handwritten on October 7, 2019
I had this idea for Poetry Club this year that we would do our best to Spread the Word of Poetry and love and beautiful words. And I think the lesson that needs to be taught more and more today is the fact that the simple act of giving is one of the most wonderful acts.
With 11 great pumpkins rumbling in my car on the way to work, my mind went back to the scene where Linus is waiting for the Great Pumpkin shivering all by himself. You wonder if those individuals who never recieve gifts or are given compliments that are few and far between if they feel a bit like Linus-lonely, hopeless and cold. And yet you have to respect Linus because he gives up his Tricks-or-Treats and his candy apples...
handwritten on October 5, 2019
Today I decided to take a leap of faith and run pretty extensively across the 31st street bridge and down the trail leading to the Pittsburgh Pirate's Stadium. Ultimately, I landed in the northside right in front of my brother's apartment. It was the most picturesque late morning with blue skies and no clouds. the air felt crisp and smelled clean as I trodded along the paths-leaves just starting to change a bit of colors-many blowing past me. I ran without pain but into the world of autumn which if I'm being honest-is my absolute favorite season but the one that runs by so quickly sometimes you have a hard time catching it. And for once instead of thinking about school or my students or my...
handwritten on October 4, 2019
Today was our very first field trip and to some extent, I felt like I was reading the story "Where the Wild things Are." Except the Wild Things were actually my students, and I felt like I was Max trying to navigate our tour guide, the field, the pond, the grass, the games, the lunch and myself.
Overall, the students had a lovely time. However, I realized the huge difference there was in each of their mannerisms when in school learning and when in the wilderness. We were squirming and squiggling, we asked a lot of questions, many of us were toe-tapping or humming or crunching the leaves or talking to one another or laughing. There was simply a lot of noise during transition periods. And...
handwritten on October 3, 2019
Today was an unexpected day for a variety of reasons. It started off normal with the energy from my students and mustered energy from myself. We were deep into a pretty difficult math test and the students were doing wonderful and then all of a sudden an unexpected encounter occurred with one of my students.
She came to me crying, trembling and upset and with the quickest pathway my feet could carry me, we traveled down to the nurse together. My class was unattended but at that moment the focus was on making sure the student I had with me was okay, comfortable, calming down and able to regain some composure.
After about 5 or so minutes down at the nurse, I hurried back up to my classroom...
handwritten on October 1, 2019
Due to a Jewish Holiday, we had school off today. And so it happened today where I was going to a doctor's appointment which already took at least six tries to schedule and realize on the way that something just isn't quite right. I had written in my calendar an appointment for 9:00 at one place. However, halfway through, I decided I better pull over and double check. Sometimes we have this unexplained feeling inside that leads you to believe..well you messed up.
Indeed I did as the individual on the other end of the line proceeded to tell me that my appointment was made in a different location and there truly was no way I was going to make it. And it may seem silly, but this was probably...
