SNOW – a big snow storm in October!  A snow day today!  There’s much to say about the craziness of it, the no electricity, have fun talking and cleaning odd things and doing other chores that require no electricity, and hot cocoa on the sterno!  But mostly, what I want to say is how much we need these days of forced rest and we don’t know it.  Our brains, whether learning and teaching or planning and prepping for either, need breaks.  We don’t give it enough often enough.  Today I’m thinking about how much

My poor pear tree in October snow storm.

my brain really appreciated the snow storm in October!  (even if my trees didn’t).

A few thoughts and moments occurred today that I’m thinking must be related somehow.  In one of my Education courses, the students were exploring the printing with various objects (process vs product) in creative experiences.  The topic came up of whether food should be used in the early childhood classroom as an art supply, such as printing with cut in half potatoes.  My own personal and professional belief is that food is food.  I know that many artists use food; but my argument is that those artists are adults.  Children see us use food, their parents see us use food and it’s my belief that I am sending a message that food is unimportant.  Access to food is a class issue, an access to equity social justice issue for me.

The other moment was a story I heard on NPR about Child Services in any states removing Native Children from their homes.  I was driving and at one point I heard that 33 children were removed from a village of only 1400 people.  The journalist told the story of trumped up charges against a mother whose four children were then removed from her home.  In fact, the charges were so trumped up, they never even charged her with anything.  I was speechless while listening to this story.  I rarely find it hard to drive while I listen to the radio, but this story really shocked me.  Access and equity to fair laws, to raise our children the way we wish, and to be told the truth.   Social justice issue through and through.

This doesn’t speak well to how I could tie them together; but I know in my heart they are tied together.  With the Occupy/99% movement attempting to take haold; I worry that noone in America is paying attention to the real true facts that not only do only 1% have the wealth; but I’m beginning to think that only 1% have access to equity and fair treatment.  That is what I’m thinking about tonight.

This evening I had occasion to have dinner with three other very bright, and devoted women: women who have worked for years with young children and their families.  Discussion ranged from jobs and families to the state of politics, and about children.  This recent study was one of the topics we discussed: the harm  done to young children when they are exposed to excessive television.

My question this evening is this:  who will be the leaders thirty years from now when all of the children who have been raised surrounded by technology all are showing the effects of too much technology?  Or will it matter?  We know what’s best for children: there’s a plethora of research that shows us that the outdoors, being read to and playing with toys and pots and pans and friends are what make for healthy and happy adults.  But, apparently we’re willing, as a nation and individual families, to take a risk that too much technology won’t do much damage.  Especially when technology takes the place of play and the outdoors and social interactions with friends.  Today I’m thinking about taking the wrong kind of risk.

Play is not only a way to learn and retain valuable life knowledge, but a relaxation moment so important to our overall health.  I’ve had a long, intense, and delightful September teaching and learning with students.  I’m ready to play.  The weekend will be sunny for the first time in weeks (and I mean weeks of rain here in New England), and I intend to be out in it: walking, hiking, sitting, recharging and thinking.  Oh, I have plenty of house repair jobs, and a lawn and a garden that could use my time – but I’m going to play.

It’s about a month old, but I found this posting on Huffington Post about the attack on young children’s play.  It says it all.  Think carefully about the importance of play, to you, your family and yourself.  Play a little, play a lot, this weekend.  You’ll feel better for it!   Today I’m thinking about play.

We are deeply saddened to announce that Steve Jobs passed away today (Weds Oct 5, 2011)

Steve’s brilliance, passion, and energy were the source of countless innovations that enrich and improve all of our lives. The world is immeasurably better because of Steve.

His greatest love was for his wife, Laurene, and his family. Our hearts go out to them and to all who were touched by his extraordinary gifts.

In 1976, my husband was a novice engineer and member of the (in)famous Homebrew Club (we met at Stanford the SLAC).  I worked at the Byte Shop in Palo Alto where one of my responsibilities was to take orders for the ‘new’ Apple I — and then go to Steve’s garage and pick up those that were ordered to deliver to the other computer stores in the Bay area.

I imagine in the next few days many people will come out of the woodwork and claim to have known this genius of a man.  What I know and learned from Jobs was that geniuses are only human.  When I sold those little memory boards and ran my errands to his garage, none of us could know what would be in 35 years time.
It’s been a long and interesting ride, Steve, we and the world will miss you.  Today I am thinking of Steve Jobs and his family.  My deepest sympathies go to his family on the loss of that human being you knew and loved.

For more details of his life — there are many articles like these online:
http://www.macworld.com/article/162763/2011/10/remembering_steve_jobs_the_man_who_saved_apple.html
http://www.cnn.com/2011/10/05/us/obit-steve-jobs/index.html?hpt=hp_t1

When teaching is challenging, ask yourself what Mr. Rogers would do. (Those of my readers who know me, know that Mr. Rogers is my all time favorite person in the world – not counting family, of course.)

I’ve had a great week teaching, yet there are a couple of students who challenge me.  One is very shy, painfully shy, and perhaps has other issues or names for it.  So hesitant that when she approaches me after or before class, if I get too close — and too close appears to be within 2 feet – she backs up.  Add to this her incredibly soft voice, and it’s challenging.  I lean forward carefully whenever she speaks – she does sometimes speak in class – I try to role model body language knowing that other students are watching me interact with her.  But it’s difficult.  The most difficult is that her writing skills are quite minimal.  And, she asked me after class yesterday whether her low grades so far on her writing would affect her overall grade; and I had to be honest.  Like Mr. Rogers, he was always honest – sometimes honesty is comfortable and sometimes honesty is really uncomfortable.  It was clearly uncomfortable for her to hear my answer.  I encouraged her to use the Peer Tutoring service. I have great faith in this service at our college – I’ve seen other students really soar in their writing with one on one tutoring weekly.  But it clearly was not something she wanted to hear.

These moments pain me with students; but unlike a colleague or two I’ve known in my teaching career, I believe it does the student a disservice not to be honest with them.

To ask oneself what Mr Rogers would do, and then to do it. This is also, incidentally, a rather good way to live one’s life.

Today I am thinking about honesty.

A wonderful family weekend  results in Monday morning moments of “Should I feel regretful?” because all of the homework and planning I was going to do over the weekend remains undone. A never ending challenge to my own commitment to good teaching is brought on by weekends when I choose to enjoy my family and home; and end up with a lot to do on Monday to be prepared for the week’s classes.  (I suppose I also ought to be thankful I don’t teach on Mondays, but, then again, don’t think I will go down that road!)

In beginning to think about how I’ll approach some topics that I’d like to write about, I came across this blog entry this morning:   Andy’s Teaching and Learning Blog While you can go there and read the whole entry of course, I’d like to quote a section here:

“Some have mentioned that I’ve gone over to the Dark Side, and in fact, that phrase has come up frequently. Dark Side, implying that the faculty role is one of the positive, good-feeling, health, innocence, the way of the Tao, one of righteousness, virtue and Truth and Justice.

On the other hand, as George Burns said, “Too bad all the people who know how to run this country are busy running taxicabs or cutting hair.” Those who are managing college budgets, processes, reporting requirements, scheduling and providing feedback do not speak with one voice. They work in an environment characterized by ambiguity, compromise, and negotiation while attempting to balance conflicting goals and interests. Their dedication to the core mission of the organization, serving students well and helping them achieve their goals and opening the doors of opportunity, trying to do things right while trying to do the right thing, in the face of some severe constraints is admirable. They are decidedly human. Dark side? I don’t think so.”

This morning one of the first emails I received was the news that our Dean of Faculty and Students (don’t think that’s the correct title, but I’m not one for keeping track.) is stepping down from his work to return to the classroom.  And, this semester, I begin working in a reorganized division with the fifth Dean I’ve had in ten years.  There’s a lot of reasons to be a little unhappy about all this – okay, some days a lot of reasons.  But as Andy mentions above, those who work in the insituttion I work in, have an incredible dedication to their mission and to the students we serve.  Somedays it’s amazing to me.

So on the Mondays where I think, jeesh, I really should have done more college work over the weekend, I know I’ll figure out the week ahead.  I always do.  I always will.  Most of my students will eventually work with our youngest citizens:  I have no choice.  The future of young people is my passion.  I am decidedly human and will work with that!  Today I’m thinking about dedication.

Yesterday’s teaching load was one that probably most wouldn’t choose!  I begin the day at 8 sitting in on half of a learning community that a colleague and I set up.  At 9:30, the class is mine to lead, in what is generally called Freshman Study Skills.  Although it is called College Success at our institution – I don’t love the title as it infers, to me, that the strategies learned are only applicable to making it through college.  I don’t consider time management skills so exclusive!  But that’s another line of thought.

At any rate, after those two classes, I teach two early education and care classes.  Somewhere in there I find time to walk between buildings for a little exercise and eat a pb&j.  On top of that, dash home, check in with the family, change clothes and walk several blocks to just catch the kick-off to the county’s agriculture parade, in which our college was walking.  One hour of marching (some uphill), and I arrive at the fair to enjoy a hot dog, watch teenagers scream on crazy rides and young children enjoy being up way past their bedtime.

But let me back up.  I ended the last class of the day early because one-quarter of the class was participating in the parade; and a fair share of the rest of them hoped to get home in time to give their children dinner in order to take them or join some family and friends to watch the parade.  I imagine it must happen somewhere else in America; but in this small town of 17,000 in a rural county, this parade and fair is one  – if not the – highlight of the year.

As I marched with colleagues, along the route, parade watchers shouted our names, clapped and waved at their community’s college!  Delightful.

This semester, that learning community I am trying out for the first time is grounded in research. There is “recognition that student engagement in educationally purposeful activities inside and outside of classroom is a precursor to high levels of student learning and personal development as well as an indicator of educational effectiveness (ACPA, 1994; Kuh, 1996, 2003; MacGregor, 1991; Study Group, 1984).” My fellow instructor and I are aware of this research through our own learning about learning.  Already after two class meetings, we can see a difference.  Students are  speaking aloud in class (all of them!), they are forming new friendships, and asking questions about the semester ahead.  And, although next week will really tell, no one has dropped as yet (to not have at least two students change their minds is unusual for both of us).  We know it has to do with learning in community.

Last night, during the parade, I experienced the palpable feeling of community.  So many of those marching and lining the route, have been, are, or will be learning somewhere — many in the halls of the community college I have the privilege to work.   And, these are folks, whose friends and family, if not themselves, have just lost homes, belongings, rich farmlands, crops, and roads to their homes to a Tropical Storm.   On Tuesday, in my classes, it will be important at the beginning of class to give students time to greet each other and talk about the hot dog, the crazy ride, the prize their animal won, or the friend they hung out with at the fair.  Not one or two students, but most will have been part of this community event and will need to share it with each other, before they sit down and know that they are learning amongst a collection of people they know care about them – care about their learning.

As teachers, we must not underestimate the connections and powerful effect that learning in community holds for our students and us.  Today, I am thinking about community!

It’s a beautiful spring day here — after yesterday’s gloomy April showers.  There’s just a tiny bit of snow pack left between houses.  This morning’s smells make me think of the forsythia bush next to 20 New St where often when spring broke out my children could be found setting up house.  It also reminds me of the days when my first born, and for a short while, only child, would burst outdoors at our house in Monroe looking for the neighbor to ride trikes in the driveway (what was his name?  It was an odd one for a little boy — Dukey?)

Spring is always welcome; but too often reminds me of the passage of time — one that I like least the older I get.  But at least I’ll fix it with a good long walk this afternoon after work.  April brings Easter and Passover with many other memories, as well as the memories I have of my mother.  She’s not up for the task these days; but they are none the worse for that.  She once told me of a new dress she got for Easter one year as a small girl (no small thing when you are one of twelve being raised by a widowed mother.)  Spring also reminds me of my Easter dresses — just about the only time of year I got a new dress, and new shoes!  My favorite part of Easter was those new shoes – I was fond of the basket of candy, and the Easter Egg hunt (in the living room which inevitably resulted in one unfound egg found later in the day by an Uncle who sat on the couch in just the right way).

I still don’t mind a little bit of a gift of candy; but as I age, I appreciate more the gathering of friends and family that marks the passage of a hard winter and the possibilities of the fresh goodness of the spring and summer ahead.  This year there is a strong possibility that my grandchild will bring her and her Mom living next door.  What changes are in store?  I don’t know for sure; likely all kinds of adjustments and living a new rhythm.  But, best of all, I look forward to watching a child who has announced it is spring burst outdoors and set up house under a forsythia bush (one I have in the ready at the boundary line).

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