FMS Play

The annual middle school play is two days away, and getting through with Pepsi and Cadbury Mini Eggs.  The last dress rehearsal is after school today, and then we'll have one more rehearsal tomorrow to put on the finishing touches.  I think I can, I think I can, I think I can... ;)  They're doing a great job.  It's just STRESSFUL!!!!

Shining Eyes

This week at choir practice, our director (shout out to Jim Edgeton... I LOVE singing in his choir... great teacher, great conductor, great friend) recommended a TED talk by Benjamin Zander on the transformative qualities of classical music.

It's wonderful (I even showed it today in class for Deep Thinking Friday), but I think it's about so much more than classical music.  It's about life.  The end of the talk discusses leadership and the power we have to inspire others.  Zander mentions two of the things I have posted on the wall behind my desk.  I've had them up for years... at least 10, I think.  "Who am I being that their eyes aren't shining?"  and "... never say anything that couldn't stand as the last thing I ever say." I need to do a better job of living by them. What a good reminder.

The bottom Dove wrapper basically sums up what it's like to be a middle school teacher.  It could be my middle school teaching motto.

And, speaking of Deep Thinking Friday, check out the shirt my wonderful husband had made for me!  It's my favorite Christmas present from this year!

Have a good weekend, world.  Make someone else's eyes shine.

Iowa Caucus, 2020

I know the Iowa Caucus is the current butt of national jokes and fodder for Trump's tweets, but I had a great experience last night.  I love the process.  The work in my Ward went smoothly.  I caucused first for Amy Klobuchar.  She ended up not being viable in my Ward, so I switched to my second choice, Elizabeth Warren.  It's been a privilege to see all the candidates in or close to my hometown.  I applaud and appreciate the work of everyone across the state who made the night exciting and educational.  I'm sorry that disappointing technology has tainted the process in the eyes of the U.S.  I hope that Iowa always keeps the "First in the Nation" Caucus, but if this was the last of the first, as some people have predicted, I choose to be thankful for the experience.  And, in case anyone was wondering, my Ward's delegates ended up being 4 for Bernie Sanders, 3 for Elizabeth Warren, and 2 for Joe Biden.  We'll see how that compares to the rest of the state later today. 

2020 Vision

Hello, Blog.  Nice to see you again.  I'm having a bit of an existential crisis, so I need to write it out.

I might be seeing more of you here, because... I think I'm going to break up with Facebook.  I love Facebook because I have a lot of friends that I don't live close to.  Facebook lets me see their babies and know their news and keep up with their lives.  I hate Facebook because so much of my feed is filled with my Facebook friends reposting articles and memes that make my stomach hurt.  I love you, Cousin Fanny from Tallahassee, but your racist rants give me dry heaves.  I get a kick out of you in real life, high school classmate, but if you post one more fake news story from two years ago, I'm going to poke my eye out with a fork.  And, former teaching colleague from 15 years ago, trust me.  I'm just as much a liberal feminist as you, but your divisive comments on posts that have nothing to do with you make me want to punch you in the face.  These things are sucking all the joy out of Facebook for me.

Let me see pictures of your new puppy.  Tell the world about your vacation to Yellowstone.  Praise your kid's grade improvements.  Share a great meal you had at a new restaurant.  I use Facebook for connecting, not for driving people away.  Life is too short to focus on differences.  I can't handle your negativity, World.  I'm sharpening the saw and to quote Hamilton, "erasing myself from the narrative."  At least for a while.

Life Lessons from Rubik's Cubes

My 5th grade TAG students got done with a Rubik's Cube unit before Christmas.  I've never had a better activity for growth mindset with kids.  Ever.  Even with the algorithms, solving a Rubik's Cube isn't easy.  There was frustration, yelling, crying, quitting, and starting over from the very beginning.  But, every single kid managed to solve a cube before Christmas break, and the joy was pure magic.  They were so darned proud of themselves.  It was a delight to watch and experience.  Today I read their reflections, and they made me smile so much.  I wanted to share some of them with the world.

Here are the questions I asked them to reflect on when we were done.  They wrote their responses on their own blogs:

1. What was the hardest part of solving Rubik's cubes?  Explain.
2. How did you feel when you finally solved the cube?  Describe.
3. What are the life lessons that people can learn from Rubik's cubes?
4. What advice do you have for other kids trying to solve Rubik's cubes?
5. What advice do you have for other kids trying to do hard things? 

"How I felt when I finally finished the Rubix cube is, 100 percent complete and when I finished my second Rubix cube I felt 200 percent complete. What I mean by 100 or 200 percent complete is, I felt really really good just because I finished my Rubix cube." -T.

"Also when kids are doing hard things if you are struggling they should break it down and take things step by step to make it easier for you to do" -F.

"For other kids that are doing hard things,'' Don't ever give up no matter how hard it is.'' -L.

"Solving the cube to me was a miracle and it got rid of me having self-doubt and thinking I couldn't do it anymore. And after I solved it and I got better at it, it was getting easier and more fun to do because I was challenging myself to get faster and faster!" -Q.

"The frustration was really hard and self doubt was also a factor." -K.

"The hardest part of solving the cube was that when I was super close to solving it I would try to do an algorithm and it would completely mess it! For me, this was the hardest part! When I finally solved it I was soooooo proud of myself! I felt like all the hard work had finally paid off!" -A.

"If you are trying to solve a Rubiks you are going to mess up sometimes but keep trying." -A.

"People can learn life lessons when solving it like to never give up when you feel like your doing badly, or to always believe in yourself to finish something." -M.

"My advice is to keep on trying and don't give up, believe in yourself and you can get it done." -I.

"When I solved it I was so proud, it took a long time but I did it!" -M.

And, I think this is my favorite comment of all: "My advice for people that are trying to do hard things is stay calm,try your best, stay hydrated, and tell yourself you got this." -J.

Field Trip to the Des Moines Art Center

Last week, I went to the Des Moines Art Center with my students.  I ask them to look for four things while they're there: famous artists they know, their favorite pieces, the best example of "art," and something that they don't understand why it even IS art.  I participated this year too.  

 This Rothko is always one of my favorites.  I can almost get lost in its colors.

 I loved how this one was lit.  It's shadow on the wall was part of the piece for me.

 My picture doesn't do this piece justice, but it was shiny and sparkly, and I just couldn't stop looking at it.  It captivated me.

One of my nominees for best example of "art."  I loved reading about it and its creator.  Art is expression, in my opinion.  And art can come to someone at any time in their life.

My other nominee for best example of "art."  I think art should make people think.  I think art can buck the system and give the proverbial finger to the establishment.

Chagall is one of my favorites, so this is my piece for most famous.  HOW HAVE I NEVER NOTICED IT BEFORE IN ALL THE TIMES I'VE BEEN TO THE DES MOINES ART CENTER????  I guess it just goes to show that every trip there is a new experience.  That's the way it should be.

I'm so NOT into this one.  Every time I see it, I try to give it a chance, and I think that someone got back from Mardis Gras and went a little crazy in their grandma's attic.  It's just not for me.  Not everybody has to like every piece.  For me, this one wins the "Why is This Art?" award.

Another favorite.  I'm a fan of interactive pieces, and this one is just begging to be touched and moved.  Sparkly beads hanging from the tall ceiling?  YES, PLEASE!

Releasing It

Hello, Blog.  Long time, no write.

My middle schoolers and I have 6 days left together.  They're making it tough on me.  I'm going to talk about it here and release it to the universe.

I know it's the end of the year in so many ways.  I'm tired.  Tears are right below the surface.  I have so much to do.  I have to much left to do.  And they're already done.  They're SO done.

I get it. I want to be done too.  But we're not done.

I know they're too young to really understand how quickly time goes.  For them, it's a snail.  These last 6 days feel like forever to them.

I'm old enough and beat up enough by life to know that time is precious.  You don't wish it away.

I'm looking forward to my summer so so so so much.  I'm counting down too.  We're all human.  But I want to end this school year sad that these turkeys are leaving, not hoping the door doesn't hit them on the way out.

I'm taking things personally this year, this spring.  Today.  I'm letting my feelings get hurt.  I need to get over that.  You'd think that the 21st year with middle schoolers would be routine... that I'd have a harder shell built up... all of that.  Guess not.  I think I might even care more now than I did 20 years ago.  That's a good thing.  It hurts because I care.  I do know that.

Teacher God, give me strength to get it done, to get it done well, and to send them off with love and care and grit.

I think I can.  I think I can.  I think I can.
I know I will.  I know I will.  I know I will.