction upon young faces.
Word Dancer: Literature, the Arts, & Education 