Crayons

My dear friend, Dr. Steve Fairchild, is a retired professor from the early childhood education program at James Madison University. He taught an early childhood science class and shared some really cool experiments with me. One of them was with crayons. There are exciting ways to re-purpose crayons and integrate the arts with science.  

One way to transform a batch of misfit crayons is to melt them into new things. I wanted to make chunky crayons for toddlers, and students with fine motor delays who have limited use of a 3-finger grasp or tripod. I took my friend’s recipe and melted crayons. I experimented with different methods. The first time I put crayons in the oven. The finished product was meh. 

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The second time I tried placing crayons in an ice cube tray to melt in the hot summer sun. Again, meh! 

Then finally I contacted my friend Steve who told me about melting the crayons in a clean tin can (old soup can will do just the trick) over a pan filled with water. Voila! A beautiful hot can full of liquid wax! Pour the liquid mixture into a mold. I used old recycled plastic fruit cups. The crayons pop out easily after they are dried. 

Homemade Crayons

Homemade Crayons

These homemade chunky crayons are a good alternative for children who are not ready to use their fingers to create a tripod grasp. The best part is the children can help you make them.

Carplay Diem

It is that time of year when people pile into cars and hit the open road to visit friends and family. 

Being stuck in a car for hours does not have to be boring, or an unpleasant experience. Seize the day to play and have fun on your road trip. Joe Desimone was a farmer who understood Carplay Diem and the need to enjoy the journey. Instead of bringing his fruits and vegetables to an outdoor market to sell in boring cardboard boxes, he essentially created a parade float showcasing the prized beauties from his farm. 

Pike Place Market proprietor, Joe DeSimone.

Pike Place Market proprietor, Joe DeSimone.

The voyage can be enjoyable for adults and kids with a little planning. Creating a way for the family to interact with one another in the car can be a challenge when individuals have their faces planted in their electronic devices. Here are some ideas for having an interactive road trip with your children:

Make a busy box for each child. Take a shoe box and have the child decorate their own entertainment box. Include objects they can manipulate with their hands easily and from their car seat. Consider objects where the child uses her/his imagination. Include novel things that has the potential to engage the child for an extended time period. 

Check out audio books the whole family can enjoy for free from the public library. A favorite author of ours is Kate DiCamillo. She writes interesting stories that can entertain both children and adults.

Make and take snacks the family can eat at rest areas or on the road. Have kids help pick out what to include in their snack bag. A carabiner can be attached to the back of the seat with his/her bag of goodies and/or other objects needed for the car trip.

Play games in the car. Word Association games are where someone in the car begins with a word. Others in the car say words associated with the original word.

A game of “I Spy with My Little Eye Something _____…” is where each person has a turn coming up with an object that others have to look for outside of the car.

The license plate game is a fun way for kids to learn about geography and states.

The 20 Questions game is where others in the car ask questions that can be answered with yes or no of the person who has thought of a person, place, or thing.

Here is a picture of my glamorous Mama going somewhere in her muscle car. We could make up a story about where she is going all dressed up. While in the car, pick another car on the road. Be sure everyone in the car has gotten a good look at it. Then make up stories about the people and/or the car.

My Mom circa 1969

My Mom circa 1969

Finally, the Going on a Picnic game gets players thinking and talking about what they would bring on a hypothetical picnic. Feel free to create a variation on one of these games, or the car can make up their own game(s).

This time when you travel by car with your family, make a positive memory each person can take with them into the future. The memories of interacting with one another cannot be replicated from playing Angry Birds for 16 hours. Play and have fun on your road trip by interacting with each other. Carplay Diem!  

 

Asking a Favor

How we ask for something many times determines the outcome. I had the good fortune as a child to attend a canoe camp on Orcas Island in the beautiful Pacific Northwest. We paddled our hearts out on trips to Friday Harbor, Orcas, and Jones islands. Back at camp headquarters we had a well-stocked camp store. My parents gave me a little spending money for the store, but the budget evaporated early in my stay. I spent it on candy. What’s a girl to do stuck on an island with no money? I put my stamps and stationery to work—I wrote my parents a letter (this was in the late 70s before cell phones). 

 

Around the same time a researcher from Harvard, Dr. Ellen Langer, published a paper with her colleagues based on experiments they conducted on how to ask a favor. In their experiment, the researchers set up a copy machine at a university and experimented with different types of favor asking (Langer, Blank, & Chanowitz, 1978). They found  there was greater compliance with small favors compared to big favors. There was also more compliance when a reason was given, rather than no reason or explanation for asking the favor.

I wasn’t reading research from Harvard during camp, but somehow I intuitively knew how to ask my parents for a favor. The letter from camp started by me telling them how much I missed them, and then all the things I was doing at camp. I asked for a modest amount of money so that I could buy materials to make a lanyard key chain. The small favor, paired with a reason for why I needed it, resulted in compliance. Ca-ching! My awesome parental units sent me way more money than I expected.

When we work on a team, we may need to ask team members for a favor. Effective communication can make team work more productive. The next time you need to ask a favor, try applying the Langer principles. You may just get your flashy lanyard in the end. 

Childhood Crisis

This past week there was a 6.2 earthquake in the Italian town of Amatrice near Rome. Over 200 people were killed and many injured. Several families and children have lost their homes. South of Amatrice, my Mom lived through the 1962 earthquake in Campania, Italia.   

Mom was working in the tobacco fields on the family farm at 12:44pm on August 21st when the 5.4 magnitude earthquake destroyed the family home. Their house collapsed and all that was left was rubble. The family lived in tents with no indoor plumbing for two years while they slowly rebuilt their lives and house. 

L.toR. Lorenzo Vacca, Gelarda Vacca Giangregorio, Sofia Vacca Morella, Amalia Cutugno Vacca, Elisabetta Vacca Galliano, Vincenzo Vacca, and Antonio “Tony” Vacca

L.toR. Lorenzo Vacca, Gelarda Vacca Giangregorio, Sofia Vacca Morella, Amalia Cutugno Vacca, Elisabetta Vacca Galliano, Vincenzo Vacca, and Antonio “Tony” Vacca

Everyday children experience crises like these that are completely out of anyone’s control. Natural disasters cause great damage. The American School Counselor Association recommends the following ways to help children during a crisis: (a) try to maintain routines to offer predictability, (b) limit exposure to news, (c) provide honest information that is developmentally appropriate, and (d) listen and be responsive to children’s concerns and fears. We can help children and families in crisis. “Hope is the thing with feathers that perches in the soul and sings the tune without the words and never stops at all,” ~Emily Dickinson. Sending my love and prayers for children and families experiencing crises. 

You’ve Got a Friend

We are lucky to be able to serve children and their families. Few professions can have such an immediate influence on a child and his/her family unit. When I was teaching 7th and 8th graders, I got a call during my planning period from the bus garage for the school district. On the phone was an angry school bus driver with a bee in his bonnet who said that one of my students in the special education program would no longer be allowed to ride “his” bus. My student was caught on tape breaking bus rules and was kicked off the bus for the rest of the school year. After his rant, the bus driver’s supervisor got on the phone and we discussed next steps.

Students in special education have a legal right to school district transportation. If the school district removes that right, we need to document changes in the child’s Individualized Education Program (IEP). As the student’s case manager, it was my job to facilitate an emergency IEP meeting and do a “Change of Placement” to his program since he had no ride home that day. 

I called the student’s parents. His Mom answered. We were able to do the IEP meeting over the phone. Since the school day had not ended, we made arrangements for her to pick him up that day. She was at work and took the rest of the day off to address her son’s needs. This Mom was apologetic for her son’s behavior, understanding of the school district’s position, and an awesome member of the IEP team. She did not want him to have “specialized” transportation where a district bus or van would pick him up door-to-door. She and her husband planned to transport their son to/from school.

Her ability to collaborate with us school folks was amazing. I thought to myself on my way home that night, “I could be friends with this Mom.” During the drive, I hummed along to the James Taylor song “You’ve Got a Friend.” I fantasized about us shopping at the mall, getting BFF matching necklaces, having customized friendship pillows embroidered, and getting matching manicures and pedicures. Not really. I sometimes am prone to hyperbole and other forms of exaggeration. The IEP bus story, however, is true. One hundred percent (well make it 98% true – remember I sometimes exaggerate).

If I could be queen and improve practices with families, I’d start by putting on a jeweled crown. I would then wave my fancy authoritative wand and demand peaceful harmony among parents and teachers. When teachers are granted their teaching licenses, they would also receive a big tapestry magical bag—like Mary Poppins—with all the incredible tools needed to foster positive rapport with parents. That would be practically perfect in every way

Don't Stand Close to the T.V.!

Thanksgiving decorations in stores can mean only one thing. It is almost time for the kids to go back to school. I wrote this song as a reminder to enjoy these last days of summer vacation with our little ones. After all, the holidays will be here before we know it. Happy Singing! ~Marisa

Don't Stand Close to the T.V.! 
(Sung to the tune “Don’t Stand So Close to Me” by the Police)

Mom teacher, the subject
Of shouting out orders all day.
She wants them, so badly
To do just what she says.

Inside her, there's longing...
To turn a brand new page.
But no use, they don't listen
No matter what their age.

Don't stand, don't stand close
Don't stand close to the T.V.
Don't stand, don't stand close
Don't stand close to the T.V.

Her friends are, so jealous
You know what people say
Just think of ALL THAT TIME OFF
You can take a "personal day."

Temptation, frustration
You know how bad it gets.
Use your inside voice!
Make a good choice!
If you want to be teacher’s pet.

Hands to yourself!
Put it back on the shelf!
Here is what she has to say.
Please walk, don't run!
Is your homework done?
Why can't they nicely play?

Don't stand, don't stand close
Don't stand close to the T.V.
Don't stand, don't stand close
Don't stand close to the T.V.

Use your words!
Don't call them nerds!
Oh no, please don't cry!
Just try your best!
And give it a rest!
Wash your hands and don't forget to dry.

Did you read your book by Nabokov?
You need to cover your cough!
Because I said so!
Now go!

Don't stand, don't stand close
Don't stand close to the T.V.
Don't stand, don't stand close
Don't stand close to the T.V.

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Mise En Place

My husband and I are friends with another couple who are foodies. We are not. My husband is a telephone-chef, and I am an experimental cook who cannot follow a recipe to save her life. We enjoy hanging out with our friends and have learned a lot about their hobby.

One weekend, in the cold of winter, we took a drive up to Hyde Park to take a cooking class at the Culinary Institute of America (CIA). Vassar College and President Franklin D. Roosevelt’s home and presidential library are in this area too, as well as the Morse Code Museum. It is worth a trip to see the Hudson and this gorgeous part of New York.

The CIA weekend classes are offered to non-chefs, or the home cook. There is a separate more intense educational program for serious students. The weekend classes have different topics than the regular CIA curriculum. For example, my husband and I took the Soups for All Seasons class where everyone in the course made soup.

The soup class started in a traditional classroom with desks and chairs. Chef Paul DelleRose gave us a packet of written materials, along with a CIA cookbook. He explained cooking concepts. We took notes! He wrote on the chalkboard. We took notes! He provided us with direct instruction on how to use the equipment, materials, ingredients, and read a recipe. We took notes! Chef took a sip of tea and we all took notes!

Chef gave all students a CIA apron, we washed our hands, and then we were ready to cook. Chef and the opening pages of the cookbook say that what happens prior to cooking is the most important stage of the process. This is not unlike teaching where environmental planning is an essential stage.

Chef Paul and his assistant helped each student in the class with their soups. When we were done cooking, we poured the soups into little sample cups. Everyone in the class got to taste 16 different soups. When the class was done, we met up with all the other CIA weekend classes in a big banquet hall for a delectable feast prepared by the CIA staff. We also got to sample cured meats the Charcuterie class made. We sat with our friends and compared notes on our two classes.

They went to an advanced gourmet class and made a savory meal plus a dessert. The cooking environment between our classes were standard. They had ovens, sinks, knives, pots, and pans just like we did.

The one thing that was different between the basic soup class and advanced gourmet class was how the environment was used. Members in the advanced class were sophisticated in how they cooked in their kitchen space. When they cut meat with a knife they cleaned and returned it to where it belongs. When they used a colander to drain liquid, it was returned to its home on a shelf. When they were done using their food prep space, they cleaned it and got it ready for the next steps of the recipe they were making.

In my entry-level soup class, everyone’s kitchen space looked like a tornado hit. Messy! The French expression mise en place translates into “everything in its place.” Chef Paul went over this concept in the classroom before we entered our kitchens to make soup. But, apparently none of us got it. I wonder if Chef felt like saying, "Unless you clean up this pig sty... NO SOUP FOR YOU!"

Mise en place is harder than it would seem to actually apply in a kitchen when you are learning a new way of cooking. An efficient kitchen and classroom has everything in its place. When an environment is organized it runs smoother and safer.

Intentional environmental planning can be observed in preschools where teachers implement a protocol of visually organizing the classroom. The use of pictures, icons, and visual summaries help students become independent in their setting. For instance, bins have pictures on them so children know where to return classroom materials when they are done. This helps children who are not reading words yet or have a disability, because they can understand the visual information. 

Teachers use intentional arrangement of the environment to set students up for success. Parents organize space in ways that are conducive to the needs of their family. Take note, to have a "Chicken Soup for the Soul" experience with kids implement mise en place.

 

Fink, B., & Culinary Institute of America (2009). The Culinary Institute of America's new book of soups (2nd ed).  New York: Lebhar-Friedman Books.

In the Garden with Winnie-the-Pooh

As soon as I saw you, I knew an adventure was going to happen. ~Winnie the Pooh

If you are looking for a great read during A.T.T.O., look no further than the beautifully photographed biography of A.A. Milne. Timber Press published, “The Natural World of Winnie-The-Pooh: A Walk Through The Forest That Inspired The Hundred Acre Wood.”

Alan Alexander Milne (1882-1956) is the author of the Winnie-the-Pooh books. Both of Milne’s parents were teachers. He considered himself lucky to have such an idyllic childhood that he returned to his stomping grounds as an adult in his writing for children. The calm village of Hartfield in Victorian London and the English countryside inspired his stories. The Hundred Acre Wood where Christopher Robin encounters the likes of the silly willy nilly old bear, Tigger, Eeyore, and piglet is a real place called Ashdown Forest and the Five Hundred Acre Wood.

The family lived at Henley House which consisted of two detached buildings. A.A. Milne lived in one of the buildings with his Mom, Dad, and two brothers. The other detached building was the schoolhouse where his father was the headmaster. H.G. Wells was one of his teachers that sparked his interest in nature and the surrounding landscape. Alan adored his father and family, as well as school. It was his father’s love of mathematics that ignited a passion in Alan for the subject. At Trinity College, Cambridge Alan studied math before becoming a literary figure. Christopher Robin is based on Milne’s son and toys in his nursery. It is not surprising then, that the man who wrote such a beautiful story about friendship, understanding, and kindheartedness had such a strong meaningful connection between his home and school families.

Aalto, K. (2015). The natural world of Winnie-the-pooh: A walk through the forest that inspired the hundred acre wood. Portland, OR: Timber Press.

Summer Reading Triathlon

“Everything you need is already inside.” ~Coach Bill Bowerman of the University of Oregon

Do you enjoy going to a bookstore in the summer? Is it the free WI-FI? Is it the cold and caffeinated dessert drinks? Is it the air conditioned aisles of books and magazines? If you have kids, it could be the summer reading program.

For 20 years, Barnes & Noble has been running their summer reading programs. This summer they are hosting a Summer Reading Triathlon from now until the end of August. Kids read three books of their choice, and write in a Summer Reading Triathlon Journal. The Triathlon journals are available in English and en Español. When kids bring their completed journals to the store, they receive a free book from Barnes & Noble. The list of free books is printed on the journal.

The Triathlon program has an 8-page guide for educators complete with activity sheets and ideas for encouraging kids to read.

Readers can take part in voting in two categories: (1) their favorite literary hero, and/or (2) favorite literary place using Gold, Silver, and Bronze Medals to indicate their preference.

Closing ceremonies are planned for August 27th at 11am at stores nationwide where results of the voting will be shared, and kids can earn their own trophy. For more information about the Summer Reading Triathlon, check out the link. http://www.barnesandnoble.com/b/summer-reading/_/N-rs9

 

Statue of legendary Coach Bill Bowerman at the University of Oregon.

Statue of legendary Coach Bill Bowerman at the University of Oregon.

Toys Optional

Are toys necessary? Do young children need toys when they play? Can children learn and grow in a toy-free environment?

When my Mom was growing up on a farm in Naples, Italy in the 1950s she had no toys. Zero! Nothing! Nada! Not even a doll, ball, puzzle, jump rope, or bicycle! With 8 siblings and more cousins next door, her early childhood years were filled with interactions that required creative and toy-less play.

In many countries and cultures, play does not necessarily center on toys that are made by a company and purchased from a store. Familiar objects, materials, and imagination are the cornerstone of play.

The use of toys during play and assessment came up recently when I was in California giving a two-day seminar. Home visitors working with families of infants and toddlers discussed ways to facilitate early childhood development. They shared how they use various approaches with and without toys during play-based assessment. It was exciting to see the innovative ways they incorporate what is already in the child's home during their visits.

When I left California to take a flight home, I thought more about our discussion and the role of toys during play. It fit nicely with a book I read on the plane for my book club this month titled, "A Long Walk to Water" by Linda Sue Park. The true story is about a young boy, Salva Dut, growing up in Sudan. His daily struggle to survive each day and his quest for clean drinking water made the pursuit of play a low priority in his life.

When I stepped off the plane I came to the conclusion that toys are fun but unnecessary for play. Toys optional? I think so.

What to do with A.T.T.O?

“Okay, I tried dolce far niente and I’m bored to tears! What now?”

In our teaching practice, we are lucky to have chunks of time to spend during summer breaks, holiday breaks, and of course the beloved personal days. This gives us time off that many professions do not enjoy. In case you are having trouble coming up with ways to spend A.T.T.O. (all that time off), here are nine ideas for you.

Siena, Italia

Siena, Italia

#1- Read. During the school year, time for reading fun books may be limited. But that is why we are so fortunate to have A.T.T.O.! The author of Teacher Man, Mr. Frank McCourt, understood the concept of A.T.T.O. after he spent several years in the classroom (2005). His book was a treat one summer when I finally read it. I do not read as much as I want when I am teaching, because there is too much other stuff to do (e.g., grade papers, prepare lessons, address student needs, and much more). When it is time to rotate the crops, and cash in on A.T.T.O., I get my book list out that I’ve been collecting all school year. Remember to ink it when you think it or you might forget what you want to read. The act of writing down the book titles during the year is reinforcing, and gives me something to look forward to during the long months before A.T.T.O.! I just got done reading Susan Vreeland's Lisette's List and a character in the book tells another character to "do the most important thing first." Agreed! Read!  

#2- Take a class. Enroll in a fun class. Your local community college might have just the class for you. Would you like to take a literary cooking class where you cook foods from a fictional book? Are you interested in learning the basics of car care? Maybe learning how the stock market works sounds fun to you? Do you want to learn how to decorate a cake? Being the student instead of the teacher may give you new insights into your teaching practices.

#3- Travel. Hit the road, air, water, or do what you can to get out of Dodge during A.T.T.O. If you cannot travel, the next best thing would be to read a travel book. Some inspiring creative non-fiction books about travel are: (1) Oregon Trail: A New American Journey by Rinker Buck, (2) Eat, Pray, Love by Elizabeth Gilbert, (3) Wild: From Lost to Found on the Pacific Crest Trail by Cheryl Strayed, and (4) Under the Tuscan Sun by Frances Mayes. Go somewhere, or read about another place, to transport yourself.

#4- Watch a movie. You will see that many of your joys and struggles in the teaching profession are universal. You are not alone. Here are some of my favorite education-related movies for A.T.T.O.

Breakfast Club (1985); Dangerous Minds (1995); Dead Poets Society (1989); Ferris Beuller’s Day Off (1986); Finding Forrester (2000); Freedom Writers (2007); Goodwill Hunting (1998); Grease (1978); Karate Kid (1984); Kindergarten Cop (1990); Lean on Me (1989); Miracle Worker (1962); Mr. Holland’s Opus (1995); Remember the Titans (2000); School of Rock (2003); Stand and Deliver (1988); Summer School (1987); The Theory of Everything (2014)

 #5- Go glamping. Explore the great outdoors. Go on glamorous camping trips. Breathe the open air in the style of Henry Ford, Thomas Edison, John Burroughs, and Harvey Firestone. The “Vagabonds” as they called themselves knew how to go glamping in their later years by exploring the road less traveled together. Their camping trips became legendary. Interesting ideas may have been sparked during the campfire conversations between the automobile manufacturer, inventor, naturalist, and tire mogul.

Ford and Edison worked together before they became neighbors in Florida. Their friendship had spanned several years before they decided they’d like to go on camping trips together.  They set out on several glamping adventures with friends. Their trips were a chance to relax in style, have fun, and experience nature decked out in luxury (i.e., cooks and assistants to help with work, spacious tents, Ford automobiles, gasoline stove, built-in refrigerator, Edison’s lights from the mobile electric generator, and more). Pretty impressive and glamorous given these glamping trips took place between 1914 and 1924.

#6- Write a novel, memoir, magazine article, or children’s book. If writing is your thing, A.T.T.O. is perfect for you. Writers need large amounts of uninterrupted time to develop a manuscript. You don’t need much in the way of equipment…just a pencil and some paper will do. You can write anywhere: laying on a sandy beach drinking spa water with infused tropical fruits, waiting for your dentist appointment, or sitting in an airport waiting for your flight to someplace fabulous. Just write!

#7- Projects. All those things you have been putting off can now get done during A.T.T.O.! Most of my household projects seem to take more time than I expect. One summer I treated and stained my outdoor decks. I thought it would be a two hour job. Wrong! My ability to estimate how long a project will take is about as reliable as a Wi-Fi connection inside the concrete walls of Costco. Have a blast! You will be glad you had the time to tackle these time-consuming projects during A.T.T.O.!

#8- Hobby. Now is the time to take up a new hobby, or further develop one you already have. Becoming good at a hobby takes a major time investment. We have so many talented hobbyists in our profession because of A.T.T.O.. I once worked with a Home Economics teacher who became a motorcycle enthusiast. In the summers she put away her quilts and recipes, slipped on black leather pants, and revved up her Harley on Route 66. Viva America!

#9- Play. Have you ever stopped to really watch a child who is absorbed in play? They don’t look at a clock to see what time it is. They don’t follow a schedule. They are in flow. They are totally lost in their fun. The founder of the Guild, Felicia Day, describes how she played Blizzard Entertainment’s World of Warcraft on average of sixty hours a week (Day, 2015). That is more than a full time job’s worth of hours. Isn’t that awesome! Imagine playing more hours than you work. Bravo, Felicia! With A.T.T.O., teachers could get on board a grand expedition too. Whatever it is you consider “play”–do more of it during A.T.T.O.!

Dolce Far Niente

Call it a hiatus, respite, or vacation, but whatever you call it we all need one. The singer and songwriter, Joni Mitchell is also a painter. I watched a documentary where she was describing her process. She compared how she moves from painting to songwriting like a farmer rotating crops. She described how she spends time with each activity and then enjoys the break when it is over. Mitchell's approach is similar to what we do in the teaching profession. We spend time teaching and then we rotate or shift our focus during A.T.T.O. (all that time off).

Educators should not feel lazy if we take time off work. We need time to rotate crops. “Dolce far niente” is an Italian phrase meaning the sweetness of doing nothing. Taking time to enjoy the pleasures in life can make for better teaching. All work and no play is bad for educators. Take time today for dolce far niente.

Pisa, Italia

Pisa, Italia

A.T.T.O.

Before Y.O.L.O., I.R.L., and F.O.M.O there was A.T.T.O.

Poet and teacher, Frank McCourt, wrote about All That Time Off (A.T.T.O.) in his book “Teacher Man.” He showed how teachers are awarded A.T.T.O. in exchange for 180 days of service on the academic calendar. That’s right. Vacation time, Baby!

Enjoy your summer and A.T.T.O. teachers! THANK YOU for all you do for students!!!

Louvre

Louvre

McCourt, F. (2005). Teacher man. New York: Scribner.

Adding More PLAY in Your Day

It can be a challenge to get enough PLAY in your day when you feel overwhelmed, overextended, or overworked. Here are some indicators that you may need to play more.

Rocks from Puget Sound in Seattle, WA.

Rocks from Puget Sound in Seattle, WA.

Top Ten Signs You Need More Play

  1. The last pleasurable book you read was Facebook.

  2. It is your parents’ anniversary. You order them a basket of fruits online from Harry & David, but don’t recognize you are in the bereavement section. When it gets delivered to them they receive their apples and oranges in a beautiful basket with a white ribbon that says the word: “Condolences.” Can’t wait to see what they get for the 50th wedding anniversary.

  3. You try to make a phone call and realize you’re operating the remote control to the television.

  4. You do not feel like “family” anymore at the Olive Garden.

  5. You go to pick up your knitting to make your kid’s teacher a pair of socks for her birthday only to find you’re using #2 pencils instead of #2 knitting needles. Good thing the yarn is gray.

  6. Your sweet tooth says “I wanna,” but your wisdom tooth says “no way.”

  7. Your future tripping is so out of hand that your  <fill in the blank>    (fortune teller, therapist, hairdresser, barista, MOPS leader, other) asks if you want a punch card for future discounts. Boy she sure can be snarky!

  8. Your best friend tells you a secret and asks you to keep it on the D.L. You thought she said “deal” and you congratulate her savvy shopping at T.J. Maxx.

  9. You accidentally wear your partner’s underwear and discover while sitting at a light on your way to work that the Fruit of the Looms fit better than yours.

  10. The Snapfish order has arrived in the mail. You complete several scrapbook pages before figuring out that it is not your family in the pictures. You’ve just scrapbooked your neighbor’s family.

     

What your score means

If you answered YES:

0 times = Wow, you really have things figured out. You are doing a fine job getting enough play in your life, and managing the whole work and life balance. Good for you!

1-2 times = You might be a little stressed out. But overall things are fine.

5 times or more = You might be overwhelmed with the balancing act thing that is life. Go get a massage! Now!

Just like children, we need play in our daily life. All work and no play…well you know. President Lincoln once said, “Whatever you are, be a good one.” Play can help you reach your best. Take time to play more! President’s orders! Oops, I meant doctors’ orders!

Storyboard

Most teachers have only one student teaching experience. At the end of the semester, I had student teachers I supervised create a storyboard. Our last meeting was a celebration of the highs and lows of their student teaching experience. The storyboard is a creative way for student teachers to reflect on this time in their life. It’s a story unlike anyone else’s they are sure to remember for years to come.

I created the Storyboard Activity for my student teachers after a trip to Walt Disney World. There was an attraction called The Art of Animation at Disney’s Hollywood Studios in Orlando, Florida. I saw how the Disney Company and Imagineers created storyboards and thought, “We could do that!” 

Student teachers complete the storyboard draft before our lastmeeting. This gives them time to think about each prompt instead of being put on the spot. They can illustrate or create a collage to accompany each cell of their storyboard. Each student teacher presents his or her storyboard during the final meeting. Student teachers can add or modify this list of prompts as needed:

  1. Title

  2. Actor or actress you would cast to play you

  3. Cast of characters (may include a protagonist and a nemesis)

  4. Actors to play your cooperating professional and students

  5. Theme song

  6. Develop a soundtrack of sounds and songs that help tell your student teaching story

  7. Plot

  8. Highpoint

  9. Resolution

  10. What are three important things you learned from your student teaching that you will remember many years from now?

Storyboarding

Storyboarding