“the supreme accomplishment
is to blur the line between work and play.”
-arnold j. toynbee
May27
Tag Archives: school
May26
bus.
as another school year
draws to a close
my time on the bus
is almost over
and
i think
i’ll miss
all the action:
who sits with who
who lost their coat
who forgot their bag
who needs a band-aid
who has the wrong bag
who sat by the window last
who didn’t bring their boots
who has trouble sitting at all
who was supposed to stay at school
who is crying, laughing, squealing, bouncing?
it might be me.
—
“i’d rather go by bus.”
– prince charles
Apr20
windows.
“the quiet house” on the 3-6 year old children’s playground
—
on a trip to visit schools in north carolina
i loved meeting the young children
and
i loved meeting the educators who
understood the importance
of using
play, compassion, kindness, projects, community
and
hands-on learning
when teaching young children.
i met many people who were so passionate
about
education and children and life in general.
what a lot i learned from them.
—
the whole purpose of education is to turn mirrors into windows.
– sydney j. harris
Feb25
today or any day that phone may ring and bring good news. – ethel waters
thank you so much
kind robot
for calling me
to give me
the good news.
it’s officially a snow day!
—
image credit: googleimages
Dec13
workload.
—
credit: class of kinders
Jun3
“and all the colors i am inside have not been invented yet.” – shel silverstein
as our year together
comes to an end
sharing
an oval rug
a room
a building
the great outdoors
the community around us
we venture into new territory
making the leap
across snake rock
something new
and not so scary
with big kids
to lead the way
and
teachers
standing by
quietly watching
as
they grow into
their next adventure
with little fear
with great excitement
and
just a few tears.
—
“ listen to the mustn’ts, child,
listen to the don’ts.
listen to the shouldn’ts.
the impossibles, the won’ts.
listen to the never haves.
then listen close to me—
anything can happen, child,
anything can be.”
– shel silverstein
Mar22
never worry about numbers. help one person at a time, and always start with the person nearest you. ~mother teresa
i went for a visit
on a day off from teaching
to teach
in my youngest daughter’s class
where she is a first year teacher
and
on my way
i was overwhelmed
when
i thought about
her class
so young
and
so many of them
who
live
amid
poverty
and
violence
and
hunger
and
chaos
and
i wanted to
stop
and
buy them
everything
for many
have nothing
but
when i got there
we shared
a meeting
a holiday lesson
paint and glitter
stickers
books
and
hugs
and
as i
sat on the floor
with them
and read stories
and told them
about the holiday
and sang songs
and played games
and helped them
one on one
and watched
the stronger ones
help the others
who were struggling
it was clear
that no matter
their circumstances
first and foremost
they were still children
who needed attention
and love
and support
and
with kind hearts
who happen to be
in
tough situations
through no fault
of their own
and
some will sink
and
some will swim
and
rise above
and
my daughter
is someone
who is helping to
make that difference
for them
just by caring
and trying
and
giving her all
and then some
even in this
very challenging environment
and one said,
‘i never had a rainbow sticker before. i really love it so much.’
and
it was so small
but meant a lot to him
and they sat near me and braided my hair
and felt it
because it was different
and asked me questions
about their teacher
my daughter
‘does she have any sisters?’
‘you her mama?’
‘can you bring in your grandkids?’
and i realized
what a hero
my daughter is
each and every day
and
i was
overwhelmed
all over again
and
i could not
be prouder.
—-
ON HEROES WITHOUT CAPES
“when I was very young, most of my childhood heroes wore capes, flew through the air, or picked up buildings with one arm. they were spectacular and got a lot of attention.but as I grew, my heroes changed, so that now I can honestly say that anyone who does anything to help a child is a hero to me.”
– mr. rogers
Feb12
classroom pet. part deux.
we did not give up
after
our sea monkeys
never hatched
and
did not live
to rule the kingdom
of kindergarten
and now
we’ve welcomed
‘lobo’ the fish
yes, it means wolf
named by
our spanish teacher
whose only pet was a dog
and ‘lobo’
feels like
what a pet means
to her
and to us
and we tried
to make
his new home
look like the ocean
and sparkle like the sea
and say hi to him each day
and feed him when he’s ready
and invite him to nap when we do
and let him hear us singing and playing
and give him clean water when he needs it
and we hope
‘lobo’
is as tough
as a wolf dog
and lives
a happy life
with us
for a long time.
—-
do not tell fish stories where the people know you; but particularly,
don’t tell them where they know the fish.
– mark twain
Jan31
the trail of tears.
it was
a wonderful morning
filled with skating
and sliding
and parents
and teachers
and tumbles
and laughter
and happy screams
were heard
and
most of all
kids
just having fun
and sharing the day
and
after the mad fun
it was
time to warm up
and enjoy treats
and then
some of the little ones
began to realize
that parents
had to
head back to work
or home
and a bit of worry
set in
and
as we said goodbye
and hiked back
towards school
the tears flowed
and the wails were heard
and some
were
walking
and weeping
and clinging
as if
parting forever
and it was
dramatic
and
so full of love.
—-
ever has it been that love knows not its own depth
until the hour of separation.
– khalil gibran
—
image credits: jkurtz
Jan23
you can’t create a monster, then whine when it stomps on a few buildings. – yeardley smith
it seemed like a good idea at the time
it was science
and
they were to be
our class pets
i ordered the eggs from smithsonian
sea monkeys
aka
triops
aka
prehistoric sea monsters
i heeded the warnings
and got the kinders
very excited
and
followed the directions
exactly
then we waited
for them to hatch
their birthday
was to be
in three days
and
then
nothing happened
and
still
nothing happened
the eggs
had failed to hatch
and we
said goodbye to them
and i
ceremoniously
flushed their water
down the toilet
then
today
there was an ‘incident’
when one of my colleagues
was using the restroom in the hallway
first
strange noises were heard
then
a volcanic eruption
of color
and
water
and
who knows what
happened
and
she ran away
shrieking
and then
the experts
were called in
an out of order sign went up
and
there were men
and tools
and water
and i guess
prehistoric sea monster fighting weapons
of some sort
and now
i picture them
somehow
having
come to life
mutating
giants
and
taking over
the entire sewer system
but
it could
just be a coincidence
i hope.
——–
there are very few monsters who warrant the fear we have of them.
-andre gide
I didn't have my glasses on.... 