Living in the PRESENT!

Today I met with my two AMAZING administrative assistants, Linda and Martha.  We were going through the calendar, and I expressed my frustration with how quickly time was moving.  In our jobs, it always seems we are living in the future.  We are planning for a future board meeting, ensuring attendance at future events, communicating with others regarding future plans.  As we sat together planning, we shared some laughs, told some stories, and enjoyed each other's company.  It was at that moment that I realized, we were living in the present and only just planning for the future!

I am a reader.  I love stretching my brain by reading books.  Currently, I am reading the book, Presence;  Bringing your Boldest Self to your Biggest Challenges by Amy Cuddy.  Throughout this book, the author writes about the importance of being present, living in the moment, taking up space, or showing up.  It is amazing how the brain changes and our future changes when we live in the present.  I especially enjoyed the section on "showing up."  Many times I have mentioned that often times we get credit for things just by showing up.  In particular, the author spoke about the importance of showing up in times of crisis, trauma, or sadness.  I couldn't help think about my dogs, Peetie and Bella.  I love them so dearly, and they epitomize living in the present and showing up.  No matter when I come home, they are there to happily greet me as if I am a long lost friend finally home from a month long journey.  Whenever I am feeling down or discouraged, they snuggle up to me and provide me comfort just by being there.  One section of the book reminded me of my friend and colleague, David Isom.  "Sometimes we express ourselves most eloquently by not expressing anything--by allowing our presence, unexplained and unembellished, to speak for itself."  It is called the Ministry of Presence.  How many times do we find ourselves in a present situation expressing desire for something better in the future?  By just being there, we embrace our present to make our futures different and brighter.

This past week, I had the wonderful opportunity of spending  lunch time with a student whom I met a few weeks ago when visiting an elementary school.  The student and I connected somehow by sharing maggot stories.  I was so excited to bring him a present which was the book written by Camilla de la Bedoyere entitled, Would You Rather Dine with a Dung Beetle or Lunch with a Maggot?  I had other books about snakes, insects, and scary animals to bring him.  I had found some plastic insects that I taped all over the gift wrapped books.  We had a delightful time reading books, sharing stories, and learning interesting facts that we never knew.  I realized that I received the best present that day....enjoying the present.  

The best part about living in the present is having wonderful past memories!  Wishing you a wonderful present which will pave the way for fond memories and a bright future.  ENJOY!

What we give makes all the difference!

Thanks to Sticks and Steel, a unique store in Sioux Falls, South Dakota, I have this wonderful sign hanging in my office window:

I reflect on this daily.  I know I am able to pay my bills, put gas in my car, and purchase new things by what I "get" at the end of each month in the way of a pay check.  My life, however, is enriched by what I am able to give.  In some ways, giving and getting are an infinity loop.  I have often found that what I give is often weak in comparison to what I get back in return.  

A major "infinity loop" I experience in my job deals with positive thinking.  I notice how those employees who have a positive vibe tend to have classrooms filled with positive students, work with positive colleagues, and enjoy their professional and personal life. Those departments with a positive outlook are filled with laughter and employees who love coming to work each day. 

There is plenty of research to support the power of positive thinking.  According to positive psychology researcher, Barbara Fredrickson, positive thought can creative real value in your life and help build long-lasting skills.  When one views things positively, emotions broaden one's sense of possibility and opens one's mind to options.  Positivity promotes exploration and creativity allowing people to broaden and build their future.  Fredrickson's research on negativity indicates that it inhibits future growth.  With negativity, the is a focus on immediate threat and danger rather than on developing valuable skills and appreciating the big picture of life.

Author James Clear writes, "To put it simply: seek joy, play often, and pursue adventure.Your brain will do the rest."  

I believe that children at a young age understand this!  They give freely of affection.  They give freely of emotion.  They give in to wonder, excitement, dancing, and singing.  That is life! 

Despite the negativity that tries to infiltrate my life on a daily basis, I am choosing positivity. I choose to give it each and every single day.  That's what I call "making a life!"

Connecting...one student at a time!

What I miss most about being a teacher or a site administrator is the daily connection with kids.  I loved building relationships with students and having conversations with them.  They are so funny and insightful.  When I visit school sites in our district, I inevitably get sidetracked talking to a student.  This week, I had two encounters that made my week and yet caused me to worry.

When I walked into the resource room, I noticed one student sitting alone by himself in the back of the room.  He had a packet of worksheets in front of him.  He sat for at least ten minutes doing absolutely nothing except pick at his fingers.  I sat down beside him and first started discussing the work he was to complete.  We did a few pages together and somehow got on the topic of maggots.  I really don't know how it happened, but the next thing I knew, we were sharing our maggot stories.  We grossed each other out and then got on the topic of black widow spiders.  This student's demeanor changed dramatically.  He smiled, laughed, and couldn't wait to tell me other experiences with gross insects and how much he despises them.  I saw his intelligence, his humor, and his compassion.  After we left the classroom, the principal shared that the student rarely talks with anyone and is significantly depressed with extreme anxiety. My heart filled with worry.  Will there be an adult who will make sure this child gets a "warm handoff" as he moved through the grade levels?

My next encounter was with a fourth grade student who told me he wanted to be a scientist.  We got on the subject of rockets.  He knew about Elon Musk and the goal of getting to Mars.  He knew all about the Tesla and talked about the likelihood of developing a hover car.  He talked about his career goals and how he can't decide if he should find a cure for cancer first or if he should work on developing a system where people could live above ground on Mars.  He believed by developing a contained atmospheric sphere in which people who live and grow plants to produce the necessary oxygen, that it was possible.  I asked him about his interest in robotics and suggested he get involved at the middle school level.  (One of our middle schools is sending two teams to the World Vex Competition!)  He knew of the school and said, "No, I can't go to that school.  I don't know where I will go to middle school.  I know people will make fun of me so I need to go some place where I won't get picked on so much.  I am different, you know."   In a few brief minutes, this student showed me his brilliance and passion.  He shared his dreams that include making the world a better place.  This student and his siblings live with his grandparents.  Again, my heart filled with worry.

One of the reasons I feel so strongly about having a strong public education system is that our future depends on it.  I do believe what we do makes a life or death difference.  Our schools need to be filled with compassionate individuals who respond to the anxious, depressed student and the "different" kids.

This morning, I participated in a professional development with superintendents in neighboring districts.  One of the topics was on "Socially Just" schools.  "Social justice is defined as promoting a just society by challenging injustice and valuing diversity.  It exists when all people share a common humanity and therefore have a right to equitable treatment, support for their human rights, and a fair allocation of community resources." "Social justice is generally equated with the notion of equality or equal opportunity in society."  "A social justice framework is a way to seeing and acting aimed at resisting unfairness and inequity while enhancing freedom and possibility for all.  It pays primary attention to how people and institutions may be used to liberate rather than oppress those least served by our decision making."  (References from Department of Government and Justice Studies, Appalachian State University; Sensoy, O. & DiAngelo, R; Toowoomba Catholic Education.)

Let's continue, as public educators and members of the greater community to be inclusive. Let's continue to promote the dreams of our youth and value all of them as integral members of our society and future!

The IMPORTANCE of Language!

I believe I was in my early twenties before I flew in an airplane.  Growing up, the traveling we did was in a blue Chevy station wagon.  We drove to Minnesota from South Dakota and stayed with relatives for family events.  I recall as a child being so impressed that we crossed the Wyoming border on a visit to the Black Hills.  I believe that the lack of traveling I did as a child, combined with the large quantity of books I read about exciting foreign places, contributed to my passion for travel.

My most recent trip was visiting Panama.  My mom, who also had the travel bug in her later years, was planning a tour of Panama when she died unexpectedly at the age of 82.  This trip had special significance because of my mom.  Everyone should see the amazing Panama Canal.  I marveled at this engineering feat that was opened over 100 years ago.

So, why is the title of this blog about language?  I have visited many countries throughout the world.  No matter where I landed, I was able to find English speakers and quickly connect.  The places I stayed in Panama were not necessarily staffed with English speakers.  The restaurants I visited were places where English wasn't spoken or understood.  First, I cursed myself many, many times for not learning Spanish.  Then, I would try and communicate using the few words I knew or point and use hand gestures.  One day, I booked an all day tour.  The small boat accommodated fifteen people, After the tour started, I realized none of my boat mates spoke English.  As we toured the Caribbean waters of Bocas del Torro, I listened and was able to understand much of what people were saying.  My expressive language, however, is so poor I didn't even try to say anything. I was so self-conscious that I spent the day silent and alone.  Now, anyone who knows me understands that this must have been torture.  It was!  I kept thinking how I must have been perceived by the others.  I am sure I came across having poor social skills, pretty dull, and unintelligent.  I am certain these folks who were laughing and talking with each other saw me as a bore with no sense of humor.  How I wished that someone would have tried to speak with me even if their English wasn't that great so I could maybe speak to them with my poor Spanish!

I reflected greatly that day on the 3174 English learners that we have in Fairfield-Suisun Unified School District.  I empathize with them as they enter our schools trying to figure out what is going on and how to fit in.  I am inspired by the fact that they come to school every day and not only learn the language, but also work hard to learn the content.  I realized the importance of the many instructional strategies that are needed to assist our students in making connections.  I was so grateful for the pictures and gestures that people used to assist me in communicating.  Kudos to our students and families who readily navigate our system on a daily basis!  I recognize now, more than ever, the need for our district to lessen the language obstacles and barriers.

On a final note, my mom would have loved the story that the small urn carrying some of her ashes was almost confiscated at the Panama City airport.  I was unable to say, "Estas son las cenizas de mi madre."  Smiles and laughter are the universal language of all!