Wintry Wonder and a Celebrity Visit!

What a blast! While we didn't get to do everything I'd wanted to, we did get a lot done.

First, we read the book and discussed its illustrations and content.

After lunch, I broke the news to them that someone had mixed up all of the events from the story, and that I needed their help to get them back into the right places.

I was surprised at what the kids seemed to enjoy the most. I suppose my surprise was based on the fact that I hadn't originally planned on including it in the lesson. It was a "Then What?" creative activity that chronicled the activities of Peter, the main character of Ezra Jack Keat's The Snowy Day, after his friend in the book had to go home. While they were at activity and lunch, I took some photos of Peter all around the school. When they came back, I uploaded them to my teacher's laptop and created a PowerPoint in about 3 minutes while she transitioned the students from lunch. The result was lots of screaming and smiles. During the time I was presenting, kids kept leaping up from the carpet, running towards the door and peeking through the window to catch a glimpse of the approaching hero.

I had no idea that they would react this way. Something that I had considered menial seemed like the icing on the cake to them...except, that is, for th real icing. When I placed a light package of sugar cookies on the Docu-cam, it was as if I'd ripped open an industrial sized package of delight. By the end of our lesson, they'd all gotten to make their very own snowman face cookie, using white icing for snow, candy corns for noses, and mini M&Ms for eyes and mouths. In order to accommodate a love for candy corns, one student expressed, "You can have two noses!" Others followed suit, and one student presented to me a snowman with noses all around the perimeter of his face.

In all, this was a priceless experience. Seeing them enjoy this activity was worth any preparations and time I spent in creating it for them.

Open House

I came in quietly tonight. But despite my attempts to just have a night where I went straight to bed, Sir Coolman lit up my room. I pulled the mirror from the drawer to see his face. “And how did things turn out?”

“Before I even got there, the place was packed.” Starting at 6:00 PM, parents had filled the parking lot of Longleaf to attend the first Open House event of the year. Because of the number of students and family members, the school hosts two separate Open House events: one for VPK – 3^rd grade, the other for students in grades 4-6.

I had had the opportunity to observe, and occasionally provide input, during the first night of Open House. But unlike the mainstream classes, the class I am observing has less than 10 students. Because of this, specific times were provided to individual families so that an even that was more like a parent-teacher conference took place for each student in the classroom. Because there is so much to talk about in regards to the progress and needs of these students, this was an excellent idea that enabled specific questions to be answered and input given.

“Did you come to any conclusions based on what you saw tonight?” Sir Coolman asked.

“Actually, yeah,” I assured him. During each session, I had noticed several components the teacher used which might make foundational guidelines for any future Open House events I attend. So I rattled off a short list of what I saw:

1. 1. Be positive AND realistic. No matter how much we want our students to succeed, it is important to acknowledge both the strengths and needs in the classroom. The only way to help them grow is to acknowledge where they need some extra attention.
2. 2. Address both social behaviors and academics. Especially for students with special needs, both of these areas are important. Social skills are one the absolute most important skills for students with special needs. Any weaknesses in the unspoken curriculum of social acceptance must be addressed to ensure success through life.
3. 3. Provide student work. Show parents exactly what their students have been doing in class. Provide work that illustrates any specific points you need to make parents aware of.
4. 4. Show what you're teaching. Parents like to know what is going on in the classroom each day. Provide them with a quick overview of current lessons and what's to come in the near future.
5. 5. Reach out in kindness. A teacher’s job is to help prepare a human being for life in the world. But even the most practical strategies and instructional methods are rendered nearly ineffective without parental and community support. Build rapport with families in the child’s interest and gain a stronger edge on helping them learn.

“I say! That’s very insightful. Good work, old girl.”

I turned to him in irritation. “Just a hint for the future, Mr. Mirror Man. NEVER call a woman in her early thirties old anything.”

“Noted,” he smirked before fading away.

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After a long day...

Despite yesterday's frightening letter, today was a wonderful day. It seems that the kingdom of Longleaf is beautiful place where students are nurtured as if the place were a greenhouse for children.

I was enjoying a series of recollections about the day with Sir Coolman when he stopped mid-sentence and smiled. "Well! It seems you will be enjoying a guest," he said and glanced towards the door.

Soundlessly, it opened. A tall stranger stood in the doorway. He looked tired, elderly, and appeared to be trying out for the part of Moses. "He...hello. Can I help you?"

"Oh he doesn't speak your language. you might want to hold your breath, however."

I didn't have time react before I was doused by a small cloud of tiny particulates, seemingly sand. Instantly, I was overwhelmed by an unwelcome scent-the unmistakable smell of morning breath. I tried blowing the particles away, sputtering to remove every grain that had managed to accumulate anywhere on me. Sir Coolman laughed. "I warned you," he laughed. "Had that happen to me once. Dear, dear, you must have been more tired than either of us had realized."

"Oh?" I said, irritated as I continued brushing away the stinky powder the stranger had thrown all over me. The stranger stood silently, as if waiting for something.

"In deed. That's the Sand Man, you know. He doesn't come for just anyone or any minute reason. And my...what a fierce strength he works. So, I suppose you'll be no good for the rest of the evening. Tomorrow, then."

"Wait! You're just gonna leave me here with this guy?"

"Of course, dear. He's here to make certain that you have quality resting and are rejuvenated for the morning. Look out!"

Apparently, my brushing sand away was not what the Sand Man wanted, and he hit me with another, even bigger cloud of what must have been his most potent product.

"Sweet dreams, darling," I heard Sir Coolman say, his voice fading from view as did the view of the stranger tiptoeing from my room as I lie stretched out on my bed.

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Dragons or Dragonflies

It's rather unnerving to be awakened before sunrise by a tiny knock on the window. Nevertheless, this morning found me already awake and in great turmoil. I'd just received a letter. It's contents were simple, yet they were extremely powerful:

Beware the dragons of Longleaf

As unsettling as it is to receive an anonymous letter warning of terrors lurking within the village where I will enter in the morning, I ran to my drawer and pulled the mirror from its box.

At the touch of my hand on its hilt, Sir Coolman appeared before me. He held an expression of deep concern. "No idea who sent it?"

"Someone wanting me to fail, perhaps."

The look on his face deepened. "Yes...yes, in deed," he said, more to himself than to me. Then he brightened a bit. "However, whether or not there are dragons or dragonflies which await you, your training has been adequate."

Instantly, I was in the middle of a bog enveloped in a gray haze of fog. To my left stood an enormous dragon. It stood on its hind legs, fangs bared, a guttural roar spewing from its diaphragm. And right next to it, buzzing in its most sincere fury, hovered a tiny dragonfly made its noisy dissatisfaction apparent. Then suddenly, the dragon, in its enormity, began to shrink. And within a few moments, both the dragon and the dragonfly were the same exact size, the dragon using its now miniature wings to stay in the air. I walked up to the both of them and aimed a can I hadn't previously noticed was in my hand. In bright letters printed around the can was the word "knowledge." I aimed, released the contents of the can onto the two of them. Instantly, they both fell to the earth, convulsing in death pangs until they were both still. The next moment, I was standing back in my room, holding the mirror. "Thanks," I told Sir Coolmam. "I'm sure now that I'm ready for anything, be it dragon or dragonfly."

And I most certainly am.

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A Reply from the Kingdom of Longleaf

I am happy to report that, when I woke up this morning to a knock on my door, the same messenger whom I'd sent to the kingdom of Longleaf stood before me with a reply in his hands.

The message informed me that I will be working directly with the head governess of the Special Division of Primary Students. I am so looking forward to it!

From what I can tell, the governess and I are almost identical on our beliefs as to the role of the teacher. It seems that we both view the filed of teaching much differently from that of presenting. We are not simply to present ideas to our students. We are to teach the student new ideas and skills. In order to do this, we must speak the inner language of each individual student. I will have the care of only 7 students, but I know that I have my work cut out for me...I'm so excited!!!!

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Reflective Proclamation

I am completely sold on the importance of daily reflection. I believe that it's essential to improving as a teacher. So, today, I decided to engage in reflection every day.

Of course, my decision was influenced by the fact that a daily reflective journal is required for Internship I. But I'm actually quite grateful for the extra push I needed to be SURE that I reflect every day.

I'm looking forward to next week, even though I'm still not exactly sure what to expect.

Journey to a New Kingdom

Today was a momentous day: it’s the day I was given my placement for Internship I.

Beginning this fall, near the end of August, I will be spending Monday and Tuesdays at a school in a small kingdom called Longleaf. The villagers of the area seem incredibly pleasant, and their overall approach to education seems quite advanced. In addition to addressing all the components of a student’s life and being, they provide electronic access to their school, even maintaining an online card catalog and a list of the school’s Reading Counts books.

While there, I will be required to utilize what I have previously learned in helping to create an atmosphere that is conducive to learning. Additionally, I’ll observe and document my learning experiences.

While I am excited, I’m also a bit fearful. But I know that this is ridiculous. I've got nothing to fear. I am sure that, with Christ, all things are possible…so, no matter what happens, I know all will be well.