Best Laid Plans

Didn’t get to write this morning

Slept late because I hadn’t slept well.

Had plans to write when I got home.

Then got involved in a tech issue hell

Now my newly opened Chardonnay waits for me,

and some shrimp tacos, too.

Try again tomorrow because

it’s the weekend, baby, 

and just 9 more days of school!

Survival

 

Yesterday after testing, we started our One Book, One School selection, Thunder Cave. Naturally, the after testing environment is chaotic, noisy, and completely insane. Trying to get their attention to start a read aloud was nearly impossible. I will have this challenge again today after the math test. 

When trying to think what to write today, I remembered a quote from the book that I am using for an activity—a spine poem. I decided today I’d write a spine poem about my need to survive this day, using the quote: “Survival is more important than getting there.”

Survival is the name of the game. It

is hardest on these days after testing.

More noise, more craziness, nothing

important to do. Rather

than calming things down, we are

getting barraged with misbehavior.

There is little that can be done.

(Just. Survive)

Titanic Lives On

We have come to the conclusion of another great Titanic project. The last couple of days we have spent doing a “read around” where students read each other’s passenger journals and give positive feedback. More than ever before, I was completely “wowed” by the effort so many students took to make their passenger come alive in our minds. Their imagination and creativity, supported by research, is what education is all about. I am forever grateful to Patricia Wachholz for introducing me to this project. This will probably be the best version of it I have seen, and I am grateful. 

Here are a selection of covers. No two journals were alike, and I feel deeply this type of assignment should not be the exception, but the rule. 

(Side note: our 7th grade science teacher has the kids creating habitat dioramas. I heard her commenting to our AP about how great it is going. I feel it is such a shame we feel forced to wait until the end of the year to do the best stuff!)

Voice (acrostic)

Vessels of kindness and

Openings of joy and connection

I look for these each day

Caring for others needs priority

Every generous action uplifted

“Living from the Inside Out”

 

I read a commencement address Parker Palmer gave at Naropa University in 2015. It has the same title as this blog.

There were two quotes I pulled out:

To grow in love and service, you must value ignorance as much as knowledge and failure as much as success.

…walk straight into your not knowing, and take the risk of failing and falling, again and again.

After reflecting on these a bit, I went on to write in my journal, and some really great ideas took form in an unexpected way. I’ve been thinking about how to approach things next year, and I had yet to tie it all together. I remembered things I had forgotten all about, and found they were a perfect fit for what I am trying to accomplish.

This all has to do with teaching, of course. I have annoyed myself sometimes when I look back on the blog and see how I rise and fall, commit and lose track, again and again. I secretly wonder if others are reading these words and saying to themselves “Hasn’t she figured it out yet?”

Parker’s words about living from the inside hit home because that is what I am doing in most instances…until I forget and try to control from the outside. When I think I’ve figured it out, I do my best to move forward. Yet, things throw me off track. Seems so repetitive.

But then, I wouldn’t take any action if I didn’t think I knew the way…right?

Still, not knowing can be valuable. Beginner’s mind. And taking a huge dose of that with my ideas is definitely something I need to remember to do. I need to allow for some innovation and adjustment.

*

I’m documenting some things here so I won’t forget. One of the things I remembered was the interactive journal, which I haven’t used in years. Once the Chromebook took over, the journal seemed outdated and lunky. But after this year I realize how deeply necessary it is. Not every day, but definitely on a regular basis. 

The other thing I remembered was my acronym BRIDGE that is now taking on new dimensions as well. This is a mnemonic I created a few years ago:

Build

Relationships.

Illuminate

Discovery.

Generate 

Expression.

I have already seen how these simple steps can be used to enhance the Global Perspectives curriculum. I’m going to keep fitting the pieces together, based on what I’ve learned in my years of teaching this course. Believe me, it can be pretty dry. I need a decent plan to accomplish what needs to be done.  I found it by looking a bit to the past, looking inside, and being willing to give form to it. 

I chose the graphic on this blog because of the spiral nature, but also the many designs and colors combining into a unified whole. This piece of art speaks to how variety can be enhancing and enlivening.

May I live that idea inside my classroom every day.

For the Love of Reading

 I don’t remember it, but I’m sure my mother read this book to me when around the time my brother Matthew was born. It may be the first book I owned.

I remember reading to her when I came home from school with the Dick and Jane books. She was patient and showed interest. At a young age, I was gifted with the knowledge that reading was a necessary and worthwhile activity.

From my dad’s standpoint, it was the comic section of the paper. I’ve always been an early riser, and when my dad got up at 6 a.m. to get ready for work, I was up as well, the comic section splayed out on the floor for me to read while he shaved and got dressed. 

My parents made sure I had a library card as soon as I was eligible to have one, and also made sure I took responsibility for the books. To this day, I don’t know how anyone survives without a library card. 

My mother is now 91-years-old and occasionally has the opportunity to read to the children at Chestnut Elementary School, where I attended 6th grade. I love when I see these photos of her interacting with children. It reminds me again that one of the greatest gifts she gave me was a love of reading.

Shining Together

Today I am inspired by David Kirby’s poem “Satisfaction,” where he muses on remembering to be happy.

I made a list of what I’m happy about from this week. I had instances of having to firmly remind myself to be happy, so this is necessary.

* Jim’s PET scan has indicated his cancer is stable —treatments will continue, but perhaps not as harsh. We’ll know more when we see the doc on Tuesday.

* The Titanic project has been a huge hit. Most everyone is pouring themselves into it.

*  I’ve been putting on clean pop music playlists while the kids work and they love it. One girl thanked me yesterday, saying “it helps her concentrate.”

* I did not put the desks back in groupings after testing and I’m thinking I may leave them this way. Perhaps the kids function better in rows.

* I found cards buried away I bought over a decade ago called Praise Notes. The last couple days while the kids worked, I wrote words of praise and quietly gave a select few the cards. So many are doing such wonderful things, it was time to acknowledge it.

* I’m happy this project has given me space to recognize the happy moments in the classroom, and I can relish them. 

* I’m happy my classroom feels fully mine. It’s been so elusive this year. I got it back just in time. Not many days left and I want to enjoy fully.

*Yesterday 12th period was all singing along to this song. We’ve had many rainy days this year, but “when we shine, we shine together.”