Stopping by a student's home:
Me Mikayla*, I want to give you this book. One of my Mom's friends gave it to me when I was ten, and she told me to pass it on to a ten year old whenever I was ready, and found the right one.
Mikayla* Wow! Thanks, Ms N! This looks really old.
Me Yep. It was printed in the 1880s. If you like it, Louisa May Alcott wrote lots of other books, too. Wait, have you read this already?
Mikayla* No. Not any of her other books, either.
At this point, I must say that I did a little dance of delight.
Me That's perfect! I hadn't read it, either. So we will both have read Little Women from a copy printed while the author was still alive. How cool is that?
Mikayla* Very cool! I like the way the pictures are made. Thank you so much! I can't wait to read it. And I'll give it to a ten year old when it's the right time, too. Thank you!
*This bright, lively, avid reader is one of the children who give hope for the future just by the way that they are. Mikayla is, of course, not her real name.
6/25/10
6/24/10
Wow!
http://www.ted.com/talks/charles_leadbeater_on_education.html
If you are at all interested in new approaches to how we educate ourselves and the children of the world, this is a TED talk that will hold you spellbound.
I think I'm going to listen to it many times....
If you are at all interested in new approaches to how we educate ourselves and the children of the world, this is a TED talk that will hold you spellbound.
I think I'm going to listen to it many times....
6/23/10
Daily Life, 59
Activity Day today, last day of school for the kids. Second Grade Dance session.
Jonah* Ms N, are we going to do that kind of dancing that you taught us?
Me Which one? The Lindy shines?
Jonah* No, you know, that other kind. Where we make up our own dance. You know, the indrovise thing.
Me I bet you mean improvisation. Right?
Jonah* Yes, that's it. Indrovise-ing-ation.
Me Well, we sure can make that a part of the dancing today. It's really part of all the dancing we do, you know?
Jonah* I like it. I like how silly the music is, too.
Me Tell me more about the music being silly?
Jonah* Well, you know, it's fun. And it makes me feel silly inside. I like it!
*Jonah is, of course, not this enthusiastic young dancer's real name. (He does happen to be a really good dancer, too...)
Jonah* Ms N, are we going to do that kind of dancing that you taught us?
Me Which one? The Lindy shines?
Jonah* No, you know, that other kind. Where we make up our own dance. You know, the indrovise thing.
Me I bet you mean improvisation. Right?
Jonah* Yes, that's it. Indrovise-ing-ation.
Me Well, we sure can make that a part of the dancing today. It's really part of all the dancing we do, you know?
Jonah* I like it. I like how silly the music is, too.
Me Tell me more about the music being silly?
Jonah* Well, you know, it's fun. And it makes me feel silly inside. I like it!
*Jonah is, of course, not this enthusiastic young dancer's real name. (He does happen to be a really good dancer, too...)
6/22/10
Daily life, 58
Kindergarten Music:
Me OK, everyone--you did such a great job on everything! I have these nifty stickers, if you'd like to have some. I'll call you up, a few kids at a time, so that you can choose which ones you'd like.
Moments later, after everyone had chosen their stickers and put the stickers in their 'cubbies':
Varnya*: Ms N, I got the stickers with the flowers by mistake. I wanted the stickers with the bugs but I got the stickers with the flowers.
Me: Varnya, I'm helping someone else right now. Give me a minute to fix this, OK?
Seconds later:
Varnya*: Ms N, I got the stickers with the flowers by mistake. I wanted the stickers with the bugs but I got the stickers with the flowers.
Me: Varnya, I heard you the first time. I'm almost done with Thomas*, can you wait just a minute and then we'll figure it out?
About ten seconds later:
Varnya*: But Ms N, I got the stickers with the flowers by mistake. I wanted the stickers with the bugs but I got the stickers with the flowers.
Me: OK, Varnya. I hear you. Whatever's out there is what's available--you can go ahead and change for the other stickers if you want. It's fine by me.
Varnya* (with an exasperated, frustrated look): But Ms N, I got the stickers with the flowers by mistake. I wanted the stickers with the bugs but I got the stickers with the flowers.
Me: Hmm. Well, it looks as though there are no bug stickers left. I'm sorry about that, honey. Can you swap with another child?
Varnya* (really frustrated now): But Ms N, you're not listening! I got the stickers with the flowers by mistake. I wanted the stickers with the bugs, but I got the stickers with the flowers.
At this point, I was getting frustrated as well. She was starting to cry from frustration.
Me: Varnya, I guess I don't really understand what you're trying to tell me. Can you show me what you're talking about?
She held out two rows of stickers--one of bugs, one of flowers.
Me: Oh! You got BOTH. Are you asking me what you should do with the ones with the flowers?
She nodded.
Me: Well, you can put them back in the pile. Perhaps someone else will want them.
I'm sorry that I didn't understand you the first time. That must've been frustrating.
She nodded again.
Me: It was frustrating for me, too. We're all set now, though, right?
She nodded, gave me a big hug, and put the flower stickers back in the pile.
*Varnya is, of course, not this fair-minded student's real name. (Nor is Thomas her friend's name.)
Me OK, everyone--you did such a great job on everything! I have these nifty stickers, if you'd like to have some. I'll call you up, a few kids at a time, so that you can choose which ones you'd like.
Moments later, after everyone had chosen their stickers and put the stickers in their 'cubbies':
Varnya*: Ms N, I got the stickers with the flowers by mistake. I wanted the stickers with the bugs but I got the stickers with the flowers.
Me: Varnya, I'm helping someone else right now. Give me a minute to fix this, OK?
Seconds later:
Varnya*: Ms N, I got the stickers with the flowers by mistake. I wanted the stickers with the bugs but I got the stickers with the flowers.
Me: Varnya, I heard you the first time. I'm almost done with Thomas*, can you wait just a minute and then we'll figure it out?
About ten seconds later:
Varnya*: But Ms N, I got the stickers with the flowers by mistake. I wanted the stickers with the bugs but I got the stickers with the flowers.
Me: OK, Varnya. I hear you. Whatever's out there is what's available--you can go ahead and change for the other stickers if you want. It's fine by me.
Varnya* (with an exasperated, frustrated look): But Ms N, I got the stickers with the flowers by mistake. I wanted the stickers with the bugs but I got the stickers with the flowers.
Me: Hmm. Well, it looks as though there are no bug stickers left. I'm sorry about that, honey. Can you swap with another child?
Varnya* (really frustrated now): But Ms N, you're not listening! I got the stickers with the flowers by mistake. I wanted the stickers with the bugs, but I got the stickers with the flowers.
At this point, I was getting frustrated as well. She was starting to cry from frustration.
Me: Varnya, I guess I don't really understand what you're trying to tell me. Can you show me what you're talking about?
She held out two rows of stickers--one of bugs, one of flowers.
Me: Oh! You got BOTH. Are you asking me what you should do with the ones with the flowers?
She nodded.
Me: Well, you can put them back in the pile. Perhaps someone else will want them.
I'm sorry that I didn't understand you the first time. That must've been frustrating.
She nodded again.
Me: It was frustrating for me, too. We're all set now, though, right?
She nodded, gave me a big hug, and put the flower stickers back in the pile.
*Varnya is, of course, not this fair-minded student's real name. (Nor is Thomas her friend's name.)
6/20/10
Ashokan: What do you think?
I attend a great music and dance camp (primarily for adults, although students of all ages can be included) in the summer, for a week or so at a time. Held at the Ashokan Center (in NY), each week centers on particular kinds of music/dance--so, for instance, there's Western & Swing week (Lindy, blues, West Coast dance, great Swing music, and Western/Western Swing as well) or Southern week (Cajun, old-time, and more) as well as others.
It's a dynamic and warm atmosphere, where some amazing professional musicians and dancers interact with the campers, at all learning levels, to build skills--and it's a complete blast. (www.ashokan.org, if you'd like more info.)
How is this connected to our systems of formal education? It's not.
It's far better.
There are no tests (although opportunities abound, to jam and to perform).
No one tells the student what to study--many different classes are offered, all day long--we choose our own level and course of study.
There is a great deal of freedom to experiment, to make the material our own. And time, during the week, to ask plenty of questions and work with others.
Did I mention that the area itself is beautiful (it's in the Catskill Mountains), and the food is amazing? And that it's a lively atmosphere, with lots of activity and discussions and shared meals with people who are interested in the same kinds of things?
Oh, and by the way: it tends to be really, seriously fun. Lots of learning, life-changing kinds of fun.
Hmmm....sounds like a model for excellent education, to me.....
Just sayin'.
It's a dynamic and warm atmosphere, where some amazing professional musicians and dancers interact with the campers, at all learning levels, to build skills--and it's a complete blast. (www.ashokan.org, if you'd like more info.)
How is this connected to our systems of formal education? It's not.
It's far better.
There are no tests (although opportunities abound, to jam and to perform).
No one tells the student what to study--many different classes are offered, all day long--we choose our own level and course of study.
There is a great deal of freedom to experiment, to make the material our own. And time, during the week, to ask plenty of questions and work with others.
Did I mention that the area itself is beautiful (it's in the Catskill Mountains), and the food is amazing? And that it's a lively atmosphere, with lots of activity and discussions and shared meals with people who are interested in the same kinds of things?
Oh, and by the way: it tends to be really, seriously fun. Lots of learning, life-changing kinds of fun.
Hmmm....sounds like a model for excellent education, to me.....
Just sayin'.
6/19/10
"Starters"--an inspiring TED talk
Cameron Herold talks about how to encourage kids--and grownups!--to become entrepreneurs. It's short, inspiring, and has a great video at the end of the talk.
Here's the link:
http://www.ted.com/talks/cameron_herold_let_s_raise_kids_to_be_entrepreneurs.html
Hope you enjoy!
Here's the link:
http://www.ted.com/talks/cameron_herold_let_s_raise_kids_to_be_entrepreneurs.html
Hope you enjoy!
6/18/10
A June Friday
So it's now nearly the end of the school year.
It's hot. The kids are tired. Many are worried about where they will spend the summer: their house? some new camp? their Mom's boyfriend's sister's house? summer school??
Some kids have already mentioned that they don't want to be home all day, because it's "boring".
Some have trouble sleeping at night, because their parents fight so much.
And many...in our school, at least, with more than 60% of our kids living in poverty....many are worried about being hungry, although they'd never admit it.
These are the children--the bright, endearing, funny, warm and loving children--who will be taking care of our world (and us!) in thirty years.
I just wish there were a way that we could take better care of them, now.
Just sayin'.
It's hot. The kids are tired. Many are worried about where they will spend the summer: their house? some new camp? their Mom's boyfriend's sister's house? summer school??
Some kids have already mentioned that they don't want to be home all day, because it's "boring".
Some have trouble sleeping at night, because their parents fight so much.
And many...in our school, at least, with more than 60% of our kids living in poverty....many are worried about being hungry, although they'd never admit it.
These are the children--the bright, endearing, funny, warm and loving children--who will be taking care of our world (and us!) in thirty years.
I just wish there were a way that we could take better care of them, now.
Just sayin'.
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