Dear Teach: Freedom

Hi Boys and Girls.

Today is indeed a very special day for all Americans, not only does it mark our 44th president, Barack Obama, an African American, inauguration [the 57th], but also marks Martin Luther King Day, the third Monday in January, a Federal holiday of service honoring the civil rights leader. 

Both men desired a better nation, one that embodied freedom, equality and prosperity for all Americans. Though MLK died 45 years ago, his dream is still alive today, in 2013. 
We are reminded of the progress Americans have made since 1968.

President Obama is sworn in by Chief Justice John Roberts in the Blue Room of the White House during the 57th Presidential Inauguration in Washington on Sunday

                               

            Our president's second inaugural opening remarks on Monday, January 21, 2013:

We, the people, declare today that the most evident of truths—that all of us are created equals—the star that guides us still; just as it guided our forebears through Seneca Falls, and Selma, and Stonewall; just as it guided all those men and women, sung and unsung, who left footprints along this great Mall, to hear a preacher say that we cannot walk alone; to hear a King proclaim that our individual freedom is inextricably bound to the freedom of every soul on Earth.

It is now our generation’s task to carry on what those pioneers began. For our journey is not complete until our wives, our mothers and daughters can earn a living equal to their efforts. Our journey is not complete until our gay brothers and sisters are treated like anyone else under the law for if we are truly created equal, then surely the love we commit to one another must be equal as well. Our journey is not complete until no citizen is forced to wait for hours to exercise the right to vote. Our journey is not complete until we find a better way to welcome the striving, hopeful immigrants who still see America as a land of opportunity until bright young students and engineers are enlisted in our workforce rather than expelled from our country. Our journey is not complete until all our children, from the streets of Detroit to the hills of Appalachia, to the quiet lanes of Newtown, know that they are cared for and cherished and always safe from harm.

If you could have a direct conversation with the President, what would you talk about?

Write a few topics and ideas you would discuss with President Barack Obama or write him a letter.

The Rev. MARTIN LUTHER KING Jr.
Aug. 28, 1963

His famous speech...

I am happy to join with you today in what will go down in history as the greatest demonstration for freedom in the history of our nation.

Five score years ago, a great American, in whose symbolic shadow we stand signed the Emancipation Proclamation. This momentous decree came as a great beacon light of hope to millions of Negro slaves who had been seared in the flames of withering injustice. It came as a joyous daybreak to end the long night of captivity.

But one hundred years later, we must face the tragic fact that the Negro is still not free. One hundred years later, the life of the Negro is still sadly crippled by the manacles of segregation and the chains of discrimination. One hundred years later, the Negro lives on a lonely island of poverty in the midst of a vast ocean of material prosperity. One hundred years later, the Negro is still languishing in the corners of American society and finds himself an exile in his own land. So we have come here today to dramatize an appalling condition.

In a sense we have come to our nation's capital to cash a check. When the architects of our republic wrote the magnificent words of the Constitution and the Declaration of Independence, they were signing a promissory note to which every American was to fall heir. This note was a promise that all men would be guaranteed the inalienable rights of life,liberty, and the pursuit of happiness.

Martin Luther King and some of his famous quotes:

I have a dream that my four little children

 will one day live in a nation where 

they will not be judged by the color of their skin,

 but by the content of their character.

The ultimate measure of a man

 is not where he stands in moments

 of comfort and convenience, 

but where he stands at times

of challenge and controversy.

In the End, we will remember

 not the words of our enemies,

 but the silence of our friends.

We must develop and maintain 

the capacity to forgive. 

He who is devoid of the power 

to forgive is devoid of the power to love. 

There is some good

 in the worst of us 

and some evil in the best of us. 

When we discover this, 

we are less prone 

to hate our enemies. 

The function of education is to 

teach one to think intensively

 and to think critically. 

Intelligence plus character - 

that is the goal of true education.

A lie cannot live.

I have decided to stick with love. 

Hate is too great a burden to bear.

Select one of his famous quotes and write what you believe he meant and what it means to you.

Has his dream come true? Think about the ways in which it has, and the ways it has not. 

Write a letter giving your advise and suggestions to solve the problems you believe  exist.

Be Well.

The Teach

Dear Teach: A Wrinkle in Time & Asmiov

Hi Boys and Girls.

One of my all time favorite books is A Wrinkle in Time by Madeline L'Engle. L'Engle's book is one of the most celebrated books. Did you know its publishing debut took over 26 rejections before finally being recognized for its strong message and suitability for young readers? Until it was acquired by the publishing house John Farrar at Farrar, Straus & Giroux. This month in celebration of its 50 years in print, it has now come out as a graphic novel.  

Graphic Novel    

Beyond A Wrinkle in Time's many themes: good vs. evil, coming of age, fitting in, over coming the odds--the story is noteworthy because L'Engle chose a science fiction venue for her scenes. 

In particular, the scene on Camazotz where children are outside bouncing balls in unison is profound. So let's look a bit closer here. Let's consider the children and their education on this most formidable planet. 

What could it be like? Recall, in that particular scene [p. 126] the mother of the child becomes frantic when she sees her child bounce the ball out of step from everyone else. 

Later on she makes a claim about how all the children are "perfectly trained." Based on that remark, consider what type of training or schooling children living on a dark planet received. 

Clearly, L'Engle was very much ahead of her time, but so too was another author, Isaac Asimov. He was the author of a science fiction short story published in 1951, The Fun They Had. 

In this story the year is 2155 and children are taught at home by a mechanical teacher, a computer with slots for tests and homework written in punch codes. "But my mother says a teacher has to be adjusted to fit the mind of each boy and girl it teaches and that each kid has to be taught differently."

Though written 62 years ago, before cell phones, iPads, laptops, or computers, this author captured many characteristics  of our present day 2013 educational system. 

It makes for a great read especially when a reader discovers how the characters react to a book, something long forgotten and completely antiquated. 

After reading this short story think about how many similarities you can find between the manner in which children are educated today and that of Asmiov's short story. 

Further, Asmiov's short story inspires readers to think about the implications of learning via a computer, void of a human teacher, and to question how large a role computers should have. Read one person's account. What do you think?

How has technology impacted our everyday learning, at home and at school? What are the  advantages and disadvantages?

Can you predict what children's education will be like 150 years from now? 

Be Well.

The Teach

PS. Yes, YOU can indeed make that one remarkable difference. As small as you may think you are- You are not--as insignificant as you believe yourself to be- You are not-as disliked as you may feel you are--You are not-as alone as you may be--You are not--You are a gift--you are here to add to this ever expanding world, to find joy within yourself is a way to do good-- by this, you make yourself treasured; for then all of humanity is treasured. 

Dear Teach: Kindness

Hi Boys and Girls.

We hear many things throughout our day. Some good things and some, not so good. One thing is certain though, and that is, the never ceasing need to show kindness to one another.

At the end of the day, can you count the number of kind words or kind acts you engaged in? Can you think about how someone who you spoke to today feels right now? Did the words you expressed make this individual feel good? Feel bad?

In the end it really boils down to just ONE, and that one thing is YOU. We all need to be reminded, each day, everyday, to be kind. Why? Because it makes our everyday existence  tolerable. Because we are the only species that can make a difference. Because everyone will benefit from the one act of kindness. Just one small act, when it is least expected can make and will make a difference in the life of another, be it a child or an adult.

Here's a poem by Naomi Nye titled Kindness.

Kindness

Before you know what kindness really is
you must lose things, feel the future dissolve in a moment
like salt in a weakened broth.
What you held in your hand,
what you counted and carefully saved,
all this must go so you know
how desolate the landscape can be
between the regions of kindness.
How you ride and ride
thinking the bus will never stop,
the passengers eating maize and chicken
will stare out the window forever.

Before you learn the tender gravity of kindness,
you must travel where the
Indian in a white poncho lies dead
by the side of the road.
You must see how this could be you, how he too was someone who journeyed through the night
with plans and the simple breath
that kept him alive.

Before you know kindness
as the deepest thing inside,
you must know sorrow
as the other deepest thing.
You must wake up with sorrow.
You must speak to it till your voice
catches the thread of all sorrows
and you see the size of the cloth.
Then it is only kindness
that makes sense anymore,
only kindness that ties your shoes
and sends you out into the day
to mail letters and purchase bread,
only kindness that raises its head
from the crowd of the world to say
it is I you have been looking for,
and then goes with you every where
like a shadow or a friend.

Things to do:

Write a letter to Ms. Nye.

Draw a picture of what you think this poem means to you.

Write your own poem on kindness.

Give your poem to someone who you know would benefit from the kind words in your poem.

Here's a great video to watch. Think about its greater meaning for you--because YOU can make a difference. 

Yes, YOU can indeed make that one remarkable difference. As small as you may think you are- You are not--as insignificant as you believe yourself to be- You are not-as disliked as you may feel you are--You are not-as alone as you may be--You are not--You are a gift--you are here to add to this ever expanding world, to find joy within yourself, and to do good-- by way of finding joy and doing good, you bring all of  humanity a treasure. 

Below is an excerpt of an upcoming documentary on the issue of kindness, called Good Virus narrated by Catherine Ryan Hyde.

 Be Well.

The Teach

Dear Teach: Homework & Reward

Hi Boys and Girls.


You would probably agree HOMEWORK is the most discussed after school topic. Either it is in the form of a question, such as: Do you have any homework? or it is in the form of a statement: I have so much homework!

Which ever way it is, and despite how you feel about it, homework in small quantities or in large quantities is something that is synonymous with being a student.

So, here's the deal---get it done as soon as possible-- as well as possible--make it a habit--and take pride in the fact you can indeed do it.

WOW! Just think back to your younger school years---I bet you are amazed at how much more you now can do.

So, to keep you going, here's a few TIPS in reading homework completion:

TIPS

Read when you are MOST alert i.e. early evening, NOT late at night

Get into a routine of when and where  you will always do your reading assignments [a very quiet place free of distractions]
Have a second copy of any novels; one for school and one for home

Have materials such as your lit log, or journal, questions, author’s craft sheet, a dictionary, etc. at your work area

Study Skills

As you read a few pages:

  Pause and think, “What did I just read?”

•    Try to answer a few guided reading questions

•    Make reflections in lit log [Focus Words]

•    Enter summaries that tell the main plot events of the passages

•    Attempt higher order evaluation of author’s craft; see author’s craft sheet

•    Read with a family member, a friend,

•    Alternate between reading a few pages out loud and silently

•    Use POST-IT notes to mark passages that you do not understand and/or include those passages in Focus Words label clarify

•    Reread confusing parts 2X

•    After you have read quiz yourself; where does the story take place, what happened, why, how, etc.

•    make up 5 quiz questions you think will be on the daily quizzes

•    If you don’t know the meaning of a word, try to look up at least one per page, or ask someone

•    NEVER skip paragraphs, pages, chapters, etc. because you are behind and want to move on with this

•    PAY ATTENTION TO TEXT AND VISUALIZE

•    Use our strategies for Questioning, Predicting, Connecting, Responding, Clarifying, etc.

•    Lastly, enjoy the readings, they are like watching a movie, it's just in print!

It is a bad habit to skip around and not to read all the assigned text. Doing so prevents you from practicing an important skill you need in order to become a fluent reader.

, 

On a final note, gaining in reading comprehension is a process that requires daily practice. Reading and writing on a daily basis will provide you with the practice you need.

Once you have finished one hour of daily homework [more or less that is],  it is time for a REWARD!

Always set a reward for yourself. It can be anything. Most kids like to play with their electronic toys, or watch TV. 

Here's a few new ideas for you:


View Carl Sagan's Pale Blue Dot. He was a Cosmologist.

 

What is your opinion on his perspective? What message is Mr. Sagan trying to give humanity? Write about this idea.


Invent something:

The Inventor

Jeffrey Nash, shown with Donna Sanchez
 invented the Juppy, a sling that helps 

children learn to walk

After 15 years selling men’s clothing for a national retailer, Jeffrey Nash, 58, was earning $90,000 a year and was often the top salesman in his company. But as the recession deepened, he began referring his customers to struggling co-workers. His sales commissions took a hit.

“I kind of softened up,” he says. “My sales went down because I was sharing them.”

His income fell to $65,000. And as shoppers became more cautious during the recession, he knew that it would soon fall even further.

“I was doomed,” he says. “I knew I had to come up with an idea.”

Mr. Nash, who lives in Las Vegas, had invented a device he called the Juppy, a sling that helps toddlers learn to walk more safely and confidently.

“I had already touched base with a patent attorney and had started the ball rolling,” he says. He took three weeks of vacation to see if he could make a go of his invention, telling only a few people about his plans. Their opinions were “really negative,” he recalls.

Undaunted, he drove to Los Angeles and San Diego, selling the Juppy from his trunk and on a televised sales show, and earning $12,000 in three weeks.

“I never went back to work,” he says.

Investing $35,000 of his savings and an additional $9,000 from his father and a friend, Mr. Nash had the device manufactured in China.

“The transition was simple,” he says. “If I’d stayed in my old job, I was going to lose in the end. I was done. I needed a massive change. I needed income of several hundred thousand dollars. I knew I had to take a risk, a massive risk.”

That included selling his home — for $200,000 less than he had paid for it, because of the downturn — and renting a house instead.

“I used to drive a Lexus,” he says. “I let that go. I don’t need it anymore.”

Mr. Nash has since sold $500,000 worth of his product, netting $200,000 in two and a half years, an annual average of $80,000.

He is relieved, and proud of having successfully leapt from the familiar into the unknown.

“It’s unbelievable to me that at my age I recognized a need and filled it,” he says. “We’re having a hard time filling orders right now, we have so much demand.” 

Start an indoor garden:

                                                                        In Bottles:

                                                                        In a glass jar:

Use a plant part:

Be Well.

The Teach

Dear Teach: Call of the Wild

Hi Boys and Girls.

The unexpected freeze has impacted a pod of Orcas in Canada's Hudson Bay. 
At first, one would seemingly be driven to sympathy, and rush to free these mammals, but there are various opinions that now surround the circumstance. 

Trapped in ice, Killer Whales collect at a breathing hole the size of a pickup truck

According to USA Today, "People have mixed feelings about the situation," Peter Inukpuk, the mayor of Inukjuak, explains "We want to see them free, but we also want them to go away. Killer whales eat seals and belugas. The seal hunt is a huge part of our economy."

Well, it turns out that mother nature took care of things, or at least for a while. These killer whales are said to have left the frozen bay. However, what is most interesting is how this story continues to unfold. 

These animals are not yet out of danger. It is dependent upon whether the whales can make it out to open sea, which is over 100 kilometers away; or are able to survive in the Hudson Bay for the duration of winter. Keep a close eye on this story as updates are given.

Here's a few issues to think about: Should man intervene to support the welfare of animals' survival, or should animals in the wild be left alone to figure things out according to nature's laws? 

It is not unusual to find Killer Whales caught under frozen sheets of ice or fishing nets-- all the way from New Zealand to Canada. Hollywood's "Big Miracle" dramatizes the fate of three stranded Orcas and provides some accurate facts about these fascinating creatures.

Another way people get involved in such circumstances, is to incorporate these issues in children's books. Ibis A True Whale Story by John Himmelman, based on a true story, is great to read to younger children or just for your own enjoyment. In this case, a young humpback whale becomes entangled in netting that barely allows her to surface for air. 

In general, related issues are many, as there are countless times when man sees it fit to intervene in the aide of endangered animals or to adjust the rising populations of species that would otherwise over populate and cause problems for humans. 

So, when you have some spare time, do a search on the current situation of the wild dogs in Mexico and problems associated with them.

Be Well.

The Teach

Dear Teach: New Arrivals

Hi Boys and Girls.

You know, children aren't the only ones who dream dreams. A friend of mine did too, and finally it came true. Her dream was to publish a book for you. So, here it is, The Ballad of Jessie Pearl by Shannon Hitchcock. This beautifully written book illustrates the trials and tribulations of life. The life of a young girl living during the 1920's. She, like all of you has a dream that some day she may go to school, yes school and become a teacher. But like most things, something unexpected happens and her plans are pushed aside to care for her deceased sister's baby, Ky. 

Through this poignant story a reader is brought back to the South with powerful episodes, and believable dialect and dialogue.  

While reading this novel you may have noticed the author wrote the story in present tense.  I contacted Shannon Hitchcock and asked if there was a reason she crafted the story in this manner.

Here's her reply:

Yes, JESSIE is intentionally written in first person, present tense. The reason I chose first person is to draw the reader in closer to the narrator, and the reason I chose present tense is to make Jessie's life and problems feel relevant and immediate rather than set so far in the distant past as not to be relatable to kids today.

That is certainly a good reason. And so is the notion that you, as an evolving young reader use this novel as a point of reference. Not only should you enjoy the storyline for all the character endures within her young life, but to also take notice of this different style of writing.

Reading and writing and writing and reading go hand in hand. 

I can tell you this much, after reading the first few chapters, this author's style soon gripped me in a most unexpected fashion.  I found myself rereading select sentences to be sure I understood exactly what had occurred because events were unexpected. The Ballad Of Jessie Pearl is listed under historical fiction, and it was inspired by Hitchcock's own family's history. I hope you will take a look, and make this book part of your reading list.

To find out more about Shannon Hitchcock and her first book, click here.

View this beautiful trailer and you too will be captivated.



During the summer of 2010 I discovered a book by first time children's writer, Jacqueline Kelly. She authored The Evolution of Calpurnia Tate which did receive a Newbery Honor Award. I was so engrossed by this book, that I created a summer reading program for it.


Here's a portion of my summer reading series.
 

One of the reason's I found this book to be especially unique, was the fact that this author interwove facts about Charles Darwin with her storyline. There was a double bonus here; not only did I learn about Calpurnia's life, a character who will steal your heart, but also learned about the survival of species-something Dawin is known for. Kelly brilliantly writes about both, and has an effect of--a hand in glove; it all fits together so well. If you want to read about a character who stands up for herself, then this book is for you.

I so enjoyed Kelly's first book, I couldn't wait to read her second--Return to the Willows. When author Jacqueline Kelly was a child, she fell in love with Kenneth Grahame's The Wind in the Willows [a classic book all children should read before they graduate from middle school!] What Kelly did, was to write a sequel to Graham's original novel, hence Return to the Willows was born.

   

 

To find out more about Jacqueline Kelly and her recent book, read the article in the New York Times. Besides, I think you'll be impressed to learn she is also a medical doctor--so who says you can't do it all? Click here


My all time favorite children's writer, Karen Cushman, author of The Midwife's Apprentice and Catherine Called Birdy recently released Will Sparrow's Road. I thought this was great because just about all her books center around female protagonists. This is her first book about a boy living during the Middle Ages. If you haven't read any of her works, I strongly suggest you begin with The Midwife's Apprentice. It's a shorter read and it will set the scene for how Cushman does an outstanding job of bringing in the sights and sounds of medieval times-you'll find yourself living in the "somewhere in England in 1599."

Check out Cushman's great website. You'll find out much more about this historical fiction writer.

Be Well.

The Teach.