Orange Shirt Day

Today in Canada we wore orange shirts to remember #everychildmatters. We honor and pay respect to the 150,000 Indigenous children who were forcibly sent away from their families. 2,800 children died, the others scarred for life. The last school closed in 1996- this isn't ancient history. It's real, it's fresh, and it must never be forgotten. 

I love this version of the song, and so fitting right now. 

Blackbird singing in the dead of night Take these broken wings and learn to fly All your life You were only waiting for this moment to arise

Blackbird singing in the dead of night Take these sunken eyes and learn to see All your life You were only waiting for this moment to be free

Blackbird fly, blackbird fly Into the light of a dark black night

Blackbird fly, blackbird fly Into the light of a dark black night

Blackbird singing in the dead of night…

Sometimes we just need to be made aware...

 

We've been in kindergarten for a month. We have settled into a routine and the newness is starting to wear off. Now is when we need to put into practice the lessons of kindness and caring, that we've been talking about since day 1. We've been singing the songs about peace in our fingers and love in our hearts. We've been reading the books about being a good friend. We've been watching videos with catchy tunes about being kids who are kind. But now is when we are learning to take what we know and put it into practice. 

We know what the expectations are, about being respectful, responsible, and really fun to be with. When asked, we can tell you that we want to treat others the way we want to be treated. But when push comes to shove (quite literally), all of what we "know" doesn't matter. Because our first instinct, in many ways, is to strike out. That is where my class of 17 is these days. So, after a Monday of too many tears, we decided we needed something more than just songs and words.

We have been talking about being "Everyday Heroes" (link at the bottom). We want to be that. We want to be kind, I am convinced of that. But it isn't always easy in the heat of the moment. Plus, I am convinced we don't always realize how many times we strike out at others. So, today we had a different approach.

I've been using the See...Think...Wonder approach to learning, so I thought I might try it today when talking about our hands. We all spent some time looking at our hands, really looking at them. Then I asked them what they saw. It was so interesting to hear their answers: skin, scratches, lines, freckles. They really did notice their hands. Then I asked them what they thought about their hands, and again, I was not disappointed with their answers: germs, dirt, nails, they wiggle. Then I asked them what they wondered, and we came up with wondering what our hands can do. I put all of this on to a visual to hang up. I made sure to emphasize that nothing our hands can do are "bad", but that some things are better choices than others, because, honestly, there are times when pinching, hitting, and making a fist are good things. 

I had two friends today, in particular, that both really struggled with being hands on and hitting when they were frustrated. Because I am a firm believer that in kindergarten much of the things we may consider "discipline problems" are less a problem and more of a lack of realization of how many times we actually do something, I pulled the two into the hall individually, and we talked one on one about our hands and the good things they can do. Then we spoke of some of the harmful things they had been doing that morning, and I told them that I had a special certificate I wanted to give them if they can make it through the day without hitting anyone else. In order to keep track of this, I traced their hand on pieces of paper and set them aside, with a pencil. I told them that if they can make it through the day without needing to put a mark on their paper, they would get a "Helping Hands" certificate (kind of bribery, I know, but work with me here. I am not putting too much emphasis on the certificate, per se., but I knew this would be something they would think was pretty cool).

As suspected neither one made it too far into the morning without having to put a mark on their paper. But, instead of it being a day like Monday, where the hitting was at a level 3 def con, this was the only instance of hands on- for the entire class. Both were quite upset with themselves, and you could see the determination in their faces to find new ways to compromise and work together. Tomorrow will be another day, with a "clean hand" and a chance at that "fancy" Everyday Hero Helping Hands Certificate! 

Today was a success in a few ways. It got us, as a whole class, to really look at our hands in a different, more specific way. It made two boys more aware of their own actions. It sparked a conversation about what kindness really means, and it helped us assimilate what we know into how we behave. Sometimes we don't realize how often we need to be spoken to, especially when we are five and brand new to school. Sometimes, instead of a lecture, we just need to find ways to be made aware of how often it happens. 

Every Day Hero- Aloe Black

Looking Through Rose Coloured Glasses

Sir Ken Robinson gave the most popular TedTalk of all time, Do Schools Kill Creativity In it, he explains that, yes, schools do kill creativity. It's an amazing talk, one I whole heartedly endorse, one I refer to frequently. His talk was very thought provoking. We lost Sir Robinson this past summer due to cancer. 

Today, on my walk, I was listening (again) to Michelle Obama read her book Becoming. In chapter 4 she talks about her childhood, her neighborhood and her school. Her experiences growing up mirror mine in many ways- the gathering of family, playing in the neighborhood, walking to a school not far away from home. I don't know if it's the death of an educational figure, listening to the book, the end of my summer, or Covid19- chances are all of these are the culprit- but apparently this last full week of my summer break has me in a melancholy mood. I'm starting to sound like my great aunt and uncle, "Back in my day, schools were better. Music was better."

I was a child, I know, so my memory is perhaps not 100% accurate, and I know the 70s were not a perfect time. I know vast portions of our society did not have the advantages I did. I do not want to return to that time, per se, but I think back to schools, to my educational opportunities, and I can't help but think we've lost something along the way.

The 70s were a time of neighborhood schools, people knew who lived next door, kids could be out from sun up to sun down. I walked alone to the gas station on the corner to buy a bottle of pop and a candy bar for .50, or my friends and I would ride our bikes a few blocks in the other direction to the "Little Store" where we bought penny candy. There was a local park with swings, a sprinkler that went all summer long, metal slides and climber. It was nothing for me to walk the six blocks to it alone. We had freedoms that we took for granted. Younger generations will never know what the streetlight coming on means to us. The same goes for school.

When I was in the fourth grade, my classroom was in the area surrounding the library. It was called "the pod" and there was an open classroom concept. We had dividing walls between each class, but they were open to the library. As a student, I don't remember being distracted by what was going on in the other classes or the library. I don't remember it being too loud. But I do remember the freedom we felt to get up, move around, work in groups. We went from having individual desks to tables. Group work was the norm. It was like the kindergarten idea, only for older children. 

Speaking of kindergarten, it was a true child's garden. We played, we made crafts, we had a short rest time and snack time. It was a half day, play based classroom and the favored "centre" to play in was a wooden climber in the middle of the classroom. Yes, a wooden climber where we could climb up, do flips over, walk across the ladder. When we made choices where we would play, we chose a colored string- the color for the climbing center was black, btw. I still remember this almost 50 years later.

Three quarters of the way through 4th grade, my family moved and I started a new school. A different set-up than the open classroom concept, but definitely the same teaching attitude. I think it was when I was in the 5th grade (but it could have been the end of 4th) that we took part in a city-wide program called "Free to be- you and me" based on the Marlo Thomas album and television special (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Free_to_Be..._You_and_Me). We all piled into school busses for a week (maybe two) of full on arts education, with a strong side over of old school feminism. Pretty sure that wouldn't go over very well in todays climate. It truly makes me sad to think of how good I had it growing up and comparing it to now. We can't go back in time, but do you think, in some ways, education can?

We are currently in "uncharted territory" (I hate that term, but it is fitting in the context of modern education in the time of Covid19). Some of us are teaching virtually, some are teaching face to face, some are in a hybrid model. Those of us teaching face to face are learning to balance what is best for the physical health of our students and their mental/developmental health. Because of, or in spite of this, we have a chance to reset the trajectory of education. I have my masters in 21st century learning. Most people automatically think "technology", and that is a part, but it is so much more than that. Technology

is more like a tool for 21st century learning, it is not the driving force of it. What it is, is encapsulated by what is known as the 4C's of 21 Century Learning:

Critical Thinking

Communication

Collaboration

Creativity

Whether we are teaching face to face or virtually, we can include all four of these into our lessons. Now is the time to step up and truly think about each of these in relation to our lessons. 

Are we teaching our students to think critically? This is hugely important right now- as too many of us seem to have lost that ability. We must teach students to sift through all of the information that is available to them. In this age of information, we are inundated with so much. Add to that the algorithms that Google and other search engines utilize, which narrows our search to "similar" links, and we find ourselves in an echo chamber. We need to teach students to critically think about what they have read, and figure out ways to find opposing voices. 

Are we teaching our students to communicate appropriately? Another lost art in this current age. The computer is just one way we can do this, but that is only one "language" of many (see https://reggioemilia2015.weebly.com/the-100-languages.html) In a conversation about children in this time, Carla Rinaldi also includes technology as one of the languages (https://youtu.be/EKqXLbBvR00). There is a common "meme" I have seen floating around social media: "Social Media has made too many of you comfortable disrespecting people and not getting punched in the mouth for it..."(https://images.app.goo.gl/B7bQimqLumsaQpTAA). While I don't advocate physical violence, the sentiment is true. We live in an age where people hide behind keyboards and say whatever comes into their minds, without consequence. We need to teach our students how to communicate, and that includes listening to others points of view, and with empathy. 

Are we giving our students time to collaborate? As educators, we present material to our students, but it is through collaboration with each other that it begins to make concrete sense to them. Even when working virtually, students can be given the freedom to discuss and explain, they can still collaborate. The toughest thing for many to do is to let go and trust the learning that happens between students. But that is where the meat and potatoes happens. We must be available to help correct any misgivings, but we also need to remember to step back and allow them to work that out for themselves.

Are we allowing for creativity in our students? Are we giving them time to create, musically, artistically, writing? We can't merely spout off "the facts" and expect a well rounded individual (sorry conservative friends, but education is more than the filling of a pail). We need the arts to help us make sense of the facts. And, as a side note, math, science, and art are inextricably linked.

We cannot go back to the 70s nor should we want to. But the 4 C's are the perfect vehicle to bring education into the 21st century. Teachers need the freedom to incorporate this into their lessons. Scripts are great in order to illustrate how a lesson could go, but if it doesn't come from the heart of the teacher, then they are merely going to be clanging gongs. And, who listens to a clanging gong?

I am too old to have children in school today, but someday I hope to have grandchildren in schools. I want for them, what I had. I want kindergarten to be a truly play based experience, I want their teachers to have the freedom to introduce them to things and ideas I cannot. I want them to be critical thinkers, because a critical thinker is a person who is free from the shackles of other peoples opinions, a critical thinker can sift through the bias  and get to the source. I want them to be able to communicate to others in a variety of ways, and in such a way as to communicate respectfully and with confidence. 

In order to teach for the future, perhaps there are things from the past we can utilize. We desperately need to figure out a way to teach in a way that does not kill creativity, but one that finds what each child needs and helps them to capitalize on that.

Call me idealistic, and tell me I have on rose colored glasses, but I think we can do this. We can be 21st Century teachers, and we can change the course of education for the better! We owe it to the next generation. 

On Fitness and Well-Being

*disclaimer- I am not a trainer, I am not a doctor. I am a kindergarten teacher. I'm just sharing what I have learned and what has worked for me for fitness and weight control (not that anyone asked, hahaha). Please always consult a physician, and do your own research. Make your plan *your plan*! 

ON FITNESS AND WELL-BEING

I have been active all of my life, in one form or another. But I have found in the past few years, being active just isn't enough. I'm "of a certain age" and now, more than ever, it has to be more than just how much I move my body.

I was one of those "lucky ones" who could eat pizza every night and not gain an ounce. I lived that way up until I was about 35. That's when my metabolism said, "Your turn!". So I discovered I needed to up the fitness ante. And that worked great- until I hit 50. Then menopause started looming large, and it didn't matter how much I moved or lifted, I had to start being conscious about what I put into my body too.

So I have had a long road to get to this point in life, but I feel like I've finally hit my stride, both with fitness and nutrition. I'm a kindergarten teacher, not a fitness guru, but I do like to look and feel my best. 

Here's what I do:

I work out every day. I do some form of cardio every day. I count my calories every day. It's that simple. As a teacher, my schedule changes by the season. In the summer months I can do my workout and my cardio one right after the other. During the school year, though, it's a bit more tricky. Right now I do my workout first thing in the morning, and I do my cardio on the way home from work. Sometimes that might change, but I find doing cardio at 5AM really tough- and we have some aggressive coyotes here, so I am kind of paranoid they will eat me if I am out running or walking at that hour.

 Let me break each one down further: 

1. I work out every day

Thanks to women like Pahla B. from Pahla B. fitness and Dr. Stacy Sims and her book Roar, I have learned that cardio alone isn't going to do it for me anymore (But Carrie! you say. You have a whole step on cardio! Yep, but more about cardio in the next step). I must workout with weights or with body weight every day (ok, I might take off one day- Saturday or Sunday). And, thanks, again, to Pahla B, I know that I need to push one day, work moderately the rest, and do a mini "abs focus" for core strength once a week (10-15 min). 

What that means is one day a week, I lift really heavy (for me) things. The other days I lift moderate or light (for me) things, or I do yoga. Because of the beauty of the internet and YouTube, there are so many videos we can follow along with- even if it is just to get to that point where we know what we need to do. On the days I run, I will do a yoga flow video from Yoga With Adriene on YouTube. On the other days, I will do 1 push day video with Pahla, and 3 moderate day Pahla videos (or some dvd's that I already own). I like to follow a video because I know exactly how long I am doing something, and I don't have to think about what to do next. Someone else has already done that work. My life as a teacher is busy enough, I don't want to add more work. Thank you 21st Century! Thank you technology! In the words of that epic rock group Styx: Domo arigato Mr. Roboto. So, thank you very much Adriene, Pahla and Stacy- my three internet best friends.

That's my first step. Pretty easy- put on YouTube, find a fitness instructor I can relate to, press play.

2. I do cardio every day

Yes, according to both Pahla and Stacy (I have listened and read so much from these ladies I feel like I am on a first name basis with them), I do not need to do cardio to lose weight. And, in fact, too much cardio and not enough weights will actually hinder my fitness and weight gain/loss. That statement hurts me to write because I LOVE cardio. I love to walk, hike, run, you name it! I love that feeling of accomplishment I have when I do these things. And that's why I do them every day. Dr. Stacy says, "if that's your soul food, do it!" And it is. My day is not complete without at least a 5K walk. It clears my head and keeps me mentally grounded, especially after a tough day in the classroom. Nothing helps get me back to me then a brisk walk or run. 

Here's my daily plan- I run 3 days a week: 1 5K, 1 8K, and on Sunday a 10K. I used to run half marathons, and that was fun, but it isn't fun for me anymore. I can't even bear the idea of training for another half. But 10K- that's my jam. And, since I am a woman of a certain age, that fits quite nicely into my fitness and well being regime. I know that my cardio is for me and for my headspace. On the days I don't run, I will walk 5K or I will hike. In the winter, when we have enough snow, I will snowshoe, or if it's a run day I will either run on a trail that goes through town (and is plowed on a regular basis) or I will run on my treadmill. 5K on my treadmill is good though, anything over and I am bored! But I have come to love running that 5K when I must run inside. 

I do try to plan out my fitness for each week. Below is a sample calendar of what I do, you can see that I don't fill it all in at once. I plan one week at a time. Whatever works best for you, though, I say do it. Maybe even planning like this is more than you want. You do you, Boo.  I try to find videos I want to do in advance, if for no other reason than I don't want to sit going from video to video looking for the "right" one. But, if I get to the day and don't like the video I have pre-chosen, I can find another. Nothing is set in stone in this cut and paste world.

August Fitness

Monday	Tuesday	Wednesday	Thursday	Friday	Saturday	Sunday
3) Push Day: Love Your Body 25 min Strength	4) Run 5K https://youtu.be/hoGJXCg5yb0	5) Moderate: https://youtu.be/nkHc_WFUmd0	6) (or  do Friday) Run 7K  Fartleks   Yoga: https://youtu.be/plL13JF5BHA	7) (or Do Thurs) Moderate:  https://youtu.be/Bfpqd2P0hWc	8) Video/ Mini-abs workout	9) Run 10K https://youtu.be/hoGJXCg5yb0
10)  P Day https://youtu.be/8pXRzXXuxxc	11)  5K intervals Yoga: https://youtu.be/b1H3xO3x_Js	12) Moderate https://youtu.be/aP1rhJjgBco	13) 8K hills Yoga: https://youtu.be/H4dVbaLqg84	14) Moderate:  https://youtu.be/Til-YVEBZfw	15) Mini-abs workout: https://youtu.be/SkH0nxbTaT0 hiking/walk	16) Run 10K Yoga: https://youtu.be/nzCMptGGZt8
Push Day 17	18) 5K Intervals Yoga: https://youtu.be/BPK9WNtpBgk	19	20) 8K hills Yoga	21	22) mini-abs	23) Run 10K
Push Day 24	25) 5K intervals	26	27)8K hills	28	29) mini-abs	30)10K run
Push Day 31

3. I count my calories:

This is the simplest and most boring bit of advice, and never the one we want to hear. In the end, though, it comes down to only putting into my mouth so many calories a day. I don't even really worry too much about what kind of calories they are, just sticking to a certain number helps for me. I do find if I drink alcohol too many days, even if I am under my calorie count, it will impact my weight. So I try to only drink on the weekends, and then only a drink or two. I like to have fun, but I don't like the after-effects. 

There are plenty of plans on the internet to follow if you are interested. I noticed my weight was getting into a place that made me not feel so good about myself, so I wanted to jumpstart some weight loss. I found a 1200 calorie plan that I did for 2 weeks just to get going. Now I am trying to stick to 1500-1600 calories a day (still trying to lose just a few more pounds). If weight loss is something you're interested in, I suggest finding out what your ideal weight should be, and finding a plan to help you get there. I don't have too many health considerations like others may have, and I would never want to speak for anyone! But the research is there, and a simple google search will point you in the right direction. 

I don't like breakfast, never have. I like brunch though! So I usually have a cup of coffee first thing, but rarely eat food before noon (unless I'm out for said brunch). That's me. You may need that morning meal- eat it! I find it isn't so much about when I eat, just how much, and I'd like to save my calories for food I enjoy. There are times, especially in the winter months, when I will make some oatmeal for breakfast- I put in apples and cinnamon, but no sugar or butter. In the summer months, I'm definitely fine with waiting until noon for my first food of the day.

Extra Points:

- I drink my water. For me, that's 90 oz a day. There are sites on the net that help you figure out how much water you need each day, just like they help with your calorie count. I have a big jug I fill up every morning, I slice some kind of citrus fruit to put in for "flavour", and I stick it in the fridge (when I am at work, I fill it up there and stick in in the fridge). And that's what I drink all day. I will also have some coffee or tea, but I don't count those towards any water intake. The days I don't get it all in, I can tell the next morning! People often say they love diet pop, etc. What I discovered is, it wasn't the flavour I missed, it was the bubbles. So I bought a Soda Stream- this made a huge difference, not only price wise and can wise, but it gives me a little extra zing for my water when I need it. It's also nice to have a fizzy water with supper, especially after drinking plain water all day. And on the weekends I can use it for a scotch and soda or a vodka and soda. 

-I try to get at least 7 hours of sleep each night. Not always easy to do, but sleep does matter.

-Getting in 10,000 steps a day doesn't really matter, except it kind of does. In other words, steps alone aren't going to help, but it is a part of having an active life. So I don't worry too much about how many steps I take, but I do keep a mental note.

-Work on your balance now! Whenever you get the chance- doing dishes, cooking, emptying the dishwasher, try doing it on one foot- and switch feet! Work on your balance now, so that you will  have it when you are in your 70s and 80s and beyond!

-I add vegetables to pretty much every meal. If I am having pasta, I will add some zucchini noodles or spaghetti squash to the pasta (because I still love me some carbs!). I find it never hurts to add another vegetable to anything.

-I use the health app on my phone to count my calories, my steps, my water, and my sleep. I don't need to track my activity, because I know I will get that in each day. It's nice to see how many steps I've had (but see my point above about getting in steps).

-Just because you run/walk/hike every day doesn't mean you don't need to strengthen your glutes and legs. Actually, you need to focus more on these in order for your body to do what it needs to. I didn't and ended up hurting my knee. After a couple of months of physiology, I was able to get back to running, but the importance of strengthening my legs was not lost on me. My knee is almost back to 100%, and I've learned that when it comes to knee injuries, it's really weak leg injuries. So, do the leg work.

That's it! That's what I do. I hope you can glean something from this for yourself. It isn't about weight loss, it isn't about how much we can lift. It's about feeling good, and looking our best. It's about longevity in life, and being ready to seize every day!

Carrie

Check out these sources:

Dr. Stacy Sims, PhD

Pahla B. Fitness

Yoga With Adriene

Equilibrium

Equilibrium 

I sit on the beach. Two hours ago I was in the woods. I walked down a serpentine path and watched a snake slither into the grass.

The tide has turned as I sat here and watched. It's all a balance.

It is equilibrium.

I'm contained on an island as a pandemic rages through the world, as it surges in my homeland. I am safe here, but I watch my loved ones from afar in fear. What is my safely compared to theirs? Do we balance each other or cancel each other out? It's all equilibrium.

A black man was murdered by police in Colorado. He was walking down the street, minding his own business. He reminds me so much of my oldest son, but for the color of his skin. I can't balance that out. I cry for him, for all of them. My boy is safe, their boy is dead. That is not balance. No equilibrium.

Sunrise, sunset. Tide comes in, tide goes out. Easy come, easy go. It's a balance. It's equilibrium.

Getting My Teacher Voice On: Talking to You Mom's and Dad's

OK mamma’s and daddy’s, I hope you are doing ok. I hope you are not overwhelmed, and I hope your littles are doing great too! Here, let me give you a hug! 

Ok then, here’s what I’d like us all to do. Turn off the TV and the constant Covid19 updates. Get out some paper, some Lego, some blocks, something! and dump it on the floor or the table. Yes, I said that. Let your littles make a mess! Let them explore, problem solve, and create! Let them do things on their own! As unfortunate as this situation is for most of us, I am choosing to see a silver lining. You see, as a kindergarten teacher, I have a lot of concerns for the children of today. They don’t have a chance to play outside, they don’t have a chance to imagine. So much of their lives are scheduled (and I am laying no blame on anyone other than our society), that they haven’t had the childhood you and I and our parents had. And, because of this, they come into Kindergarten behind. Not academically, but physically. They can’t sit up for long periods of time, they can’t hold crayons, they struggle to literally stand up from sitting on the floor, because they don’t have a chance to build those muscles.

But guess what? This little “break” we’re taking? It’s giving them that chance- if we allow it!

Imagine if you will...35 years from now. We could be raising the most creative generation we’ve seen in a hundred years. You know how we put a man on the moon? Do you think those scientists and engineers spent their early, formative years scheduled to the max? Nope! They spent a lot of time on their own, learning to problem solve, learning to think creatively, learning things no one can teach you, you just have to learn it on your own. And now our kids can have that chance! Now more than ever! 

So, please, stop worrying about their academic education. They will get it! I promise they will! Let them play, mom’s and dad’s! Let them get bored! Let them dream! Let them create, and problem solve, and collaborate! Let them go outside and splash in puddles and climb trees and engage in risky play! Let them get messy and make a mess! 

Let them be the kids they were created to be! And then you can make them clean up their mess when they’re finished.

Writing and Rhyming

This week in #TeachersWrite, we are discussing children's books that rhyme. As most educators know, there are a plethora of rhyming books out there. How many are actually good though? Yes, many are cute, and most follow similar rhythms, but finding one that is actually *good* isn't always easy. The two mentor texts this week fall under the *good* category. They tell a wonderful story, while the rhythm stays predictable, making them easier to read.
As a Kindergarten teacher, I like to use rhyming books because they can be easy for our youngest readers to anticipate what will happen next. I will definitely be using these two books in my classroom in the upcoming school year.

For the #teacherswrite assignment, we were to write the beginnings of a rhyming book. Remember how I said their are many rhyming books out there, but few truly *good* books? You want to know why? Because writing quality poetry is hard! Here is my first stab at it:

What is a story? What is a book?
How can we find out? Let’s take a look.
Stories take our minds to other places and then,
A book lays it out from beginning to end.
The book is the vessel, the story a friend.

When was the last time you tried to write a poem? Why not give it a go now!