Through The Eyes Of A 3 Year Old

So the highlight of my summer is seeing life through the eyes of a 3 year old.  {It makes me realize that I've lost tons of curiosity and creativity!}

Here are a few views:

JOY!

Don't pick the flowers!

Where's the spider?

Great explorer!

Help me!

I'm a scientist inventing colors!

New painting technique (with a straw!)

What's the highlight of your summer?  What's enchanting you?

P.S.  If you're looking for something more or different, Visioning The Best Year EVER starts today, and I would be delighted to have you join us!

Writing With Picture Books

I live with a 3 year old.  I'm reading multiple picture books everyday.  I am a teacher.  I can't help but think about how some of these little gems could be used in my classroom!  Most of these books I would not have picked up for a 4th grade classroom, but I can always find some really good application.

From time to time I want to share some of those ideas here.

Today I've chosen My Lucky Day by Keiko Kasza

 I really want to use lots more picture books in my classroom this year.  I read aloud daily to my students from chapter books, but there is something about picture books.

Anyway. . . My Lucky Day is a great example of how to add a twist to the plot that will surprise the reader.  I thought this would perhaps be too subtle for a 3 year old, but once we got to the meatballs and spaghetti he kept say, "That's so silly."  If he "got it," I'm pretty sure 9 and 10 year olds will, too!

I'm still trying to think of what writing prompt I will give them after this.  Any ideas?

How do you use picture books in your classroom with intermediate grades?

Fear--less

I don't know about you, but I'm honestly way too affected by fear--both personally and professionally.  I'm also open to strategies and ideas other people have on reaching my fullest potential by taming some of that fear.

I'm participating in an AMAZING event hosted by Catherine Just.  {Just love her, and her work!  I dream of taking one of her photography retreats!}  It's a Soul-full Summit, and it's FREE!  There are just a few days left, but it's too good to keep to myself.

Here are some of the nuggets I'm gleaning:

• Most of my fear is wrapped up in "what if. . " rather than what is
• No one is without fear--the secret is learning how to fear-less
• Feel the fear and do it anyway
• Being fearless, intuitive, and intentional are all muscles that strengthen as they are exercised.
• Marriage can be a vessel to work out personal foibles--without shaming or blaming self or others
• Compassion for self is HUGE

I keep being amazed by what I'm hearing and how it's impacting me.  I finding compassion for myself and others at a whole different level.

What's moving you?

Are you feeling fear-less in some area of your life?

P.S.  Visioning The Best Year EVER starts 5 weeks toward BLISS on June 28.  If it's tugging at your heart, I hope you'll join us!

Brave Backyard Bash

I LOOOOVED having a couple brave teachers come over to get started on their Visioning The Best Year Ever.  I had such a good time putting together some decorations and lots of art materials.  Here's a little visual feast:

Cushions and table covers dressed up the backyard.

Stickers, chip board book, and binders for everyone

Who couldn't use some tissue paper flowers?

Love me some art supplies

bento box lunch box. . .

. . . filled with snack mixes--yum

Quotes flipped to the front of the berry box--portable inspiration

There is still time to join us for Visioning The Best Year Ever, beginning June 28 for 5 weeks of fun and creative self care.  While I can't offer you a cushioned seat in my backyard, there are many other cool surprises and treats just waiting for you!  I can't wait to share encouragement, inspiration, and empowerment.  Sign up HERE

Shadow Pix

I love a good shadow photo.  This was a leftover from the beach last week.

This was one evening in Delaware--South Bethany Beach

What Is A Good Teacher?

What is a good teacher?  Who was a good teacher to you?

I bet if you asked a hundred people on the street that question, none of them would say it was the teacher with whom they passed the standardized tests or showed adequate yearly progress.

And yet, in just a couple more years, my state, Ohio, plans to assess teachers on just that--student performance.  While I do see value in standards and even testing, I do not think it is the only factor or even the most important one.

Here's the thing.  In my heart I know I'm a really good teacher, but the things that my students, their parents, and I believe make me good are not based on standardized test scores.  For example I had a student this past year who fell in love with reading novels, and this quiet girl is talking about these novels with her friends--but she didn't pass the reading test.  Shouldn't that count for something?  And what about kids who never do homework or read away from school?  What about the kids who live in chaos?  Or homes that place low value on the process of learning?

I'm reminded of the words I told my students the day before testing began:
I want you to try your best on the tests.  You have learned so much, and you have worked hard.  But it is much more important to me that you learn how to get along with other people and be kind.  I would rather have you find a book you love to read this year than worry about passing a test.

And then I saw the results today, and my belief in those values wavered.  For a bit I felt not enough.  I thought those scores determined my worth as a teacher.  As I processed I just thought about amazing moments of growth that I saw in my students--as they role played conflict resolution, as they planted a small garden, as they read novels in book clubs at the end of the year, as they learned to explain their mathematical thinking, as they moved to a new classroom at the end of January, as they led class meetings, as they took ownership of the classroom and cleaned the floors so well the custodian bought them pizza.

And as I wonder about this all, I wonder why other professions aren't judged and evaluated the way teachers are.  I wonder why we don't start paying dentists on the rate of oral health and lack of cavities in their patients?  Wouldn't that be the proof we need to recognize a good dentist?

Views From The Week

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