I came upon this picture….

 

I came upon this picture

From the East Coast of Florida, 1991

I didn’t make note of which beach this actually is

Maybe Melbourne?

I loved seeing this, you in your bright white and blue

You were fully healthy and strong

We loved getting away from Ohio, seeing your family in Florida

Visiting the different areas, always something new to discover.

We had a good life together, you and me.

Learning Together

 This is a story about teaching something I know little about to kids I don't know at all.

On Thursday I received an email from my assistant principal that a 6th grade Science teacher wasn't feeling well and would be leaving. I had to cover her 10th period class.

When I received the instructions it was noted that this would be a difficult class, and she provided a couple of suggestions.

I have covered a lot of classes this year, and most of the time it is 7th graders. I know almost all the 7th graders so that helps a lot. And even when I'm in 8th, I know quite a few of them.

However, when it comes to 6th, I'm flying blind. What transpired was a throwback to when I was a substitute teacher and had to wing it.

The lesson was on stars, in particular, how they are formed. The "essential question" was a lot of blah blah blah I didn't even understand, let alone expect struggling readers to get. 

So I had them stand up a form a star with their arms and legs. We sang "Twinkle Twinkle Little Star." Then we started through the slideshow lessons.

We managed to figure out a few things (stars are made up of hydrogen and helium). I kept reminding the kids that I didn't know this stuff, and was learning with them.

And then there was a video.

The first time through on the video was blah blah blah. Something about a H-R Diagram. (Never heard of this in my life. I still don't exactly know what it is.)

The second time through I heard something I could relate to. It had to do with protostars (never heard of them.) But what the voice on the video told us was that protostars are what stars are before they actually form. If a protostar is too cool, it won't form. If it is too hot, it is too unstable to form. It has to be the perfect temperature.

Walla! We know how to connect this to something we know...GOLDILOCKS.

We discussed this and everyone chose what color star they were. With about 8 minutes left, I turned them over to coloring pages. Two sweet girls--Waverly and Leena -- gave me their pages demanding I hang them in my classroom.

You can bet I did.

I saw the science teacher yesterday, and I could see the look of "what happened?" on her face. I told her a brief version of this story and she was laughing her ass off. 

Honestly, it was a good time. And it was a beautiful reminder of a number of things:

1. I still have what it takes.

2. Being silly can help in times of unknowing.

3. Learning together is what we are always doing.

4. Spontaneity is a weird and wonderful thing.

Just Makes Me Happy

 For some reason this year, there was a holiday door decorating contest at my school, with a fantastic prize of a jeans week for the teacher (yawn).  I couldn’t figure out how anyone had time for this, since we were in a crunch given we lost three weeks plus this semester. But…oh well.

Then suddenly I decided to do something simple. And yes, I spent more time on it than I had planned.  But…oh well.

I brought in what was left on an old roll of wrapping paper. I printed off snowflakes for the students to color, along with some pine trees. Called it “Celebrate Learning” and focused on the recent success my learners had in raising their Lexile levels. Of course we didn’t “win” in any of the categories, but that was never my focus. I intend on relishing this joyful expression up until the day I have to take it down. It represents spontaneity, success in goals being met, and so much more. After the major interruption in our lives in the form of one of the worst hurricanes in US history, I am glad we took the time to celebrate through color and creativity. 

I consider this a win!

Here are a couple of detail photos:

Creativity Rising (7 Lines/7 Days #92)

 #108Weeks

February 13-19, 2022

Getting a firmer grip on everything and feeling positive change. 

Finally reading Joy Luck Club by Amy Tan and loving it.

Starting to count the days to spring break and musing what I might do with that time. 

My Global Perspective kids made paper towers and had a blast. The highest was 4 foot, 4 inches. 

Got Thursday’s Wordle in two!

On Friday I was able to connect with a young teacher I don’t really know and have a conversation about common issues. 

My creativity is rising and it feels great. 

(The paper tower challenge—kids were given 20 pieces of copy paper and had 2 minutes to plan and 10 minutes to build. The structure had to stand long enough to be measured).

All Is Not Lost

 This is the first time I've felt inspired to write in my blog in a very long time.

The school year has been strange in so many ways. Usually by this time the classes are in a groove and doing well. And that has happened -- not exactly in the ways I'm used to, but I'm seeing it.

It is Spirit Week at our school, and yesterday was Red, White, and Blue day. So when I saw this picture from Pexels, I felt it represented what occurred on Wednesday.

3rd period was its usual quiet self. It is my largest in-person class, mostly girls, and is always super quiet.

5th period is my toughest class -- mostly boys, and lots of off-task behavior.  But yesterday was a bit different.  They had an assignment to do (which usually barely gets done), but they were working. And helping each other. And suddenly it was 15 minutes before lunch, and they were ALL DONE (except for one kid who was admitting he was just being lazy.)

So I let them go out into the courtyard on this beautiful November day and play. I have a stuffed fish (Nemo) they used as a football. They had the time of their lives.  It was so fun to hear them playing, to see them being kids and not staring at a computer. It did my heart good.

7th period came, and they got the job done. Then 9th was buzzing along until the last 15 minutes -- fire drill!

We came back in just in time to clean the desks and leave for 11th period. But the internet had gone down!  I couldn't get a Zoom session opened for my online kids. Admin came on the PA and it sounded like they didn't know when it would come back up, so I had to scramble for something for my kids to do that was not computer-related. Lo and behold, I was already set up for a back-up activity on Friday, with card-making supplies ready for them to write Thank You notes to people in their lives.  The kids had a blast making the cards, getting creative, piling notes on my desk, and eventually going outside to play tag. I didn't have to deal with online kids. I sat and relished what we had -- a chance to have school like "the old days" -- making things by hand, playing together, and not staring at a computer screen. I didn't have to worry that the online kids weren't getting the same experience because, well, there was no connection.

I was exhausted by the time I got home, for it had been a real roller coaster ride. But I realized all has not been lost. The kids are finding ways to be successful, to support each other, to be kids and have fun. It reminded me again of all the reasons I am a teacher -- to experience joy and learning and spontaneity. 

As tiring as it was in the end, my heart still feels full and happy.

"There's a Rainbow in the Sky"

Many, many inspirations today.

Began with this photo:

Continued with Joy Harjo's poem "In Praise of Earth," these lines in particular:

And this Earth keeps faithfully to her journey, carrying us around the Sun,

All of us in our rags and riches, our rages and promises, small talk and suffering...

I wrote:

Everything has become fodder for

writing, a spark point. There is 

a multi-dimensional aspect and

depth to uncover in everything I read.

In a time of great disparity, suffering,

loneliness, and rage,

my mind pierces the possible.

I am highly aware

that the promised moment

from many years ago

has come, when I saw, 

during a shamanic journey,

the rainbow, heard the words

 "You're the great integrator."

And today I was taken by the breathtaking

photo of a rainbow over Chicago.

I've received the sign of hope and renewal.

The painting in the sky.

This is for me.

I accept the challenge.

Then, this poem I read every day took on deeper meaning:

Cut brambles long enough,

Sprout after sprout,

And the lotus will bloom

Of its own accord:

Already waiting in the clearing,

The single image of light.

The day you see this,

That day you will become it.

~Sun Bu-er~

I saw the rainbow.

The image of light.

And it was me.

"My life is full of color here

My mind is clear."

Walking in a Different Direction Part Two: Lakes Park

Today I finally did it. I pulled myself out of the house, into the absolutely perfect Florida May weather, and took a walk at Lakes Park. I know I have not been there in a long time, and I went with the purpose to do my usual loop through the woods.

Lone Palm Morning

I expected the usual Sunday crowd, but the people were few and far between. The pavilions and play areas are roped off, the exercise equipment fenced off, and the picnic tables overturned.


When I got there I changed my idea of where I wanted to walk. I decided to walk around the lake, rather than go into the wooded area. Very quickly I realized something -- when I have walked around the lake, I tend to start in the same place and walk in the opposite direction than I was walking this morning. And as I wrote about a few weeks ago, I was seeing a lot of things I haven't noticed before, getting glimpses of photo opportunities I rarely see.

Ibis Island

Walking Toward the Rising Sun

I had made up my mind just to walk and listen and watch. What I witnessed was a wildlife that is getting used to fewer humans. I could feel the lack of human dominance I usually associate with the park. (And that is with good reason: it's a wonderful park!)

One instance of this was a Little Green Heron that looked like it was going to walk across the path I was walking. I never see Herons doing that there, let alone the elusive Little Green. I trained my camera on him, but he stopped and eventually flew off.

Anhinga Rock

I took a few more pictures, then headed home with my sun roof open. The radio played a song that made me cry: Jerry Salley's "I Want to Thank You." It made me think about all the people in my life who encourage my faith and belief in myself and the goodness of the world.  It was a perfect way to begin my day.

Great Blue Heron Detail

Great Blue Heron Wide View

47. Touchstones from the Classroom

#64Challenge

Yesterday during our Write Around the Corner meeting, we were given a prompt to list things in our home that are important to us. Then we were encouraged to choose one, and write a little micro memoir.

Today while eating my Cheerios, I was looking at these guys who are sitting on my kitchen table:

Yes, that's right. Dorie and Nemo.

I bought these plush creatures at the beginning of the 2017 school year. They are useful for getting participation going, and also for what we call "Silent Fish" -- like Silent Ball, but with, well, FISH.

Every 5th period class this school year we have ended with a game of Silent Fish. It happened that way because we come back from lunch and have five minutes to spare -- so, game time.  Or, well, TEAM BUILDING time.

Dorie and Nemo sit on the front table of my classroom where I stage what I need for teaching, and have witnessed every lesson in every class for three school years now. They hung out at Cypress Lake Middle School during the two week shut down after Hurricane Irma. They were left behind at the beginning of spring break.

But then I had to go back in and get the items out of my refrigerator. And there were Dorie and Nemo, sitting on an empty table, looking forlorn, waiting to be rescued. What else could I do? I decided to bring them home.

And I'm glad I did.

They have become a touchstone back to my students, who truly love Dorie and Nemo. Most of them have held them in their hands at least once.

These sweet little guys are keeping me company.

This past week, I put their picture on the Google Classroom page. I changed the theme for 5th period to their picture.

I forgot to take other things out of my classroom that I wish now I had thought to grab. But I am super grateful that I chose to bring Dorie and Nemo home, to keep my connected to the students until perhaps we can be together once more.

And you can bet, the first order of business will be a game of Silent Fish!

3. Spontaneity

#64Challenge

Last week I polled my creative writing class, asking how many came to write poetry.  Two hands went up.  Who came to write stories?  All the rest of the hands went up.

At first I was a tad disappointed. I have loved the spontaneous nature of the writing class, often finding a poem in the morning and turning it into a lesson (instead of the one I had planned.) I thought that would be gone, but today I found out that doesn't have to be the case.

We had a fire drill early on in the class. We had only done our "crash and burn" writing, and were just going to get into looking at everyday poems and writing some of our own. I had told them I already had the lesson ready, and we'd start stories after that.

Then BEEP BEEP BEEP -- fire drill. I reminded them of the instructions, including stay together.

We got outside, and I did the headcount.  23.  But there were 24 in class today. This never happens, so I was a bit discombobulated, stepping in a puddle while I counted and recounted. 23. Who was missing? Pretty quickly we realized it was a 6th grader, Kevin.

Andy Miller, my AP came by, and I told him we had a missing student. He went on down the line, and right after that Kevin joined us. We waited as the bell rang and rang, and then finally Andy came back. I told him Kevin had returned.

When we got back inside the kids started laughing about the situation. Before we got started today, Kevin was seeking a pencil, and I sent him to the pencil drawer. So they started saying, "He went looking for a pencil and never came back" and all other manner of silliness.

But I saw the opportunity. Hey -- why don't we get into small groups and collaborate on a story about what made Kevin go missing during the fire drill? The kids (for some reason) decided that the main character's name should be Kevin Potato.  They gathered together, set up a google doc, and got writing. The room was awash in giggles and discussion. Kevin was grinning ear to ear being the center of attention. I absolutely loved it!

I wrote an email to Andy with the title "All is not lost," and told him we were now writing a story about missing Kevin.  I thought it was a good way to show him that engaging them in the moment is numero uno in my class.

By the way, my partner Deb and I have been really getting into picture books (thank you, Pernille Ripp) and I had heard of this one called Also an Octopus.  Deb has purchased a bunch of the recommended books, and I had read it this morning. Now I see where it fits in. On Monday when our class meets again, I'm going to read them the book. It is about the writing process, and we will pull out all the steps, and they will have to be sure they include all of them in their story.

Check it out:
Also an Octopus