{solsc} #sol18 14/31 Walkout Thoughts

I first began writing a letter to students supporting their decision to walk out of schools today. But they didn't need my words to validate them. Plenty of other adults are walking with them and supporting them. The news channels are covering the walkouts and talking to the students. So this is really for adults.




Today was the #NationalSchoolWalkout where thousands of our nation's youth walked out of their schools in protest of our nation's gun laws. They aren't asking for all guns to be taken. They are asking for common sense gun laws. There is another movement out there. Pictures have been posted that share something about Walk Up instead of Walk Out. Adults telling kids what they should do instead of walking out.

• Walk up to 17 people you wouldn't normally talk to
• Sit at lunch with the kid who sits alone
• Be a partner to someone who never has one
• thank your teachers

There are different variations, but all of them are telling students what they should do instead. And these are good ideas. And I would love this to happen in the world as we know it. With adults. Not just in our schools. 

Here's my problem--ADULTS are TELLING them what to do. These walkouts are student-led and they need to know their voices are being heard. These students are afraid of dying. I know ten-year-olds who are afraid to go to school. If student voice really matters, like school officials are fond of telling us, then we should follow the lead of these students. We shouldn't tell them what to do or punish them for engaging in acts of civil disobedience.

I don't understand why adults are so surprised by this student-led movement. Most big change in this country has started with young adults. Young adults with passion and enthusiasm, who aren't afraid of the repercussions of those in charge, who aren't tied to the status quo. 

We want students to advocate for themselves. We TEACH students to advocate for themselves. We want them to come to us if they are being bullied, if someone is abusing them. We want them to tell us if they see something.

This is what they are doing.

If we don't listen now, will they ever come to us again?

And I don't believe that they are walking out just to get out of class. I'm listening to very articulate young people who have very personal reasons for wanting to upgrade to the gun laws. We teach them about their civic duty. These walkouts are putting what they are taught into action. Students don't just become well-informed citizens when they turn 18. We need to start the engagement early, so they are invested in their world when the time comes for them to vote and lead.

As I listen to these students speak today, I want you to know, I don't believe this is a one day activity. This is not a one year movement. These young adults are serious about preventing more gun deaths. They are researching and learning. They will register to vote on November 6. Many more will vote in 2020. They are leading the way. Maybe we should start listening.

{solsc} 13/31 #sol18 To Bell or Not to Bell?

I'm having one of those days today. I just don't think I have anything to write about. I've been procrastinating, freewriting, daydreaming. Nothing. I'm taking Jennifer Laffin's Word of the Day again and writing. Today's word is BELL.

I suppose people outside of education imagine something different when they hear the word BELL. But as a teacher, when I see the word, I hear the sound.

To me, it's always been a harsh, strident sound. Not the way I wanted to start a class or end it.

A few years ago, our bell system went kerplooey, and, rather than replace it for more money than it was worth, our building went without bells.

I loved it.

We started class in a more soothing way. Come in, find your seat, and read or write (depended on the class) for ten minutes. I often joined in with the kids. Yes. I had a few who tried to come in really late, using the no bell excuse. It didn't fly. I generally didn't have to get after kids more than once.

We transitioned smoothly into each activity and were often surprised when we heard other students in the hallway moving to their next class. And yes. I had kids who tried to line up at the door five minutes before they were supposed to leave. Again. I made it clear I dismissed the class and we went by the time on my computer. I usually didn't have much trouble. Kids liked the flow of the class too and didn't want to ruin it.

I didn't need the bells.
The kids didn't need the bells.
But others did.
So the bells are back.

But at least they aren't the harsh, strident ones of my nightmares. These new bells sound similar to the NBC chimes.

And I can live with that.

{solsc} 12/31 #sol18 . Chloe Writes: They Left Me!

They left me again, you know. Just walked out of the house without me. Gave me a treat. Tucked me up on their bed. And left.

At first I didn't think it was a big deal 'cuz they didn't take suitcases and stuff. I really thought they'd be home by dinner time to feed me.

BUT THEY WEREN'T!!!!!

AND THERE WAS NO FOOD IN MY DISH!!!!


I couldn't believe it. They never forget to feed me. Not that I would have eaten it without them here, but still. Didn't they even think about me before they left?

Later, I went in and layed on the couch and snuggled into Mom's blanket. Do you know what I found?  A treat!  It was sooooo good and it did make me feel a little better, so I took a little nap.

But even I can only sleep so long, so I moved over to the other couch to look out the window and check on the neighbors. But they didn't even leave the curtain open so I could see out.

This day just gets worse and worse.

And then it got dark. I hate the dark. You never know what's creepin' around outside and I couldn't look out the window to even see. I just know that stupid cat was wandering around out there. I barked a little bit to scare it away just in case. But I quit 'cuz it didn't make me feel any better.



They finally came home and it was really, really late. I ate my dinner and then Mom went to bed.  Dad stayed up with me for a little while and we watched TV.  But not for very long 'uz he said he was tired too, so then he went to bed. I went to the kitchen and slept in my kennel then. But I sure wasn't very tired. I slept all day!

{solsc} 11/31 #sol18 A Lovely Way to Spend a Sunday

I remember Sundays before retirement. I'd be up at 6:30, make the coffee and grab the Sunday paper. I'd read it while I drank a couple cups of coffee.

After the paper, I'd check Facebook and Twitter. But also lurking on my computer would be

• 40+ websites to check blog posts and portfolios
• writing drafts shared through google docs that needed feedback
• published writing that needed to be graded
• assignments from other classes that needed grading
• emails from kids with questions

All day and into the night I worked on this list, slowly whittling it down. I don't think I ever finished it, but I some point I had to move on to lesson plans for the six different English classes that I taught.

Ugh.

I definitely had a case of the SMONDAYS.

Since I retired, Sundays are more relaxed. I don't have to hurry through the paper. There is nothing to grade. My planning looks like this now

• two outfits for the week (jeans are always an option)
• check my calendar  to see what's coming up for the week
• what movie to watch in the afternoon
• what should we fix for supper

That's it. 

And let me tell you, it's a lovely way to spend a Sunday.

{solsc} 10/31 #sol18 Of Hope and Celebration

Combining Jennifer Laffin's Word of the Day Hope, which also showed up in Ruth Ayers' Celebrate  post today. Two words that definitely go together.

One of the things I hoped when I started subbing this fall, was that teachers I wasn't particularly close to would want me in their classroom. I knew my friends did, but what about the others?  And the kids. Although I knew MY kids would be glad to see me once in awhile, but I hoped that those I didn't have relationships with would give me a chance. Irrational fears, but fears just the same.

Tuesday helped put these irrational fears to rest. I came in to sub for the Ag teacher (Agriculture, Horticulture, FFA Leadership, Ag mechanics, etc). I really know nothing about these classes and was a little nervous. As I was walking down to his classroom, the Ag teacher was walking my way.

"Are you coming down to my room?" he asked.

"Yep."

"Oh good. When I saw you coming I hoped it was for me and not someone else! It's going to be a crazy day with a two hour late start and messed up schedule, plus the pep assembly for the girls. I was hoping I would get someone who could be flexible and go with the flow."

And there it was. That's what I hoped for when I started subbing. Teachers like me in their rooms because I take care of THEIR kids. 

                                               ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Other Celebrations this week:

• Morning hugs from my kids at school (Yep. Some high school kids still want a hug)
• Comments like, "You should just come back to work Mrs. Day. You're here a lot anyway."
• The power of story: Listening to the stories of Arlo Guthrie this week reminded me of the importance of keeping those family stories alive.
• Friends who go out of their way to make you feel welcome in their home. 
• Daylight Savings Time starts 
• Snow Days ( I still like them and treat them like I did when I worked full time) and the best part is, I don't have to make them up !
• Our Girls Basketball team won the 3A basketball championship last Saturday, setting several records in the process. Three of the girls also made the All-Tournament team. It was an exciting ride!
• I don't have to give standardized tests anymore!

Ok. That's it for this week.  What are YOU celebrating?

{solsc} 9/31 #sol18 Of Early Birds and Night Owls

"Maybe you can sleep in tomorrow.  Like maybe til 8."

I chuckle.

My husband and I are TOTALLY different sleepers.

I'm an early bird.

He's a night owl.

I turn off the TV and go to sleep for seven hours.

He starts on the couch with the TV and sleeps for a couple of hours. He moves to the bed. Tosses and turns. Sleeps a couple of hours.

He wakes. Goes to the bathroom. Comes back to bed. Tosses and turns. Sleeps for a couple of hours.

Wakes. Drinks a little milk. Comes back to bed. Tosses and turns. Sleeps for a couple of hours.

This weekend's time change will throw him off.

Me. Not so much.

I like to get moving and get most of my "chores" done by noon, so I have the afternoon to do what I want. Not easy to do when he sleeps later than me. By 5:00PM, my brain shuts down and I don't want have to do anything that really requires thought.

He prefers doing his chores after work...or after supper...there ONCE was an incident of putting furniture together at about 3:00AM. He balances the checkbook, pays bills, plans trips at night. But not easy to always do when my brain has shut down for the day and I don't want to think about those things.

However, in 35 years, we've achieved a balance in our lives and make it work. I stay up later than normal when we go to concerts or are away for the weekend. He gets up early when we travel. Now that we're both retired, we can balance checkbooks, pay bills and plan trips in the afternoon, when we're both ready. 

A little give.

A little take.

A little work when we're both awake.

{solsc} 8/31 #sol18 More Than I Expected

https://www.arloguthrie.com/shows

Sometimes, a concert is an more than the songs being played. Sometimes it's glimpse into music history, into a music family, and sometimes it's a reminder that the more things change, the more things stay the same.

And that's what Arlo Guthrie gave us last night.

To tell you the truth, I wouldn't have picked out this concert, but Arlo is was on my husband's music bucket list. He's been a fan of Guthrie's for over fifty years. The concert was about two and half hours away, so of course we went.

This tour was a dream of Woody Guthrie's, a family band, so to speak, so joining Arlo were his kids. They were not a disappointment. But it was the stories told between songs that made the story songs so meaningful. Who knew that Woody Guthrie sang a song called Deportee back in the '20's. It certainly resonated with the crowd last night.

He sang/talked Alice's Restaurant with lots of new material and bits of wisdom. The most important lesson, sing/speak loud before the "collectors" come to get you. He sang old blues songs of the friends of his father's (a history lesson in itself) telling us he first heard it and tried to sing it at thirteen (you can't sing the blues at thirteen).

Before singing This Land is Your Land, he shared that when he started a new school they sang this song to start the day, and he didn't know the words to it! It was just one of those songs dad sang at home. He didn't know everyone knew it! So Woody told him to get his guitar and taught him first to play it and then taught him the lyrics. It was magical to hear him sing it.

But, I leave you with the encore. Because it was the message of the night. The words are Woody's, the music are Arlo's, the wish is everyone's