handwritten on January 21, 2018
Below is the rewritten version of Martin Luther King's "I Have a Dream" Speech written by my third grade students. This is a beautiful example of love and their beautiful perspective on such a complex topic.
Group One: We are happy to be here. We gather here today under the statue of slavery. It is a hundred years later and blacks are still in slavery. We suffer because we are different from white. They are on an island and are surrounded by people that is rich, wealthy and greedy. The white people get homes and we get ghettos.
Group Two: Today white and black people are treated more fair, but long in the past they weren't treated fairly. They had to ride at the back of the bus, drink at...
handwritten on December 29, 2017
Though this past year has been less than easy, there are many lessons that have been learned throughout the year. They are simple statements and realizations-certainly nothing fancy. However, nevertheless, still important to share.
Help others, but be sure to take care of yourself
Find peace in small places
Write about your experiences
Analyze the happy moments
Realize that small problems are just small problems
Find peace through activity
Find peace in small unexpected places
Take time to think-through coffee particularly
Realize that you cannot fix every problem and that is okay
Set small goals as they are things to look forward to
Learn something new: self-teaching helps you to see the...
handwritten on August 4, 2017
WHERE LEARNING BEGINS...
Inspired by Where the Sidewalk Ends by Shel Silverstein
Written by Brianna Amoscato
There is a place where the fields glisten and learning begins
And ideas breathe under the rising sun’s glow
And there tiny seeds learn their might
And there the roots become wings and begin to take flight
And there the chalkboard pavement cares not who is right
Feathers drift to where they don’t normally go
Let us learn to hug dark clouds of mistakes
Travel where the bark unravels and bends
Through the painted fences we begin to walk
We shall smile at the chipped paint and open the locks
And fly with the birds we created with chalk
To the place where learning begins
Yes we’ll...
handwritten on August 3, 2017
As of recent, I've been really analyzing the poem entitled Where The Sidewalk Ends. It's strange because, I've heard this poem countless times and read it even more times. Yet, just now, it's beauty has really hit me and I'm not quite sure why. I suppose it could be because I was initially interpreting the poem incorrectly. Although, as with any poem, I think the beauty lies within making sense of the poem based on your own perspective and human experiences. I also think sometimes it can take years for a poem to make sense or profoundly impact you in the way it is meant to. I suppose, interpretation grows with maturity, life changes and new challenges.
Regardless, as I read this poem again...
handwritten on July 19, 2017
I have had the pleasure of nannying this summer (two wonderful children.) I feel like (myself included) sometimes this world becomes so caught up in the negative. This is what people are doing wrong. Kids should be ____________ but instead they are ___________. I've been smiling to myself a lot lately. Specifically, these past few weeks as I have watched many children play in the pool, play cards for hours and hours and just have fun (old fashioned style.) They are enjoying their friends, the summer sun and are not materialistic. They want to play outside, bake, make slime out of cornstarch and water and learn new card games no matter how long it may take. I took this very job on a whim and...
