Unofficial Beginning of Summer

Memorial Day weekend is the unofficial beginning of summer. Here are the top 10 bits of summer I'm most looking forward to:

1. More time with Sam and my little family--hiking, snuggling, Lakeside
2. Time to read--especially just for fun
3. Committing to take care of myself--especially around healthy food and fitness
4. Summer concert in Howe Meadow
5. Projects for next school year
6. Taking classes this summer--especially Soul Restoration 2, and tech classes about PDFs and Podcasting
7. Guiding 2 sessions of Art and Soul of Brave Teachers
8. All things Brave Teacher--ebooks, kits, etc.
9. Creating Art
10. Clearing--space and time in my life for what I really want and need.

What are you looking forward to for summer?

A Book to Think and Talk About

It's been a while since I've recommended a book or other media on Friday. Today I'm recommending the book Cinderella Ate My Daughter by Peggy Orenstein. If you have a daughter younger than 10 or 11 or work with girls between 2 and 12, I think it is a must read.

I think it speaks so much about how our girls are being viewed and objectified as consumers. I also think it speaks deeply and profoundly to viewing all children primarily as mini-consumers. This frightens me, because it rings so true with what I witness around me. As a woman who does not have a cell phone, cable TV or an ipod, I've been struck by how many of those and other tech gadgets the 9 and 10 year olds I work with own, view as essential, bring to school, and toss around.

I think this book is worth the read, whether you agree with the author or not. And the concepts discussed are worth some thought and discussion.

Expect the Unexpected

This week started out with me thinking that there were just a couple weeks of school left. I was hoping that it would be as gentle and smooth as the ending of a school year can be. By midweek I knew that I should have expected the unexpected.

Our family's two year old was getting breathing treatments every four hours. Did he have viral pneumonia or asthma or an infection? Was he going to get worse or better? Two doctor's appointments and a trip to the hospital in less than 24 hours. Expect the unexpected.

I feel like I'm coming apart around the edges. I just wanted to finish up some year end assessments and read a novel and play some math games with my students. And frantically rush through all the year end stuff related to school. Instead it's been expect the unexpected.

There is a life lesson in all of this. I'm sure. But I think I need a little more sleep and some time to finish grading papers before I can wrap my head around that. At this moment I am grateful that this is not the normal week in my life, that I have a generally very healthy child, that I don't have to do this alone (God bless single parents) and that there is an end in sight.

Mr. Popper's Penguins and the End of the Year

As the end of the year approaches, there seems to be more work to do every day, and yet students are less and less motivated to do work. (Who am I kidding, so are teachers.) Here are some great online resources I've found. Some cost a few bucks, but at this point seem worth every penny!

Mr. Popper's Penguins, the movie is coming out June 17. Here's the trailer.
It would be a great read aloud or read together for the last few weeks of school. Here are a bunch of activities. More here. and more here. I think we will read this (or at least start it) the last week of school.

Some other books that I've ended the year with include:

The Best School Year Ever--Some years we've made compliments for classmates book.
Holes--ending with watching the movie

I also really like to let kids reminisce and make a little memory book. Here is one with more resources than I would even use. I love her stuff!

I also like to have kids make mini-posters of what next year's class needs to know. Some years I put the board up and cover it with plastic over the summer. It's great to return in August with one thing already looking neat and put together.

Usually on the last day or next to last day, we clean and sort together. I try to generate a list of jobs ahead of time, so that all the books get collected and kids take all their stuff home.

What do you do to make it through the last week or two of school?

A Walk in Nature and a Content Heart

Today was the first day in over a week that the sun was actually shining for more than a tease. I thought about staying late after school to start to sort and purge files. Instead I left for home at about 4 o'clock, went out for pizza with my little family, and went for a walk in the woods.

The water was rushing in the river--like I've never seen before in this little branch of the Cuyahoga River. Part of the trail had been washed out by the water. The rushing water was powerful, a little bit scary, and soothing--all at the same time. The trail was lined with dandelions going to seed and so many types of little spring flowers tucked behind trees and leaves. As we heard the babbling river and the song birds, my heart was and is content.

The downed tree really left and impression on Sam. The other end was in that rushing water, so it was pulsing as the rushing current tugged on it. The strength of the water was incredible. It was like a motor was attached to the other end. It got me to thinking about people who are caught in all the flooding along the Mississippi. I feel sorrow for them, and I feel gratitude for what I have.

When do you feel content?

Starting Summer Right

It's totally cold and wet in an unseasonably chilly sort of way. Never the less, summer really is right around the corner. I'm super excited (head over heels) to offer an opportunity for teachers to start their summer with some self-care in a fun, supportive and adventuresome workshop. It would be such a pleasure if you could join us!

THE ART AND SOUL OF BRAVE TEACHERS
JUNE 14 - 15, 2011
in BARBERTON, OHIO

What is the Art and Soul of Brave Teachers?
This adventurous workshop provides writing prompts and art projects as a means of self awareness. Brave Teachers leave with a self care plan, art projects and a binder full of creative resources to continue the brave adventure on their own. Write your heart out in this journaling and art class. Learn how to take care of your brave teacher's heart and soul while playing with art and pen and new friends.

Who can participate?
Everyone who calls themselves a teacher to someone, wants to play with words and art, and want to care for themselves so that they can be more effective in the work they do.

What are the benefits?
~A space created just for you to take care of yourself
~Time carved out of life's busyness to write, create, think, and share
~A little community of brave hearts united
~Fun and informative writing prompts
~Fun and flexible artsy and crafty projects
~A binder of resources to take away
~The opportunity to make it uniquely your own and let it meet your needs
~Surprises and bonuses that cannot be revealed here
~A special one time low price
~Yummy lunch is provided, too

All of that and MORE for just $49

How does a brave teacher sign up?
Click right here

To get more info contact me: BraveTeacherMim@gmail.com

Powerful Community of Women

I think the community of women is a lot like rain. There is a little drip here and another there--almost unnoticed. And then there is a puddle, a creek, a stream, a rushing river, and powerful ocean wave that can move anything. It all starts with just a little drip. It can nourish and enrich a little seedling or move an entire mountain. This, to me, is the powerful community of women.

Saturday was another Brave Women's Breakfast. I was so struck by what I'm learning about community with women.

I'm learning. . .

It's more about the intention than how many people show up.
It's crazy how much we have to share with each other. The whole is definitely greater than the sum of the parts.
It's surprising how similar our stories are, regardless of age, places we've lived, income, etc.
We can do things with the support of other women we could never do alone on our own.

Every time we meet I feel inspired and supported by other women--so powerful

We've started hiking the Buckeye Trail--a 1,400 mile trail all around Ohio. We've finished about 1 1/2 miles! I can't wait to see how far we get together.

Where do you find community? How are you supported by community?