Sunday’s Seven 3 Sept 2023

I think I’ll talk about the passage of time…

I heard from a student this week. She was a second grader in my first classroom 39 years ago. She’s gone on to make a career for herself as a nurse, and she’s living a good life. She decided to track me down (one of the few good reasons I can list for social media) and sent me a message to see if I was the Miss Sorsby she knew in 1984. I was. Still am to a degree. ❤️

We had a lengthy conversation through the app, and she recalled sweet and funny memories. Just know there’s a student you have impacted. I’ve been looking for you for YEARS. ❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️

And, that, ladies and gentlemen, is an example of why some teachers continue for as long as they can. Thank you, Ebonie. Of all the things she mentioned, none of them were about curriculum. Teaching, I think, is really about the ongoing conversation we have with another…one that extends far beyond a single school year.

Anyway, it was definitely an uplift after a fairly long week…one that brought prank calls and a brief lockdown to our town’s schools. A week where I looked around once again and realized a lot of people really are unaware about all the roles a teacher plays.

But, as they say, time moves on and sometimes we are lucky that pranks are only pranks and nothing more. I’m not sure I can list that as one of my seven, but I’ll leave it here.

Onward to other days where grands were happy to see me in the school pickup line. Stories and comments shared that make me wonder if one day they will be tracking down their own former teachers.

Hugs, of course, make the list. And air kisses from Clara to her faraway aunt Rara…the mention of her name always brings that sweet response. And, how beautiful is that…to know a small child is sending powerful energy to another—-so often—-how rich to be a recipient of that kind of love.

The week brought special mail from afar and surprise flowers from a sweet loved one…people remembering a day 35 years ago when I said I do to a dear man who left us too soon. He left behind good people, and I celebrate the many days we shared…and am glad that others still realize that love transcends time. There’s a whole absence and presence philosophy that really does make itself known through time. ❤️

I’m not at a paralyzing grieving stage these days, and so that also makes this week’s seven good things. Life has been good to me for many seasons, and I fully recognize what a gift that is.

It doesn’t feel like 110 these first September days, so I’m also glad to say farewell to August, which seemed to hang around for far too long.

I feel like I’ve abandoned the passage of time theme haha…but that’s ok. I’m here. Grateful for this Sunday evening and a brisket to cook in the morning after a no alarm wake up. I’m grateful for the upcoming day off and paint to swipe onto a canvas, books to read, projects to work on, and the luxury of deciding who-what-when-where.

Happy Labor Day weekend to my USA friends.

✌️

Butterfly in the Sun by ej sparkles

Friday’s Five 10.09.20

A few days ago, I asked students in my College Life Skills class to write non- repeating words in their planners for the month of October. The words? Things they are grateful for—something new each day. It took a few days for them to start looking small, but today we arrived. Will you join us?

“jokes”

“rain”

“pens and pencils”

“the way my pop cooks steak”

“pepper”

I’m a proud teacher. These young men and women are trying, even though they are not convinced about the power of gratitude. We will get there. 🌟

My list tonight…my five things culled from this week’s long list:

Fridays.

Windows.

Texts from my children.

Holiday emojis.

Butter.

Think small…the moments are right in front of us. ❤️

Friday’s Five

This week I am thinking about America. The election process. The aftermath. How can I still see the good, you wonder?

Well, this is how:

First on the list today: veterans. I salute you, I support you, I thank you. Without your service and sacrifice, I would not be able to speak freely and live freely here. On this Veterans Day 2016, I sincerely thank you.

Next, reminders. Reminders to open my eyes. Think for myself. Read. Listen. Watch. Question. Act. Be part of a solution to the problems I see. How?

By realization. When we realize that small, intentional acts have a ripple effect, we become empowered. We empower ourselves. Choose to make a positive difference and act on that choice.

Education. I was talking with a few of my college students at the end of class last night. We are knee deep in research and plodding through all of the rules for formats, sources, documentation. But the reward! The reward of learning something we did not know. The reward of answering a question and discovering a new one. The reward of taking ownership of and for our own learning. 

Power. We have more of it than we use. We have the power to decide what we will accept and what we will not. We have the power to change our circumstances. We have the power to turn off the tv some days. Disconnect from the noise of technology. Connect with who you are at the deepest level. The very fiber of your being. Listen. Breathe. Decide. 

And walk on in the light of you. 

Peace, brothers and sisters. Protect it.

Teaching Tip: Poetry Builds Fluency

I want to read Things by Eloise Greenfield. We know it!

This comment from a child in my Response to Intervention group made my morning.

I teach a group of seven fourth graders for 45 minutes each morning in a small group setting. Their reading levels range from Preprimer to 1.7.

Yes. It’s scary.

I’m finding a way to bring them along,
though. The children bring their poetry books to our group.

We spend a few minutes each day reading and rereading favorites.

It’s helping. The repetitive language, familiarity, rhythm, and rhyme all work together to get the kids reading.

They see words on a page and there aren’t too many. There’s a beat. It makes sense.
And today, there was recognition of an author. 🙂

I always knew poetry was the answer to most everything…

Daily Prompt: Be the Change

What change, big or small, would you like your blog to make in the world?

Well, that’s the daily post question. A good one.

I want my blog to show people that teachers are more than deliverers of instruction. We have opinions, and it’s ok to state them. We have lives outside of the classroom, and it’s ok to live them.

There are many excellent teachers out there who are afraid to say what they really think.

I would love for my blog to be a place people could come for a dose of encouragement, motivation, inspiration, and honesty.

Every day is not perfect. Teaching is hard. I’ve never seen so much politics at play. How I hate games.

We are asked for our opinion, then chastised or ignored for having one.

We have a broken budget, but we pay motivational speakers to come encourage us and say things we already know when we really need time to work in our rooms.

We have even been told we can’t say Merry Christmas…this one was a few years ago…It’s just the world we live in…
Really?
It’s not the world I live in.

Teachers could tell a million stories…but we don’t have time.

We are busy creating library check out cards for little kids so they can take our books home because those same kids lost their library books and can’t get any from the school.

We are busy telling kids it’s not their fault that their parents split up, or their sister committed suicide, or their teacher down the hall died.

We are busy teaching first grade skills to fourth grade students because we have to.

We are busy hugging kids, and reading poetry, and thanking God for the good days when kids get it.

I’d like my blog to be partly a place where those stories are told and readers still leave knowing I love what I do with children…I am an advocate for children and teachers.
I am an advocate for the arts. For writing. For photography. For books. For family. For friendships.

I write this blog to keep track of parts of a year in my life…it’s become a challenge to write daily, to write honestly, and to record the good things in life, as well as the challenges.

After my first year (on July 23, 2013), I hope to see where I can make the best blogging difference. I don’t know yet…I’m still on the journey…
it’s a small change I made to the big world of blogging…just adding my voice. I would like my voice to represent those who don’t have time or energy to say these same things…to matter.

Ten Teacher Truths

1. If you think something’s up, it is.

2. When you know you’re right, stand
firm.

3. Always speak for yourself. Always.

4. I’ve said it before, I’ll say it again: join
a teacher organization.

5. Document.

6. Coffee. Daily. Or all day. Whatever
it takes.

7. Ignore gum. You’d need it too if you
were a kid in today’s classroom.

8. You know what you’re doing. Do it.

9. Poetry matters. You’d be surprised.

10. You are not a score. You are a
person. Remember that.

Teaching Tip: Teach YOUR Way

Voting day!

It was a fantastic teaching and learning day. Our school wide mock election was a success. President Obama won on our campus, and we will see how the real election turns out.

As always, I’m glad our team pressed on and just did the best we could.

Our efforts will start conversations tonight. Our kids are watching tv now…they know about blue states and red states. They know so much more than they knew yesterday.

This electoral college business is hard to explain, but we tried.

One of my friends (and third grade teacher), Krystyl, texted me pictures from her mock election in the Dallas area. Our passion for teaching connects us…real teaching that means something.

My friend and kindergarten teacher Paula made sure to video and photograph the speeches in progress that I missed as the “staging room” teacher today.

The kids realized office staff hadn’t voted. They headed down with ballots in hand.

Tonight, I stopped for groceries and next to me in the line was a little girl, probably five or six years old.

“Did you vote?” she asked the checker.

He looked at her and smiled.

The man with her whispered that maybe she shouldn’t ask everyone.

Of course I had to chime in.

“Did you vote at school today?”
“Yes!” she said excitedly.
“Me, too.”

And in that exchange, our eyes said it all. We each knew the depth of what had happened on two different campuses in our town.

Multiply that across this nation.

Lots of teachers today made a difference that they may never know the true value of…but I heard it and saw it at a Super One Foods line in Texarkana tonight.

And friends, regardless of mandates and requirements and all that makes teaching harder than necessary these days, kids know when they have been taught well. They always know.

Freedom to teach … Never take what it really is for granted.

Ready for the 2012 Vote…Mock Election Time

A few turns of butcher paper, some cardboard boxes, tape, scissors, paint…and we are set for tomorrow’s “portable polling” mock presidential election.

A teacher who worked on my campus during the last election asked me if we were behind in registering voters. I had to explain we are taking some shortcuts this year…kids will show up, give an informational speech about the candidates, and take the students’ word that they are legal to vote. 😉
It’s all a time issue lately…

but I know even the abbreviated form that this project is taking is important.

Our students will remember decorating carts, giving speeches,marking ballots,
tallying results.
They will remember seeing “real” voters in our school’s hallway since Westlawn is a polling place.
They will think about this again, I hope, when it is their turn to vote.
This is the reason teachers teach–for the real reasons in life.
Happy Election Day…tomorrow.

Teaching Tip: Be an Encourager

Hello, Dear Readers,

Today marks the third month of my blog. I am thankful for each reader and follower.

Thank you for choosing to read what I write. This blog is one of the best gifts I’ve ever given myself because it is time from my life that I dedicate to remembering or musing or trying out something new. Thank you for being a part of it.

Today is Tuesday, so that means I’m sharing some kind of teaching tip.

Teachers encourage. I have been told from time to time in my life that I am an encourager. I didn’t see myself that way for a long while, but as more people mentioned it, I began to see that maybe it is true.

I really don’t think anyone can receive too much encouragement. No matter our age or position, it is nice to hear positive words.

It really hit home with me last night at a poetry seminar. One of the visitors there said to poet Nick Norwood, “I bet you hear all the time that you are an artist with words.” His reply? “Not often enough.”

I had to smile at that honest answer. Don’t we all want to be encouraged? Isn’t there something about someone taking a minute to say something helpful or hopeful that can turn your day around?
I met with a new teacher this afternoon–a teacher who is writing with second graders at another campus. He wanted help, and his principal sent him here. That helped my mindset because of her belief in me as a writer. But, the added gift was that he is already doing a terrific job. I think he just needed the validation of someone who has been doing this a lot of years.

His second graders are writing short stories with engaging illustrations. One was using onomatopoeia so of course I was delighted about that. We were able to sit and visit for a few minutes about the challenges and rewards of our writing rooms. We both left with higher spirits.

So, my tip for today is “Encourage.” Stay around people who lift you up. Count off the things you do right each day. Tell someone else something you appreciate about them. It will help more than just you.

And, again, dear readers, thank you for your encouragement as readers and followers of this blog. I am thankful for every day of writing and hope that I will find exactly what it is that I am searching for in the midst of all of these lines.

Maybe the process itself is “thing” enough.

Here’s to believing,

Agnes

;

A Ways to Go

Well, a conversation with an intern teacher today reminded me of myself during my first year of teaching: tired, frustrated, scared, and truthfully…clueless.

I think back to those days and wonder how someone so seemingly well prepared could be so out of touch. I had three wonderful student teaching supervisors, 18 weeks of student teaching in kindergarten, first grade, and special education, and plenty of observation hours. Still, when I accepted that second grade teaching job, I was lost. Totally lost.

I remember a veteran teacher laughing at me because I had given a math pretest on the first day of school. I didn’t know any better. A pretest was mentioned. It seemed like the right thing to do…

I remember bringing boxes of work home, piles of papers…and just spreading them out on the floor of my living room on Beech Street. I was 21. Young, single, and wondering what in the world I had gotten myself into.

I bought coloring books to keep my students busy. Yes, I did. I know.

I wandered the long hallways of that school at night after all of the other teachers went home. I was too afraid to ask for help. I thought I was supposed to know what to do.  I was looking for clues.

Then the best thing happened. I got the flu. It was a bad case, and I was out for over a week. I remember not even bothering to measure the cough syrup…I just took a swig and settled back into the depths of the couch, thankful for the reprieve of life and responsibility.

When I did return, some teachers told me they thought I had quit. I had not formed any friendships on that campus yet, and no one knew that I never quit. Oh, I was back all right. And, I owe all the thanks to the substitute teacher.

She left the plans she made while I was gone. I read them and started piecing the days together, realizing those stacks of coloring books on the shelf had to go. I started filling up the hours with lots of engaging activities and stories and art. Real art.

I found my way and I made it. So will this intern. She just needs to keep showing up. Day by day, she’ll find her way. Teachers always do.