handwritten on March 8, 2019
Every so often what we teach at school creates a light bulb in the tiny whimsical body of the child we are teaching. And the beauty and the whimsy in this light bulb moment is one never knows just exactly when the light bulb will turn on. Somtimes, the engines of the mind are loud and crank up to full speed with a celebration and a resounding sputter. Other times, the light is whispered through the ear of another and sometimes the light bulb is so dim and celebtration so silent that if you blink or even cough, you could miss it.
Realizations are probably one of the most powerful moments in the classroom. Because often times the application of the problem or the life skill you are trying to...
handwritten on March 6, 2019
I think one of the hardest deeds in life is finding whimsy in frowns. But you know, it certainly can be done. Back when I was in high school (ages ago it seems), for concert celebrations, graduations and even some good old hot peanut butter fudge sundaes, we would go to KINGS. Kings was our official hangout of whimsical frozen delights. I believe it was one of my greatest friend's high school graduations, a group of us decided to go Kings and order what was called the frownie brownie. Mind you, this was considered whimsical fun amongst the band musicians that were my friends primarily. We ordered the frownie brownie sundae which consisted of countless scoops of ice cream and too many...
handwritten on March 5, 2019
Last night, I happened to be at school until 7:45 PM trying to plan for a substitute teacher. For those of you in the field of education, you understand my pain. Teaching seems to be one of the few professions where planning a whole day down to the very minute is necessary when absent. Unlike other occupations, we cannot disappear without first planning our day for our children. And let me tell you, though a teacher of four years, this process never gets easier. In my heart, I cannot leave unworthy plans for my students for one day. Because though it is just one day, it is still their day and their time and their hearts that should be growing even when I am not present. Call me crazy-but...
handwritten on March 3, 2019
I have to say, sometimes pretend is just as good as the real thing. As a kid, I was always into pretend. My brother and myself used to spend hours in my grandparent's house in Queen's New York making paper food and setting up a restaurant in the "secret back porch." We baked cookies, flipped burgers, made eggs and pasta and sausage. We made authentic food, we watched the stove so it didn't burn and often times we had customers who came to eat as well. We truly thought we were part of a five star restaurant in that very cold, but also cozy back porch. But those were authentic moments. Pretend was the real thing. Marbles stood for beverage liquids and the pink stripes on the bacon looked just...
handwritten on March 2, 2019
You know, it could just be my extended family, but my mom's side of the family has always seen the power and the whimsy in reminiscing about the "Good Ole' Days." My grandfather in particular has told so many stories over the years about his Notre Dame Football days down to the reinactment of the speeches his coach used to give, his buddies and other stories in between. And I used to think to myself: How does he remember all of those details? But now I think to myself-If those were his most whimsical moments, how could he possibly forget them?
Some may see reminiscing as a weakness or just a sign that you are living or maybe even stuck in the past. However, I have never seen these stories...
