It's the End of the Day - Quick! Go Crazy!

Sometimes it feels like no matter what activity is planned for the end of the day, it has just as much chance of going well as someone might have success in dodging raindrops during a thunderstorm.

In other words, it's not much of a success rate.

Students are squirrely (probably from being indoors all day, including recess time), and attention spans are on their last legs. Aside from having a Special last period - God bless Tuesdays and Fridays! - there are not a lot of options. Even independent reading time and/or read aloud sometimes result in absolute failure. Station work or projects? Eh, they're hit or miss.

What are teachers to do?

Guess we all better just take a deep breath, say a quick prayer, exercise that patience, and realize that sometimes you just gotta roll with the punches.

Holding a Treasure

A brief conversation this afternoon following reading class went something like this:

Student: Ms. Foyle, Maniac Magee is my favorite book ever.
Me: Are you sure? You're only on Chapter 11.
Student: How did you know that?
Me: I saw you reading it when you were supposed to be putting it away.
Student: Oh. (sheepish grin)
Me: I thought you all might enjoy it. It's been a hit before with some of my other students.



It's so exciting to guide young students to books that they enjoy and that make them think. And it's super to watch students gobble up the same novels year after year. When that happens, you know you are holding a treasure.

What makes a book touch the heart (and/or mind) in such a way?

Sometimes it's the characters - ones that, in some way, remind us of characteristics and desires we see in ourselves...
Maybe it's the plot - one in which we are pulling for the character, as he/she battles inward and outward foes toward the final goal...
Perhaps it's just the right timing - it is a book with a message that we needed to hear at that specific time.


Whatever it is, when you find yourself lost in such a book, don't forget it. Remember, you're holding a treasure - and, remember, now it's your turn to pass it on.

It's a Sign

I started an after-school sign language club with visions of 30+ students in it that would be similar to the one I had out in Arizona.

Somehow 30 became 3 this year. But who's counting. In fact, I vividly recall often speaking to my students last year that I would rather have only 5 students that really wanted to be there rather than 30 who were there to goof around. 

Looks like I got my wish.

Honestly, I was a little disappointed at first. But I have enjoyed the first two classes very much. The three girls (two first graders and one second grader) are so darn cute. 

We've done quite a lot so far...

the manual alphabet and numbers (through 20),

the "Happy Birthday" song,

"Silent Night" (even though Christmas season is over),

"All You Works of God" and "Create in Me",

and other random signs.

And, as long as they show up and want to learn, then I promise to show up and want to teach. 

(Although, next year I made a contingency - we'll probably only have the club if we can get at least 5 students. That's fair, right?)

Run the Race

One of the best things about staying in touch with others in the ACE program?

Why, participating in an annual tradition of raising money for Catholic schools by running a race, of course!

And when that race so happens to be in Louisiana, then it's even more appealing to get on a plane and make that happen...which it did.

Group shot after the race

If you look closely, you might just see a few multi-colored tutus. Don't worry, your eyes aren't playing tricks on you. My relay team actually wore them, and they were quite a hit.

Let me tell you, though - Had I been asked to wear a tutu a few years ago, my answer would have been a definite "no." But when approached to do it for this race, I thought, "Why the heck not?" Sure it raised comments with sarcasm like "nice tutu", but it also garnered smiles and shouts like "love the spirit!" (And you better believe that next year there are certainly going to be more costumes in Baton Rouge.)

sporting my tutu

It was really fun - tutu and all. We came. We ate. We ran. We had an all-out great time.

Let it Snow

As the snow fell from the sky, I felt just like a kid. I couldn't take my eyes away - it fascinated me. It was so beautiful...so magical...so purely white.

(Granted, I've only really ever lived in Florida and Arizona, so living up north now is a pretty big deal.)

Part of me wished we could take the students outside and make snow angels or have snowball fights...instead of reviewing for Social Studies or finishing research papers. But, alas, it was too slippery to even go outside for recess.

And, oh, how I wished I had worn my boots to school - slip-ons just don't cut it in the snow. My socks got soaked as I made my way to the car (which was covered in snow by the end of the day). I realized I have to work on my car-brushing-off skills for the upcoming winter months - I am such an amateur.

As I was getting into the car, my co-teacher decided to have an impromptu snowball fight, so I threw some back (naturally). I guess I need to work on my snowball-making and -throwing skills too.

But what a good laugh we had - and I needed a laugh. It feels so good to laugh.

Driving home, I found myself wishing for a snow day. It's unlikely...but I can dream. :)

It feels good to dream too...

Right Now

I'd like to direct your attention to a rather good read tonight -->
http://magazine
.nd.edu/news/27926-gotta-have-it-now-right-now/

It was published in the most recent edition of Notre Dame Magazine, and I feel it speaks volumes about the culture that we, as a society, have created.

(It also made me think twice about multitasking and patience.)

Actions Speak Louder Than Words

“Example is not the main thing in influencing others. It is the only thing.”

- Albert Schweitzer (1875-1965)

In taking just a moment to let the words of this quote sink in, I realized how true it is. We can say a whole lot of things, give tons of directives, or make a lot of promises - but what good are these words without actions to back them up?

This quote made me think back to this past Saturday when I was at the hospital. Jack, the minister of care I was shadowing, kept talking about how the ministry program coordinator doesn't just tell everyone where to go (words) - she gets out there (action) and works in one of the toughest places, the psychiatric ward. Jack was clearly impressed by her actions because he knows her heart is in the right place, and he can trust her to help direct his part of the ministry too.

And in the classroom, am I not called to do the same? How can I expect students to do something (and to do it successfully) if I haven't done it first for myself? How can I teach about being a follower of Christ if I'm not living out such practices in my own? 

<Cue "And They'll Know We Are Christians"> 

(Just me?)

But seriously, aren't we all (in whatever line of work we're in) supposed to get in there and get our hands dirty? Haven't we all had that boss or supervisor who stands out because he/she did the work right alongside us?

(You know exactly what I'm talking about, don't you?)

Bottom line - When it comes down to it, words don't influence people; actions do. So, be a doer - and be a model for others. As Ben Franklin said, "Well done is better than well said."

(For more quotes about action, click here. There's some good ones...)