Where Do We Go From Here?

     This morning, I came across a video about Erin Gruwell, a teacher in an inner city school that used reading and writing to change the lives of her students. According to Library Journal, Gruwell was a first-year high school teacher "teaching the 'unteachables'" After reading, Anne Frank, "students were inspired to start keeping diaries of their lives that showed the violence, homelessness, racism, illness, and abuse that surrounded them." Their experience is detailed in the book, "The Freedom Writers Diary" and was a made into a feature film and public television documentary. My first thought was, "How had I missed this? This sounds amazing!"

     Later I got to thinking about other videos, stories, and such that have taught us about teachers, counselors, coaches, and individuals that do wonderful things to change the lives of kids and adults. Strategies that actually work. 

• Rodney Robinson - a teacher who developed a social studies curriculum centering on the national prison system, especially juvenile justice.
• Jahana Hayes - an educator/congresswoman who feels that more voices are needed from teachers to help shape government and educational policies.
• Chuck Hatfield - a coach who "builds a unique relationship with everyone because he works hard to understand who they are."
• Lou Holtz - a coach who inspired players with a simple sign, "Play Like a Champion".

     Search inspirational teachers, coaches, business people, or whoever, and a plethora of stories are at your fingertips. 

But where are those strategies and lessons? Why are they not commonplace so that more people can benefit? Why are they not a part of everyday learning? Wouldn't these ideas help change our society?

     With my experience in education, I know that what works for one child, doesn't work for another. Education, or rather Learning is not one size fits all. There are many fabulous programs out there that reach students and help them grow to be productive adults. Schools do successfully teach and inspire kids every day. Educators make a huge difference in countless lives. Regular, everyday teachers that are not always recognized publicly like those mentioned. 

     So I guess the real question is, "Where is the breakdown?" Why do we have so much crime, abuse, murder, civil unrest? Why are there so many homeless? This year, 2020, the Coronavirus, has not helped this situation one bit. Families are struggling, businesses are struggling, schools are struggling, so all of this means that our kids are struggling. For our world, things may very well get worse before they get better. Where do we start? What can we do to help?

     Most people don't wake up and decide to become a criminal, an abuser, or homeless. Somewhere along the way, kids experience trauma that later affects their life choices. Maybe each of us needs to start recognizing what is happening to our kids, our future. The strategies, lessons, inspiration are out there. Intervention needs to occur now. Start small. Open a door for someone, be kind, speak nicely, offer a hand, pray. If you have the means, donate. Donate your time, money, services. Be the example that others need to see. Ask, what can I do? You may not think that you can make a difference, but if you can even make a moment of a difference in someone's life, you have done something that matters. "Be the Change that You Wish to See in the World."

 

I Really Don't Know What to Think. Do You?

I Really Don't Know What to Think. Do You?

     Whatever your opinion may be on the health and societal issues we face today, you can find information to support that opinion. This is one of the key points that I tried to get across when teaching persuasive writing to my fourth grade students. Whether they were looking for the pros or cons of drinking chocolate milk, using phones in classrooms, or choosing a good pet, they were able to find facts to prove their viewpoint. But understanding where those facts came from, and how those facts were used in an article, was an important part of their learning. Quite difficult for 9 and 10 year olds to comprehend, but most got it.

     Now more than ever, as adults, we have opinionated writing shoved in our faces no matter what media we read. Added to that are the comments with opinionated facts that then confuse us even more. Since COVID began, it seems like articles, memes, news reports and conversations have multiplied as fast as the virus itself. By opening social media, we are bombarded by so many different opinions and facts, that it is very difficult to figure out what is the real truth. You've probably seen the same things that I have: one article supports research for wearing masks, and another disputes those same facts and provides facts that make you think twice. Turning on the TV, doesn't help either. It seems that we even have to listen to news reports with caution. Just google, "What is the best real news?" In black and white it states that our news is usually biased, censored, and non-credible. It is sad to think that in this technological day and age, that we must look for the best information from which to draw our own conclusions. Why is society doing this to us? Why are we doing this to each other? 

     Heading into this political year, evidence of bias has already hit. The negative ads in mailboxes and on TV are a prime source. The absolute waste of money and paper to smear competitors has become so common place. Why don't we demand that the candidates give us their thoughts on the true issues that face us today? We need facts to choose government leaders that are going to help move our country towards a safe and peaceful future. We need our leaders to stand for the beliefs that were set forth in the Preamble to the Constitution. We need to educate ourselves so that we can make good choices when we choose our local, state, and federal leaders.

     Trying to figure out the factual pieces of the information, and realizing where those facts came from are detrimental to our health, economy, and future of our country. We must become logical thinkers, and true problem solvers. We need to think for ourselves, and stop letting others shove their opinions in our faces. One of the first things to do is read articles and news with a level-head and calm purpose. Wait a moment to think about the information before sharing or commenting. Being impulsive often makes things worse. Read several sources and seek out the facts and data before forming your own conclusions.

     Second, try and take a step away from the social media and news. Have you ever told a child to just ignore or walk away from someone who is bothering them? When we don't give someone the reaction they are looking for, they tend to stop. Don't feed into the biased and "fake" news. Impulsive reactions tend to steamroll and create more power for others to continue putting their opinionated ideas out there. 

     Finally, we need to all realize that we are ultimately responsible for ourselves, our actions, and our words. How we react to opinions, ideas, and facts is up to us. With COVID, we're asked to wash our hands, social distance in public, and wear a mask. We may not know the effects of this virus on the health of our society, the strength or our economy, and the social, emotional, and educational well being of our kids for years to come. One day in the future, a student may choose "Wearing a Mask During the Covid Pandemic" as their topic for persuasive writing. The abundance of opinionated writing will be overwhelming. I wonder what the real facts will show us? Did we, did our leaders, listen to the facts and do the right thing?

     

     

Nature Beckons

Time and time again, I put pen to paper to try and describe the wonder of a spring morning. I hope these simple phrases urge you to seek some moments of peace outside.  I pray that during this unsettled year of our lives that you have been able to enjoy Nature. 

As my Great Aunt recently told me,"People don't take the time to see what's in their own backyard." 

Take the time. Notice. It will be an experience you won't regret.

Nature Beckons

    Every new day, the Earth is alive and beckoning for us to notice. When will you stop to see, hear, smell, and feel the miracles it has to share?

    The dew drops glistening as the sun creeps over the hillside.

    The birds welcoming the new morn with song.

    A squirrel pawing the ground as it searches for an acorn it hid in the fall.

    A spider laying in wait on its intricately designed web.

    The wind rustling through the trees blowing the leaves to and fro.

    A baby fox shyly poking its head out waiting for mama to return.

    A lizard scurrying up a tree and peeking out from his perch.

    A bird swooping down to grasp a twig; carrying it back to its nest.

    The Maple seeds losing their grip and fluttering to the earthy soil.

    The water rushing in the creek that twists its way through the woods.

    

    The yellow finches darting about in a game of chase.

    The trees bursting with fragrant blooms of pink, white, and purple.

    The shadows creeping off to bed as the sun pushes over the land.

    When will you stop to see, hear, smell, and feel what Earth beckons to share? Take the time to notice the miracles it brings alive each new day.

Thoughts, Suggestions, and Ideas for Parents

Thoughts, Suggestions, and Ideas for Parents

     We've got this! We can do this! A few weeks, or months from now, we will all be able to reflect on this time in our lives and history, and realize that we made it. We can all take this time given to us and put it to good use. Welcome this opportunity to reconnect with your family, get some of those chores done that you never get the time to do, or find a new hobby.

     The last several days, I have read many articles from the CDC and World Health Organization. Yes, we need to take this seriously. As someone with a compromised immune system, and older parents with severe compromised immune systems, I will take all precautions. But, don't panic. Follow all guidelines, don't hoard things, and reach out to help those who do need it.

     As a teacher whose school has been closed for the next few weeks, I want to offer some suggestions to our parents and caregivers that may help. Most of this information comes from articles and posts that I've read, but I thought it would be good to gather some of the best ideas into one place. Let's start with just one idea...schedules.

     Believe it or not, most kids do like schedules. I can tell you that when our schedule at school changes, all heck breaks out! So, create a schedule for your kids, and yourself. Our school is just starting our Spring Break, so I would let the kiddos have a few days of just some down time. They were expecting it anyway. This gives them time to focus on fun, ignore the chaos and panic (they do see it), and gives you time to come up with something that works for your family. Whether you are able to be home with your kids or not, a schedule can help keep them on track, out of some trouble, and keep your home from falling down around you. This is one example that I found and am sharing. 

Article  click for link

     Personally, I would LOVE to see more unscheduled time for things that challenge your kids' creative thinking and much less screen time!!

** If my own kids were still little, I would absolutely use the idea of, "You get the WiFi password once chores and schoolwork are finished." **

Updated: At Home Ideas (Old Summer Ideas paper that I updated!)  click for link

Things to Do   click for link

Don't forget to create a schedule for you! Write down ONE thing you want to accomplish each day, that is not in your ordinary routine, and do it. My fish appreciated getting their 50 gallon tank cleaned yesterday!

Let me know how Creating a Schedule goes for your family! I will add more thoughts, suggestions, and ideas over the next few days.

Make the most of this time that has been given to you! We've Got This!