Tag Archives: learning

May28

keep the heart touchable.

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doing virtual early childhood parent-teacher conferences online

did not feel natural

but i give parents so much credit

some went to elaborate lengths

to find a space and time

where their child wouldn’t find them

so we could openly talk

and share stories

about how their child

touched our hearts this year

we talked to parents

in a closet, in a basement, up in an attic room,

and those who sent their child off on an errand

some waited until their child was asleep at night

but one thing was the same

this was a wonderful group of supportive, think-on-their-feet parents

who kept our connection with their children going

even from a distance

as we all navigated our way through this uncharted territory

and we were so lucky to have them as our teaching and learning partners this year.

 

—

“in a world where the great technologies enable us to record, replay, cut and paste, zoom in, and delete –

listening is the crucial commitment to keep the heart touchable.”

-mark nepo

 

 

 

—

photo credit: bored panda

Apr4

aha.

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(not me, but a puppy who has my dream hair color and is comfortably wearing earbuds)

—

that aha moment

when after 62 years and some months

your ear buds once again fall out when walking 

 you have your glasses on

you look down before trying to put them back in

 you notice that earbuds are marked ‘r’ and ‘l’ for right and left

that they are meant to go in the corresponding ears

you realize that you actually do have ear canals

and there is a way to ensure they will not continue to fall out every 3.5 minutes.

—

“the “aha” moment is a validating experience for your efforts

and at the same time changes your paradigm of the world in favor of a more accurate one.

Campbell simply says “it wipes out the ego.”

― Roumen Bezergianov, Character Education with Chess

 

 

—

image credit: pinterest

Mar14

distance teaching/learning.

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“learning must travel the distance from head to heart.”

-gloria steinem

LANSING, Mich. – Michigan is escalating its response to the new coronavirus (COVID-19).

On Thursday night Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer announced the closure of all Michigan K-12 schools, including public, private and boarding, in response to the confirmed cases.

The closures start Monday and will end on April 5, according to officials. Schools are scheduled to reopen on Monday, April 6.

 

here’s to the educators, support staff, administrators, and families. all working so hard to continue our connection and to share in our partnership of caring for, and teaching their children. in a very short time, i have seen amazing work being done on all sides to support this initiative.

Feb22

i love cinnamon.

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‘i love cinnamon and baking with my mom.’ – h

—

 class bakery day

 the children worked

very hard

over the last few weeks

learning

about bread

about baking

how sharing bread is a way to welcome others

 every culture makes and eats and shares bread

listened to books about bread and baking

practiced ‘baking’ with play-dough

baked real lemon bread at school

baked breads at home

bought breads at the store

made signs and decorated tables

learned about buying and selling using pennies

gave other classes pennies

that they had to ‘earn’ by working in their rooms

invited other classes, faculty, staff, and families

to come to our room for a big bakery event

said they would give pennies or free bread

to anyone who had no money or food

families supported their efforts

making this day so special

 everyone went home

very full, very tired, very happy.

the bakery in full swing

“anyone who gives you a cinnamon roll fresh out of the oven is a friend for life.”

-daniel handler

Oct19

hole.

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“I walk down the street.
There is a deep hole in the sidewalk.
I fall in.
I am lost… I am helpless.
It isn’t my fault.
It takes forever to find a way out.

I walk down the same street.
There is a deep hole in the sidewalk.
I pretend I don’t see it.
I fall in again.
I can’t believe I am in the same place.
But, it isn’t my fault.
It still takes me a long time to get out.

I walk down the same street.
There is a deep hole in the sidewalk.
I see it is there.
I still fall in. It’s a habit.
My eyes are open.
I know where I am.
It is my fault. I get out immediately.

I walk down the same street.
There is a deep hole in the sidewalk.
I walk around it.

I walk down another street.”

 

 

—
― Portia Nelson, There’s a Hole in My Sidewalk: The Romance of Self-Discovery