I think most shocking to many of us were the mistruths we’re fed from the commercial tea industry about what is caffinated and what isn’t.  I highly recommend you visit their blog and online store, and their brick and mortar store in Northampton MA if you’re in the area.

A great evening of interesting people having fascinating conversations!

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).

The excuses, oh sorry, reasons, have begun.  Why my reading response is late, and when I’ll get it in to you — okay?  I’ve learned at community college that many excuses are reasons; and incredibly legitimate reasons.  Just today a young woman called to tell me she was in the hospital due to domestic violence – that’s one I never doubt and that I’ll be as supportive as I can to get her back on track.

But some days, there’s just so many “my printer is broken,” “I lost my flash drive.,” “I have to work late.,” excuses I can take.  I’ve learned to be completely respectful, even as I doubt a little, because I really don’t know.  I give each one of them the benefit of the doubt, because in just two to three more weeks, the ones who aren’t going to be responsible with their work will give up telling me excuses, and likely fail the course.  And, the others, whose reasons were accurate will catch up and come often to get my reassurance.

And sometimes, I just wonder if I give out too much homeowrk:  but that doubt doesn’t last long.  If you want to work with children: in my book, that equals a deep reading, and writing, and working to construct important knowledge about those children.  That doesn’t come easily.  Today I’m thinking about excuses — or maybe it’s reasons.

Teaching cartoon

Some days I’d like to be a teacher of long ago (okay, I’d like to believe it’s long ago, but in fact I know there are still teachers who teach this way) who gave the same lesson to all the students each day.  I am always surprised each September (why is it I forget?) how long some preparation can take.  It takes longer for me not because I’m inefficient.  Although I do admit my filing system leaves a lot to be desired, but that I’m willing to blame on not enough time alone in my office to file – have to blame something!   It takes longer because as I get to know my students I rearrange what subjects to cover and in what way.

I work hard to keep Howard Gardner’s Multiple Intelligences in mind as I prepare my daily lesson plans, and that can make presenting some material pretty challenging.  Keep in mind that I teach at the college level.  What’s interesting is that there are many students who have never experienced being asked to learn in their own style, and we spend a few classes adjusting to this.  Students are a bit “weirdid out” (to use what they say although I think that’s misspelled) by my asking them to do something like talk to each other about their thinking about what they just read or I just explained to them.

It’s been a long day of meetings and preparations; it’s late and I’m not done.  Could I just figure out how to give standardized lectures wth standardized quizzes?  Today I’m thinking about teaching to the individual.

“It’s not how smart you are that matters, what really counts is how you are smart.”

~ Howard Gardner

Shaker Scholars...

Because of the slow internet at the Holiday Inn in Boxborough Ma (hard to understand as it sits right next to Cisco); I didn’t get to do any blog posting this week while at seminar.  Hubby and I have arrived home this evening and over the next few days, I’ll post a few photos and comments.  For now, here’s many of the attendees in front of the Harvard Shaker Meeting House, now a private home.  Thank you to the owner for a closer look at a spectacular historical building!

The hats had been on display in several local places.  I had a good look at them when they were in Wilson’s Department Store windows, and thought well, it’s a fundraiser, I’ll think about it.

We arrived and chatted with some folks.  By the way, I do think hubby and I did pretty good coming up with clothing to go with the Black Tie and Blue Collar theme.  The picture at the end of the post isn’t the greatest of us (are pictures taken with automatic, run and get in front of the camera fast pictures ever good ones?); but you can see our costumes.  Hubby wore dress shoes, jeans, a rumpled shirt and the vest and black tie that goes with his tuxedo.  I wore the usual black dress with flannel shirt and my red cowgirl boots.  Fun to dress up and down at the same time.

So, did I guy a hat?  You bet.  Here’s the pictures.  The artist is Daniel A Brown — wonderful hat!  I’m not sure anyone should pay what I paid for a dressed-up hard hat — but it was a great cause.   I live in the next town over from Turner’s Falls; but it’s a little town going places with culture.

Bravo!

Today it is a sweet place waiting for money and restoration before time takes more of a toll.

Osborn House

One does not need to be religious and to believe in a certain God to feel spirituality.  It was moving to me to be inside this structure, almost exactly 230 years after Mother Ann and join in a short song of that religion.  Those of us who love history know what these moments can be.

Friends

We toured the premises, a local gravesite, Richard read from the Testimonials sections that were relevant, and a few even braved the basement.

(Not original, but lovely)

A lovely day as always.

P.S.  Rich and I went on to BashBish Falls where we hiked a 300 foot vertical drop via steel cable to the falls (we did take the slightly less difficult path back up).

300 feet down...

When hubby and I were recently in Savannah, we went on a Foodie Tour – more about that another day, and one of the places we stopped was Perk - coffee roasters!  We ate some fine food samples on this tour; but this was a highlight for me.  I don’t even drink coffee!  But, I did taste the sample that was offered – and what was completely fascinating to me was the tour of the one room roasting production and the explanation by the owner of how it’s done.  (And, by the way, for a non-coffee drinker, the sample was fabulous!  If I had this stuff around the corner, I might actually have to have a cup every day!).  The tour itself rushed the guy a bit, but the 20 minutes was so worth it!  Explore the website,maybe even order some to try – you won’t regret it — and if you are in Savannah, stop by!

Forsyth Park beauty

Do and her Dad

Lady in waiting

Don't know if she's a lady - but for a little lady who loves horses...

Another horse for the little lady...

Almost 400 years old...the tree that is.

Victorian Lady Tours

A few photos as we pack up and ready ourselves for our return to New England work and weather tomorrow – what a great stay we had in Savannah!  Southern hospitality is very real!