Show Offs Can Be Wonderful!

    It's Poetry Friday, and Sarah Grace Tuttle is hosting HERE on her NEW website, with lots of exciting news! Be sure to drop by to see what she is sharing, then read the poetry of other poets they're sharing this week, too! It will give you a relaxing hour or two to enjoy their awesome creativity.        

    Thanks for hosting today, Sarah!

             It's special when one meets an interesting person, someone who differs from you, someone who shows you new perspectives, new ways of doing things, and new ideas for living. I'm alarmed at the judgmental attitudes occurring in our country, from those who believe we should all be the same! When I walked to my mailbox one day last week, this was my view, and I was inspired. 

                  Sing It Your Way!

               

Some see them and call out “Clown!”.

They see a standout, but mouths turn down.

Yet, I’m unable to summon wrath

For those who set a unique path,

not the ones who “go along”,

But those who choose to sing their song.

                            Linda Baie ©

Slice of Others' Lives, Including Trees

       Join us on Tuesdays with the Two Writing Teachers and others who post. 

 

       I realize that the end of the school year looms for all of you who are educators. You may have only a few weeks remaining, or more, but May means endings. I thought I'd share one thing I did sometimes at the end along with other "goodbye" rituals. I asked my students to show what new ideas/perspectives they thought important to know, at least they had begun to understand by this end of the year. They could use words but must present the "answer"  in some contrast and visually.  I do not have photos of student work, but do have a photo that demonstrates the challenge I gave often and know many of you also give to your students: "consider the other point of view". Live in someone else's shoes for a while, as that familiar quote says. My students and I encountered this tree on a trip a long time ago, and we spent an evening arguing about the importance of trees, of habitat; but on the other hand, those who need to make a living, to care for their families. We must consider "whose ox is gored?" when decisions are made. This tree was such an inspiring look at a LIVING thing that seemed to be giving its message in near-human form. Do you have particular activities to share that invite students to learn of other perspectives besides their own?

Do you see the face?

#SOL16-12/31 - Celebrating Perspective - AGAIN

      I'm slicing with the Two Writing Teachers community for Day Twelve of Thirty-One of the Slice of Life Challenge in March.  Thank you Stacey, Tara, Anna, Betsy, Dana, Kathleen, Beth, and Deb.  

               And every Saturday I celebrate with Ruth Ayres at Discover Play Build.  and link with others who share their celebrations, too. It's a life-changing thing to find both little and big things in one's life to celebrate. 

Winston Churchill said: Attitude is a little thing that makes a big difference. Remember what he lived through, and he carried on.

            Some days it feels hard to be older. My life has changed, I'm no longer teaching, I am alone quite a bit. I will soon need to have cataract surgery, and then there's that tooth thing. Some people call this a "pity party". It is rare for me to have one. I could count my blessings, and there are many. But some days. . .

I'm Speaking Up Like Someone Told Me

             Visit the Tuesday Slice of Life at Two Writing Teachers.  Tweet at SLICE2013! 

Carrie Gelson, one of my favorite ‘go to’ people for book ideas on her blog There’s A Book for That just wrote a post celebrating 20 years of teaching by sharing 20 things she’s learned throughout those years.  I loved reading each one, and two would be placed at the top of my list, but this one, number 19, connected to my whole being: Be a storyteller. Our classrooms are a window into how we as a society look after our children. Speak up. 

            When I read Carrie’s words, I knew what I would write today.  I’ve thought about this all day, and wonder if it’s a way to bring educators together in a common goal of kindness, and of course we must include the children.  Part of the definition of society in the online Merriam-Webster dictionary is an organized group working together or periodically meeting because of common interests, beliefs, or profession or an enduring and cooperating social group whose members have developed organized patterns of relationships through interaction with one another.  Above all we must have a common belief to be kind to one another.  I am speaking up!