We put in some productive time at the garden this afternoon, and with luck and proper stewardship July should bring tomatoes, peppers, eggplant, squash, and okra for sure. The watermelon and pumpkin are questionable, mainly because we've been unsuccessful growing them for the last two seasons, fingers crossed that third time's the charm. Our strawberry patch is going gangbusters except that we didn't put down the straw mulch so the fruit is rotting before it ripens, not a mistake we're likely to make again.
Life Lesson: There is no gardening without humility. Nature is constantly sending
even its oldest scholars to the bottom of the class for some egregious
blunder. - Alfred Austin
Saturday, May 26, 2012
Friday, May 25, 2012
Y is for You're Definitely in My Top 131
A few of my students have started playing a silly game where they bicker loudly about which of them is my favorite. I don't think for a minute that their spectacle has anything to do with me; I am just an effigy in a drama they've invented for their own amusement.
It does make me wonder, though, about favorites. I hope all my students feel that I like them equally, although realistically I'm sure that's not true. Some kids don't really care, and others are convinced that they could never be the favored one.
I never really liked the parable of the prodigal son. I always sympathized with the guy who stayed home and did his duty and then was hurt by his father's celebration of his wayward brother. Even so, as a teacher, in an attempt to build positive relationships, I often extend a greater proportion of my time and energy to those students who are not being successful.
Does that make them my favorites? They seem to think so. At least they are willing to argue about it.
Life Lesson: It is appropriate to celebrate and be glad... for he who was lost is found again.
It does make me wonder, though, about favorites. I hope all my students feel that I like them equally, although realistically I'm sure that's not true. Some kids don't really care, and others are convinced that they could never be the favored one.
I never really liked the parable of the prodigal son. I always sympathized with the guy who stayed home and did his duty and then was hurt by his father's celebration of his wayward brother. Even so, as a teacher, in an attempt to build positive relationships, I often extend a greater proportion of my time and energy to those students who are not being successful.
Does that make them my favorites? They seem to think so. At least they are willing to argue about it.
Life Lesson: It is appropriate to celebrate and be glad... for he who was lost is found again.
Thursday, May 24, 2012
X is for X-ing Xs
Oh how tempting it can be to mark the days off on the calendar in a countdown to summer vacation. Who isn't looking forward to a break and time to rest and recharge? Still, when the kids start asking how many days we have left it makes me a little testy. For one thing-- is school really that awful? For another? If it is, then how hard could it be to do the calculation yourself!
For the record, we have 28 calendar days, and 19 school days remaining.
But as long as we're counting? Only 104 more days until school starts!
Life Lesson: Rather than count the days, make the days count.
For the record, we have 28 calendar days, and 19 school days remaining.
But as long as we're counting? Only 104 more days until school starts!
Life Lesson: Rather than count the days, make the days count.
Wednesday, May 23, 2012
W is for Water Wings
As the year closes, my sixth grade students are grappling with theme. It is an abstract concept that requires higher order thinking to not only comprehend the elements of a given writing piece, but also to infer some greater meaning from them. Developmentally, it's a stretch for many 11 and 12 year olds.
As they work it through, I notice them clinging to cliches to keep from drowning in the depth of their own thinking. Kelly Clarkson's current hit Stronger provides quite a few life lines for the struggling-- in addition to the subtitle, whatever doesn't kill you makes you stronger, there is also the me, myself, and I thing, as well as, it doesn't mean I'm lonely when I'm alone.
It's a start.
Life Lesson: Water wings get you in the pool, but they keep you on the surface.
As they work it through, I notice them clinging to cliches to keep from drowning in the depth of their own thinking. Kelly Clarkson's current hit Stronger provides quite a few life lines for the struggling-- in addition to the subtitle, whatever doesn't kill you makes you stronger, there is also the me, myself, and I thing, as well as, it doesn't mean I'm lonely when I'm alone.
It's a start.
Life Lesson: Water wings get you in the pool, but they keep you on the surface.
Tuesday, May 22, 2012
V is for Vertical
News today of two of my geographical preoccupations:
Going up
This time of year I click over every few days to a couple of climbing websites and follow the news as team after team tackles Everest during the narrow window of opportunity that nature offers. These days, technology allows you to follow the expeditions in real time-- several climbers tweeted their attempts at the summit, and there are all sorts of video clips and photos posted within hours of any push for the top.
The virtual proximity does not make the mountain any less deadly, however, and in some ways makes it even more cruel. In 1996 while trapped near the summit, mountaineer Rob Hall spoke to his pregnant fiancee by satellite phone and even chose names for their unborn child, before he froze to death where he huddled, too weak to make his descent. His body still lies a few feet from the path any climber takes from the South Col. For me, that story alone hollows the peal of those who clamor that the risk is worth it, because it's there!
Going down
Even today, with 50-75% of the water flow diverted to power most of Western New York and much of Ontario, Niagara Falls is by far one of the most impressive natural spectacles I have ever seen. Since we have family in Buffalo, I have the opportunity to visit regularly, but I never get bored of going out to the falls.
Yesterday a guy actually survived going over them, the third person to do so in recent years. Despite his wish to end his life, circumstances aligned to allow him to survive what an average of 20 people a year do not.
Hopefully his experience will mirror that of Kirk Jones, who threw himself into the wild and irrepressible waters of the Niagara River in 2003. "I honestly thought that it wasn't worth going on," Jones told ABC News. "But I can tell you now after hitting the falls I feel that life is worth living," he said.
Life Lesson: Without life, the lesson is lost.
Going up
This time of year I click over every few days to a couple of climbing websites and follow the news as team after team tackles Everest during the narrow window of opportunity that nature offers. These days, technology allows you to follow the expeditions in real time-- several climbers tweeted their attempts at the summit, and there are all sorts of video clips and photos posted within hours of any push for the top.
The virtual proximity does not make the mountain any less deadly, however, and in some ways makes it even more cruel. In 1996 while trapped near the summit, mountaineer Rob Hall spoke to his pregnant fiancee by satellite phone and even chose names for their unborn child, before he froze to death where he huddled, too weak to make his descent. His body still lies a few feet from the path any climber takes from the South Col. For me, that story alone hollows the peal of those who clamor that the risk is worth it, because it's there!
Going down
Even today, with 50-75% of the water flow diverted to power most of Western New York and much of Ontario, Niagara Falls is by far one of the most impressive natural spectacles I have ever seen. Since we have family in Buffalo, I have the opportunity to visit regularly, but I never get bored of going out to the falls.
Yesterday a guy actually survived going over them, the third person to do so in recent years. Despite his wish to end his life, circumstances aligned to allow him to survive what an average of 20 people a year do not.
Hopefully his experience will mirror that of Kirk Jones, who threw himself into the wild and irrepressible waters of the Niagara River in 2003. "I honestly thought that it wasn't worth going on," Jones told ABC News. "But I can tell you now after hitting the falls I feel that life is worth living," he said.
Life Lesson: Without life, the lesson is lost.
Monday, May 21, 2012
U is for Umbrella
It was a rainy spring day here today, and on such occasions, I delight in popping open my giant rainbow-striped umbrella. It enchants me because it's big and colorful and automatic: I never tire of simply pressing a button to instantly produce a huge canopy to protect me from the rain; it seems as close to a magic spell as I'll ever conjure.
When I was a child, umbrellas were way too much for me to manage; I needed a third or fourth hand to carry, open, and carry them, and getting wet seemed like a small price to pay to avoid such frustration. Even now, if there's no compelling reason to stay dry, I forgo any shield, no matter how nifty, and turn my face to the rain.
Life Lesson: Some people walk in the rain, others just get wet. ~Roger Miller
When I was a child, umbrellas were way too much for me to manage; I needed a third or fourth hand to carry, open, and carry them, and getting wet seemed like a small price to pay to avoid such frustration. Even now, if there's no compelling reason to stay dry, I forgo any shield, no matter how nifty, and turn my face to the rain.
Life Lesson: Some people walk in the rain, others just get wet. ~Roger Miller
Sunday, May 20, 2012
T is for Here's One Thing I Know
All my life, you're a friend of mine
We spent the day beginning to adapt to the Bingo-shaped hole in our lives. Oh, it is certain to shrink over time, but right now there are so many little things that remind us of our loss-- the extra food in the fridge, the unused bowl on the dish drain, the vacancy at the end of the couch-- you get the idea. He's gone and we really miss him.
At the end, it was our responsibility to ensure that he did not suffer. Such a choice is hard but very clear.
Life Lesson:
And you can count on me until the day you die
We spent the day beginning to adapt to the Bingo-shaped hole in our lives. Oh, it is certain to shrink over time, but right now there are so many little things that remind us of our loss-- the extra food in the fridge, the unused bowl on the dish drain, the vacancy at the end of the couch-- you get the idea. He's gone and we really miss him.
At the end, it was our responsibility to ensure that he did not suffer. Such a choice is hard but very clear.
Life Lesson:
And you can count on me until the day you die
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