True Colors

Beautiful version via TED: "In a heart-melting moment, TED Talks Education host John Legend sits at the piano to sing True Colors, giving the lyrics a special meaning for kids and teachers. 'So don't be afraid / to let them show / your true colors / are beautiful, like a rainbow.'

It's Okay to Like Not-So-Silent Teachers

After years of teaching, blogging and of listening to and reading the news, I'd just like to remind you of something:

It's okay to like teachers.

To respect us.  Trust us.  Admire us even.

Education issues will continue to rage as big-name, big-wallet "important" people work to silence the voice of those responsible for innovating, developing, and sharing the day-to-day learning experience with students.  We guide your children, teach them, and support them as they learn all about this great big world.  We take chances and provide opportunities each and every day, and no matter what you've been told, we're not wrong to take a stand in defense of our students, our schools, and our jobs.

Non-experts, bound by profit margins and not by the goal of developing lifelong learners have convinced many well-intentioned parents that we are a threat.  "Who knows what that teacher will expose my child to" has replaced "I know that teacher will expose my child to the best learning situations and opportunities possible."

As you read and listen to the news regarding the rights of teachers, think back and remember the ones who made a difference in your life, and honor their legacy. We certainly remember the ones who made a difference in ours.

*~WISHING~* for a Snow Day

We're anticipating some snow in Oz this evening, and my Stars have promised that they'll be wearing their pajamas on backwards, putting ice cubes in the toilet, and sleeping with a spoon under their pillow this evening, just to *make sure* we get a snow day tomorrow.  For all non-Alaskans, I've been told it's the magic formula for encouraging snow.

Being ~my~ students, the Stars felt that the creation of a Snow Day Headband would also help our efforts:

The long blue rectangles are the base of the headband, 3 inches by 12 inches long.  The pink and light blue rectangles are 3 inches by 4 and 1/2.  

 The Stars enjoyed painting with Q-Tips yesterday, so we decided to use them as our painting tool again today.

 I modeled how to make a snowflake: paint the number one, turn it into a lowercase "t," then add a lowercase "x" across the top of it.  Add a dot of paint to the end of each line.

Leftover snowflake stickers helped to dress the headbands up a bit:

For now they're drying, but once we're sure the paint won't drip, we'll wear our headbands for the rest of the day in the hopes that they bring us Snow Day LUCK!

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5:00 pm update: We will indeed have a snow day tomorrow!

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The Snowy Day from Ezra Jack Keats Foundation on Vimeo.

Life Isn't a Race

It's a dance:

Christmas Spirit

Can I tell you how much of a relief it is to realize that not even Tennessee Ernie Ford could avoid young childrens' "Christmas spirit" during the holiday season?

I hope you're all enjoying the last few days of school before your well deserved winter break!

In the Garden of Your Mind

I loved watching and learning from Mr. Rogers when I was a little girl.

Pass the Kleenex.

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For more information about early learning and children's media, visit the Fred Rogers Center.

FableVision on Facebook shared some wonderful photos from this year's Fred Forward Conference.

Do You Know Roy G. Biv?

A fun song for art teachers and students learning to identify colors!

90+ Degrees Forecast...

... and I've managed to find a song that appeals to BOTH the teacher and crafter in me:

Advice: Create Faith, Do Not React in Fear

Humor, advice, reassurance, and advocacy for our nation's veterans~ thank you Tom Hanks:

Students Don't Need Test Prep, They Need Life Prep

Will Richardson explains how school presently equals test prep (no surprise to educators), and shares his opinion that "if this is your definition of better, you can have it."  Test prep does not equal learning.

He shares a tweet almost ten minutes in that I had to pause the video in order to read:  “My kid already plays sick to get out of going to kindergarten.  WTF?  How do you make kindergarten suck?”  The audience laughed at the horrible humor of the Tweeter's child's reality, sympathetically, I know.  I just cringed.



I agree with Richardson: our students don't need test prep.  They need life prep.

Posting This Almost a YEAR Ahead!

As I type, it's actually January 8, 2010, a "snow day" off from teaching here in Oz.

Keeping myself bundled up (and in jammies, *score*!) this morning, I stumbled across this song and video by Lenka and knew I didn't want to forget to share it for "next" Christmas, eleven months away...which as you read this, is *now*!

What can I say, cute captured me... I think I'm going to like doing the bloggy-time-warp from time to time!

Happy Holidays from me, myself, and I in January, to you in December:

Bunting and Gift Tags on the Way to L.A.

Lisa in L.A. bought my "Music of the Night" bunting set for her daughter's upcoming birthday party, so I sent along some coordinating gift tags as a little bonus~
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Work-related musings:

Is it too early in my summer vacation to start hoping for a room mother/parent volunteer for next year's class who is totally into recipes like Mystery Mocha and Lemon Frosted Cardamom Chai Cupcakes?

How much fun would these paper headbands/wreaths be for classroom playtime or the holidays?  

Since I'm happy to bake, how cool would it be to team-teach with this lady?

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Blogiversary Giveaway *hint*:

They're foamy... geometric even!

Hmmm....

Seven Days and Summer Dreams

Seven days left in the school year, and here's the to-do list:

* Report cards finished  ✓
* Extras (hand sanitizer, tissue) distributed to music/art/library/p.e./science teachers   ✓
* Extra/straggler copies of worksheets collected to be donated to Head Start Class    ✓
* Journals made    ** work in progress**
* Back to School/August copying done   ✓
* Welcome to Kindergarten goodies made   **work in progress**
* Tubs of manipulatives cleaned and stored  ** next week**
* PowerPoint of year's photographs created  **work in progress**
* Calendars prepped with important dates  (desk copy and Star Helper of the day copy)   ✓
* Appreciation gifts for aide and para    **next week**
* Student portfolios ready for parent pick-up   ✓
* Teacher laptop ready for tech department's summer updates  ** uh..... NO**


Not as many checkmarks as I'd like, but trust me, it will all get done.  What's slowing me down?

Daydreaming about that summer breeze that's right around the corner...

10 Myths of Gifted and Talented Education

So I've been video-heavy this week- but when I find good ones, I post them! Thanks to Mamacita for sharing over at FB:

This Eskimo Likes One Eskimo, Go Figure

Just enjoying some new-to-me music.


C'mon, you *knew* this Eskimo couldn't resist One Eskimo:

Video Saturday: Pulling the Heartstrings Makes You Think

With housework, playtime, gardening, and more housework thrown in for good measure this weekend, the length of these videos is just right for my schedule.

But I also greatly appreciate the messages:

Embrace Life: Always Wear Your Seatbelt



The Power of Friendship



Kleenex, anyone?

*N*ighty *N*ight!

Bittersweet Week

It's been a bittersweet week... I'll be back soon:

Did I Mention We *FINALLY* Had Outdoor Recess Today?

... after w-e-e-k-s of indoor torture, er, "recess."

Don't Mind Me, I'm Just Dancing Around the Classroom...

... filing, sharpening pencils, and refreshing the crayons in the tabletop baskets *move right along* when you've got upbeat music playing in the background.

Trust me.

And if the day custodians walk in on you, just ask them to dance!