Dark, stormy Thursday. Finished my favorite read-aloud this morning in Room 31. Taking some wisdom from Kate DiCamillo, her fuzzy china-doll rabbit, and his friends in the toy maker's shop.
"I have lived one hundred years. And in that time, I have been in places that were heavenly and others that were horrid. After a time, you learn that each place is different. And you become a different doll in each place, too." What kind of adventures would you have if you were in the world for a century?
"I wonder who will come for me this time. Someone will come. Someone always comes. Who will it be?"
"You must be filled with expectancy. You must be awash in hope. You must wonder who will love you, whom you will love next."
"If you have no intention of loving or being loved, then the whole journey is pointless."
"Open your heart....Someone will come. Someone will come for you. But first you must open your heart."
Incredible read. For all ages. Always leaves me with tears in my eyes and chills!
Tonight I went with another 'newbie' at my school and our academic head to see this amazing documentary. I have so many ideas and thoughts and statistics running through my head and I absolutely plan to tell everyone I know to go find a local screening to see this.
What an incredible, heartbreaking, though-provoking, meaningful film to watch - as a teacher, as an older sister, as a future-parent (and by future I mean WAY down the road - no surprises here, peeps!), and someone who has spent her whole life working with children.
This movie touches really deeply into the "rat race" that children, parents, educators, adults, teenagers, and medical professionals are witnessing in the lives of our youth. Coaches at extra curricular activities, guidance counselors who suggest full course loads, schools that create a competitive environment and busy resume builders are realizing the unhealthy and inappropriate way we are raising and reaching out to children in today's fast-paced world.
I could not scribble fast enough on my little notepad tonight while I sat in the theater at the local church who provided a viewing as part of their "parenting series" down the street from my apartment.
Did you know that there is NO correlation between the amount of homework students are assigned and their academic achievement? In the U.S. and other countries?
Just so many ideas and questions to think about:
There is no such thing as a "best" school to get into. We need to think about the "best fit" for our children when we pick the schools they go to as children and later on when they apply for college.
Adults who are successful in their career fields are not the ones who can recite all of the rules for using a semi colon or apostrophe, but are the individuals who can socialize appropriately, problem solve and work in a group setting.
We should differentiate between children who are 'good kids' and who are 'good students.'
What about multiple intelligences? Does the SAT test creativity? Artistic ability? Naturalistic gifts?
When we encourage children to perform and produce we overlook the PROCESS that they developmentally need to experience at school. Children need to learn, NOT memorize and regurgitate.
Where do we value project based learning? How has NCLB prevented us from making that a priority?
In the classroom - on a daily basis - is it quality or quantity?
What kind of culture have we raised our children in? Is it one where they can be themselves and admit they made a mistake or are stressed out, or is it one where we are encouraged to cover up pain and horrible days with an "I'm fine."?
If children do not have time to play, how do they find out what they love to do? If we all want to go to a good school and get into a good college so we can have a good job and be happy, shouldn't we find out what we love to do at a young age and do PLENTY of it?
Our children will inevitably get stressed or be upset. Do we teach them how to handle it? Do we spend time in schools teaching social and emotional intelligence?
What we spend time doing shows where our values lie. What do our children spend most of their day doing - both at home and at school?
When did it become a teacher's job to dictate what their students do once the bell rings? Shouldn't we let them go home and have a separate life outside of school? One with their family and their peers and with nature? What happened to our "day of rest"?
Let's learn the difference between what is PERFECT and what is "good enough" from our children and students. And I don't mean that in terms of settling, but in terms of having a happy, motivated child who has the ability to be creative.
Some books that were mentioned in the movie that I might be checking out from the library: The Blessing of a Skinned Knee
I have always loved the start of a new month. New goals, a fresh page on my pretty flower calendar, and new things to try. I also have been craving cooler weather (who in Texas hasn't been?) and hope that September can bring us some recess-breezes, comfortable nights out on the restaurant patio, and a few more layers at these football tailgates. Of course, this new month means fall festivities, College Game Day, a three day weekend, and settling into a new routine.
Being a teacher, I think that September is doubly exciting and meaningful in the education world because it means a new school year. Unlike the crew of desk-job working adults, teachers don't function January to December, or look at the fiscal calendar, but instead live our lives around "September to May."
I would say that the teachers I know sing "Auld Lang Syne" with kazoo and a party hat on right after Labor Day. I think this month is when we sit back and make resolutions, shop for new school supplies and outfits, clean out our closets and drawers, rearrange our seating charts, start new to-do lists on our stationary pad, and try to set out on a new foot. In fact, talking to my cohort Tyler the other day on the phone (she goes back to school the Tuesday after Labor Day each year) we got to giggling and decided we were going to call each other more often "this year" and we weren't talking about 2011 or 2012 - we were talking about "in second grade" or "in Kindergarten." She hilariously remarked, "Put THAT on your New Year's Resolution List. And you know I'm talking about New SCHOOL Year's Resolutions."
This month I am not only starting over, but celebrating little successes. Celebrating a successful move across the country, a new job that I am so blessed to have found, and celebrating eight months of ME.
That's right, friends. I have successfully singled for eight months now and I cannot believe it!
If you had asked me in early January if I would have made it this long on my own, I probably would have started crying. Not only have I "made it," I have rocked it. (If I do say so myself....)
this is not me, but can we pretend that it is?
New things that once seemed so scary have now become familiar habits and parts of my day that used to feel like big decisions now seem small and mundane. What would I like to do with my Saturday? What if I say yes to that first date? What do I feel like eating right now? If I could live anywhere in the U.S., where would that be? Do I want to spend my time at work or at home? What shows will I shamelessly add to my DVR? Who do I want to spend my time with? How do you make new friends in a big place? When is it OK to lean on other people and when should you push through alone?
In the mornings I try to remember to read this mantra that I found:
Smile, Ana. Twenty-four brand-new hours are before me. Today, I will dwell fully in each moment. I have so much to be grateful for. My family and friends love me unconditionally. I will not be critical of myself or others. I will be the most loving teacher I can be. I will see the humor in the stressful moments of my life. I will focus on the positive aspects of my job and the people I surround myself with. There are little miracles that occur all day and everyday. This is a wonderful moment!
I know I won't be single forever and that as we grow and change, so does the drumbeat we march to, but for right now, in this part of my life, I am most definitely at my best being by myself. My anxiety is better, I am eating healthier, I feel happier, I am having more fun, I am most productive in my classroom, and I have never tried to many new things in such a short time.
Is my life perfect? Most definitely not. And it's about time I learned that nothing is.
Is it time for a Eat, Pray, Love quote? Oh, Elizabeth Gilbert.
It is better to live your own destiny imperfectly than to live an imitation of somebody else's life with perfection. So now I have started living my own life. Imperfect and clumsy as it may look, it is resembling me now, thoroughly.
So, September, I am here. I am ready for whatever you bring my way. And I cannot wait!
I think I might also need to play this song each morning when I wake up this month, thoughts?
