Yesterday and today is a demarcation line. My first adult me Christmas celebrated partying. I have always been surrounded by the net of family or having a significant other every Christmas, and this year I am by myself - by choice. It's freeing and fun. The first year in 26 years where all those decorations and tree remain unboxed, minimal visiting shops for presents, selectively choosing time allocation. Who knew life could be this good stepping outside of my pre-conceived notions of the holidays?
Clearly, Christmas is not about the material, the exchange of the material to say "I love you;" the need to be with loved ones to feel loved; the doing to please, to be accepted, or in order to.
Last night I got to share with just about every guest how extraordinary their lives truly are and have that kind of conversation live that would open up other wonderful types of conversations. I noticed how folk would stop with all their superficial, learned quick comebacks to look good/funny and welcome having the opportunity of just being free to express what is truly important to them.
I gave and received heart felt hugs, Mary, Vanessa, Eric, John exchanged acknowledgments with me and each other, I met lots of new friends and invited them to the social meet up group. This also was the first time I came home long after 1:00am.
There is a saying in Landmark that after you are transformed the community has to re-adjust their version of you, as you are no longer the triangle they have always seen you as, you are now a circle shape. Last night, I got the feedback that I am seen and presenced as who I say am, and held accountable for being who I say I am, that it is not for myself as much as the richness of other's lives.
Contribution
Making a difference
We owe it to our "creator" to maximize our potential (Oprah Winfrey)
How was your Christmas?
Tuesday, December 25, 2007
Sunday, December 23, 2007
Old Friend
Today, Seehung my middle school friend from Zimbabwe called to wish me the best of the season. She was working through her trials and ailments when I asked her what she loved about where she lived. Her voice perked up, and she went into how peaceful it was to be surrounded by nature. I then went into the acknowledgment series with her and got to thank her for being such a wonderful mom, wife, creative, resourceful woman.
Seehung in turn acknowledged me and I heard that she is learning who I really am and that she never really knew me growing up. I love the questions and frames we get to generate conversations in because it's truly about getting to know the other person in a whole different way. Instead of allowing someone to spiral downwards in their speaking - give them a space where they get to see possibilities and celebrate themselves and others.
She now has the responsibility of sharing the acknowledgment series with her husband, sons, and everyone she cares about. To know someone forever, and then be known by them differently - what a gift.
happy holidays is about more than material
Seehung in turn acknowledged me and I heard that she is learning who I really am and that she never really knew me growing up. I love the questions and frames we get to generate conversations in because it's truly about getting to know the other person in a whole different way. Instead of allowing someone to spiral downwards in their speaking - give them a space where they get to see possibilities and celebrate themselves and others.
She now has the responsibility of sharing the acknowledgment series with her husband, sons, and everyone she cares about. To know someone forever, and then be known by them differently - what a gift.
happy holidays is about more than material
Saturday, December 22, 2007
Chill Time
It's grand to be home, home, home and plan on working on the mundane. This past week is great with finals and sending kids home at 11:30am. The ideal work day is 8:00am till 11:30 am with the rest to catch up and play. Tons of grading.
Reading through student acknowledgment of semester growth and learning is rewarding. Many said they can draw what they now see as opposed to what they know - my goal for them. The majority did well in their finals and the lower cognitive level students had their cheat sheets to refer to (as did the class). The conversation of cheating was eliminated and students understood those papers were like their security blanket as they pretty much were sick of the information and were ready to just spit it out and be done.
Yesterday, I caught up with old friends from Mohave MS, the old school. That was a great reality check - truly love my life and where I am with the older kids. May miss some teachers and their cheer, laughter, and good will, and happy to be at the high school level. Day before did a presentation for the school about how great the art department is and invite them to sign up for arts. Lots of hands waiving at me as I stood on stage. Way cool. It was an opportune time to walk around and hug lots of old teacher friends too. Loved that day. Brian said the kids were happy to see me again and enjoyed the presentation.
Everything unfolds exactly the way it needs to.
Part of our homework is to rectify integrity. When doing so it becomes obvious where there is an out in integrity, and it's obvious when it's everywhere. There is a distinct discomfort because I cannot close my eyes and pretend it does not exist as I have in the past. Now I get to step up to the plate and clean up the mess.
Integrity issues: gossiping, misunderstanding intent and labeling negatives, being late, anything related to lack of follow through on my word given to others and myself.
Home, it's really good to be home and catch up
be complete with myself first
so I can be complete with others
Reading through student acknowledgment of semester growth and learning is rewarding. Many said they can draw what they now see as opposed to what they know - my goal for them. The majority did well in their finals and the lower cognitive level students had their cheat sheets to refer to (as did the class). The conversation of cheating was eliminated and students understood those papers were like their security blanket as they pretty much were sick of the information and were ready to just spit it out and be done.
Yesterday, I caught up with old friends from Mohave MS, the old school. That was a great reality check - truly love my life and where I am with the older kids. May miss some teachers and their cheer, laughter, and good will, and happy to be at the high school level. Day before did a presentation for the school about how great the art department is and invite them to sign up for arts. Lots of hands waiving at me as I stood on stage. Way cool. It was an opportune time to walk around and hug lots of old teacher friends too. Loved that day. Brian said the kids were happy to see me again and enjoyed the presentation.
Everything unfolds exactly the way it needs to.
Part of our homework is to rectify integrity. When doing so it becomes obvious where there is an out in integrity, and it's obvious when it's everywhere. There is a distinct discomfort because I cannot close my eyes and pretend it does not exist as I have in the past. Now I get to step up to the plate and clean up the mess.
Integrity issues: gossiping, misunderstanding intent and labeling negatives, being late, anything related to lack of follow through on my word given to others and myself.
Home, it's really good to be home and catch up
be complete with myself first
so I can be complete with others
Sunday, December 9, 2007
Homework
The homework is to ask people in our community what it is they love about living in their community. What's interesting is their response.
The majority of the time, they go into glowing speeches of what they love, love, love about living in the area, working, or studying at that place. I have one occasion where the gentleman could not find one thing he liked about Arizona. So I had him talk about where he loved to live and be in, and why he moved, and what about the choices he made. I learned so much about him and that he was the owner of the fast food Hawaiiin place I frequent often.
From this conversation what I get is the opportunity to just listen, validate, listen, and give reflective listening as the person is so into what they have to say and I get to hear their love for what's important to them.
During my conversation yesterday with Janet, I also saw where I try to focus on the positive can invalidate someone's comments - especially when they are busy making wrong. So I checked myself, heard her out, just being present and listening. Allowing her to fully self-express however that is for her. I was then able to listen for something else that could be said, that was relevant, insightful, and far better accepted than by my jumping in to re-direct the conversation to a more positive slant.
What I love about living in my neighborhood are my neighbours who are friendly, chatty, and will always stop to say "Hi," and there is shared history. My kids at my school are just the best - squirrelly sometimes, never malicious with malintent, always wanting to be the best for themselves and aiming to create good results. There is never a dull moment and I am always energized by their presence. Yeah... I could go on
So what is it that you love about where you live, your community?
The majority of the time, they go into glowing speeches of what they love, love, love about living in the area, working, or studying at that place. I have one occasion where the gentleman could not find one thing he liked about Arizona. So I had him talk about where he loved to live and be in, and why he moved, and what about the choices he made. I learned so much about him and that he was the owner of the fast food Hawaiiin place I frequent often.
From this conversation what I get is the opportunity to just listen, validate, listen, and give reflective listening as the person is so into what they have to say and I get to hear their love for what's important to them.
During my conversation yesterday with Janet, I also saw where I try to focus on the positive can invalidate someone's comments - especially when they are busy making wrong. So I checked myself, heard her out, just being present and listening. Allowing her to fully self-express however that is for her. I was then able to listen for something else that could be said, that was relevant, insightful, and far better accepted than by my jumping in to re-direct the conversation to a more positive slant.
What I love about living in my neighborhood are my neighbours who are friendly, chatty, and will always stop to say "Hi," and there is shared history. My kids at my school are just the best - squirrelly sometimes, never malicious with malintent, always wanting to be the best for themselves and aiming to create good results. There is never a dull moment and I am always energized by their presence. Yeah... I could go on
So what is it that you love about where you live, your community?
Sunday, December 2, 2007
Stories
Something in the writing down of everything you believe to be true, setting it aside, and reading it impassionately the next day gives rise to insight. Yesterday, everything I wrote about the curriculum, what kids want - that's all a story. What happens is there is a curriculum, it needs to be covered, there is an allocated time to cover it, and it gets taught. That's it. Everything else around it is a story. When I took on the job, that's the agreement I inherited - it's part of me being professional, delivering the goods the way it was designed.
Yesterday, we had to deal with an issue of integrity, what happened, what I said, what I didn't say, what I decided, without the story around it. Amazing how I was soooo stopped because all I wanted was to give the juicy details of the story - it was hilarious. We had to run through the process a couple of times and at the end there was nothing. No emotion, I had said everything I wanted to at the time of the incident - without the story, and in that moment I was complete.
No stories
in the end, there is a whole bunch of peace around the incident because into someone else's listening I got to say everything I wanted to say and never said. What that does for me now - I am not triggered by someone making a promise, entering into an agreement. I can see it as possibility for trust and its fulfullment and completion.
.... and its all happily ever after
Yesterday, we had to deal with an issue of integrity, what happened, what I said, what I didn't say, what I decided, without the story around it. Amazing how I was soooo stopped because all I wanted was to give the juicy details of the story - it was hilarious. We had to run through the process a couple of times and at the end there was nothing. No emotion, I had said everything I wanted to at the time of the incident - without the story, and in that moment I was complete.
No stories
in the end, there is a whole bunch of peace around the incident because into someone else's listening I got to say everything I wanted to say and never said. What that does for me now - I am not triggered by someone making a promise, entering into an agreement. I can see it as possibility for trust and its fulfullment and completion.
.... and its all happily ever after
Saturday, December 1, 2007
Depth vs Breadth
Yesterday was short since it was Pep Rally and Amy came for her last observation. In the role of art teacher I am always writing a letter of reference, and I now keep a copy template for modification. I wonder if there is such a thing as "too generous" in what I give out. I had that conversation with my students in that I am generous as a middle school art teacher and my transition to high school teacher needs to be re-adjusted. I will take their finished products to Susan and have her help me adjust how to grade at a high school level. Their work through my eyes is simply amazing, I see them as incredible students who allow themselves to stretch beyond their comfort zone, and have the space to do so. They earn solid "A"s. I like the view that you walk into the classroom (life) with an "A" and everything after is living into it.
Friday, every class had "one minute no talk time." I will think about how can I have them learn how to self-monitor, or what is it that has them more off task than on? What is it about the content or teaching that is not feeding them - do I need to build in share time in a talking about what you are learning time, like a mini-positive feedback thing?
The Curriculum Dilemma
The curriculum has it that every semester the kids are whipping through 12 assignments. These become exercises with very few creating something worthwhile, far less earning high grades, and a proportion failing or doing incredibly poorly (leading to increasing misbehavior tons of ISS, phone calls home). Evidence - Susan's classes. The curriculum is inherited as is the philosophy behind it. The rationale is this: Art One needs to be put through the paces so they can manipulate the media with ease by the time they reach Art 3/4. Blaming poor use of materials on poor preparation (exposure) in Art One leading to breadth, coverage.
This Wisdom weekend is especially exciting because we go into the inquiry of how the models we live in are all inherited, everything we measure against is created by someone else. The model is a prescribed formulae for being. We can step outside of that and create our own models, define ourselves because we can identify what is and what is not, then explore what is for me and what is possible - a pardigm shift.
The world we live in is one of survival. Getting through, getting by, kinda like that conversation about the curriculum - let's push the kids through and have them churn out work because they will be poorly prepared for what's ahead (more so it sounds as though the teacher will be frustrated at having to teach them what they need to know to do amazing work). If the conversation were really about the child then surely would it not go: what does the child truly want to learn and walk away with? Surely every child wants to do well, have something tangible in their hands that says "I am an extraordinary artist" "Wow! I created that" and "I am soooo taking art again" which to me reads - taking time, really learning what needs to be learned, and completing what was begun. I am commited to 100% success for all learners and I query where the old model has that available for everyone.
Don't ask me yet what I know about looking through the filter of 3 models: world, being, and language. It's all exciting and gives me access to something else beyond my range of vision.
Oh, by the way, it's raining all day today, rained most day yesterday and the heating is on - toasty warm.
Friday, every class had "one minute no talk time." I will think about how can I have them learn how to self-monitor, or what is it that has them more off task than on? What is it about the content or teaching that is not feeding them - do I need to build in share time in a talking about what you are learning time, like a mini-positive feedback thing?
The Curriculum Dilemma
The curriculum has it that every semester the kids are whipping through 12 assignments. These become exercises with very few creating something worthwhile, far less earning high grades, and a proportion failing or doing incredibly poorly (leading to increasing misbehavior tons of ISS, phone calls home). Evidence - Susan's classes. The curriculum is inherited as is the philosophy behind it. The rationale is this: Art One needs to be put through the paces so they can manipulate the media with ease by the time they reach Art 3/4. Blaming poor use of materials on poor preparation (exposure) in Art One leading to breadth, coverage.
This Wisdom weekend is especially exciting because we go into the inquiry of how the models we live in are all inherited, everything we measure against is created by someone else. The model is a prescribed formulae for being. We can step outside of that and create our own models, define ourselves because we can identify what is and what is not, then explore what is for me and what is possible - a pardigm shift.
The world we live in is one of survival. Getting through, getting by, kinda like that conversation about the curriculum - let's push the kids through and have them churn out work because they will be poorly prepared for what's ahead (more so it sounds as though the teacher will be frustrated at having to teach them what they need to know to do amazing work). If the conversation were really about the child then surely would it not go: what does the child truly want to learn and walk away with? Surely every child wants to do well, have something tangible in their hands that says "I am an extraordinary artist" "Wow! I created that" and "I am soooo taking art again" which to me reads - taking time, really learning what needs to be learned, and completing what was begun. I am commited to 100% success for all learners and I query where the old model has that available for everyone.
Don't ask me yet what I know about looking through the filter of 3 models: world, being, and language. It's all exciting and gives me access to something else beyond my range of vision.
Oh, by the way, it's raining all day today, rained most day yesterday and the heating is on - toasty warm.
Thursday, November 29, 2007
Rounding off before weekend 5
Here it is the last week before weekend 5:
Monday: lots of acknowledgments received, given, Ken gave tons of books and freebies after the dinner meeting, and I allowed that to happen. Seminar was great, shared, listened - inspired to create the Charter.
Tuesday: Mike's birthday, dinner at Cowboy Ciao, received and gave acknowledgments, all good, amazing meal, wonderful walk after, explored the neighborhood, met new people saw new things - want to go back and check out more of the shops. Need to pick up Christmas gifts.
Wednesday: Best night swing dancing with everyone who was available, Paul bought me a water bottle -really sweet, Mike had a group birthday dance - way cool
Thursday: Carlos' work is terrific - drawing looks just like him, acknowledged him and had him show off his work so Susan could also acknowledge him - he glowed. He will be our forever art student. Tonight going to zoo lights.
Friday: Wisdom weekend begins.
Monday: lots of acknowledgments received, given, Ken gave tons of books and freebies after the dinner meeting, and I allowed that to happen. Seminar was great, shared, listened - inspired to create the Charter.
Tuesday: Mike's birthday, dinner at Cowboy Ciao, received and gave acknowledgments, all good, amazing meal, wonderful walk after, explored the neighborhood, met new people saw new things - want to go back and check out more of the shops. Need to pick up Christmas gifts.
Wednesday: Best night swing dancing with everyone who was available, Paul bought me a water bottle -really sweet, Mike had a group birthday dance - way cool
Thursday: Carlos' work is terrific - drawing looks just like him, acknowledged him and had him show off his work so Susan could also acknowledge him - he glowed. He will be our forever art student. Tonight going to zoo lights.
Friday: Wisdom weekend begins.
Sunday, November 25, 2007
Catching Up
I love calendars, it's easy to look back and get a sense of how the week went as a concept:
Monday: Living Life Passionately, dinner with Tim who attended the intro and walked away with the possibility of being fun and playful. This is where he is at his best when he generates a sense of lightness around him - his eyes have that extra twinkle and he is witty, funny, and easy to be with. I had the opportunity to acknowledge Tim in front of everyone at the beginning, it meant a lot to me that he came to check out what makes the world I get to play in.
During that night we looked into what is the purpose worthy of our lives. What do we do day by day that pulls us and creates a purpose for us - as opposed to living through the filter of what is the purpose of my life, what do I choose to live my life for? What are my values? It impacts the content of my conversations since I choose to live my life to make a profound difference, have an impact and be contribution to my community. I get to live moment by moment and have integrity to that and be present to how my words carry weight. Oprah said: we owe it to our Creator to maximize our potential, and that's how she lives her life.
I hear "stories" about someone called Tom whom I have not yet met. My share is that Tom is being who he is being without realizing how much of a jerk he creates himself out to be for everyone around him. They see him clearly as a narcisstic, selfish jerk saying the meanest and most inconsiderate thing possible. Clearly Tom can never understand why others don't like him. This would be his blind spot. We all have ours.
If he could enter the conversation of... consider there is something in life you are doing - like making someone wrong, being right, looking good at whatever cost... like that, what is the payoff? Why do you choose to continually do that? What are you getting to be or have by being that way? By making someone wrong, you get to be right.... that kind of thought. Then, there is a huge impact that is created by continually being that way. All the things that Tom so desperately wants for himself, closeness, relatedness, affinity, full self-expression, love, acceptance is denied in that moment. If he could have the awareness of the cost, the impact, then he could take the opportunity to give up that behavior.
Behaviors we carry through our lives are survival tools we invented at an early age that worked when we were little, and we live as adults thinking they still work. They do, they help us survive - as opposed to live, thrive, be alive, be fully expressed. When we get to identify survival behavior patterns as something that no longer works, then we can give that up (in the moment, and moment by moment) and invent for ourselves a different way of being that lights us up. Invent as opposed to change - because changing is repeating the same differently.
See, that gives us a future to live into, something that inspires, and generates a way of truly connecting with someone at an adult grown up level. The moment I gave up that my life is a blur I got connected to I am responsible for all my unanswered emails, phone calls, and letters that need to be written. I immediately became connected with communication at all different levels and nailed the jobs, quickly, efficiently, and effectively. It felt wonderful.
Tuesday: Went to Rhythm Room with Mike, did swing dancing - loved it, acknowledged Morgan for his way cool shirt, had a nice chat going with Michelle and Barb, later with Delores, Gary, Mark, and Mike. Just a fun, light hearted evening. The band was amazing.
Had Shaelyn come in for lunch detention, and she asked if I still loved her, entered into the conversation about unconditional love, loving her and not the behavior, and the Nina story about her friend who never wants to be married because of the strings attached - and that she was raised with the sense that love comes with strings, when it never does. Anyway, what's interesting is my lassie squealed on her friend whose parent is trying to get me fired. My red flag went up surruptiously.
I called the mother on the pretext of your daughter is absent a lot and I am concerned and frustrated because she has done minimal work and we are at progress report time. Is there something I need to know? Yes, mom says daughter came home with sheets of stories of how wicked and cruel I am to her in class - flabbergasted, I apologized profusely if I came across that way, and by conversation's end, mom was very clear that I was a cool, caring teacher.
Mom came by at the end of the day to pick up work for junior, her son (cute, hottie senior) came by and I enrolled him into popping into daughter's 4th hour to admire her ongoing art work so she would feel more motivated by it, and also have him as her trophy brother where the girls would swoon over him, thereby elevating her status within the class.
When daughter is absent again, I will call and offer to pop by the driveway to drop off work and give special instructions so the young lassie can stay on top of her work. Mom, brother, and myself felt complete, and I got to have a terrific weekend because my integrity was restored around that conversation.
Wednesday: Such a relief to stay home, be home, and chill. What few kids showed up at school were great, took a little while longer to settle. Last few classes we had presentations by FIDM which made it easy as a teacher. I can now see why teachers choose guest speakers and videos on the day before break. Good move.
Thursday: Thanksgiving day, sent out bunches of cards affording me the opportunity to acknowledge, thank, and be thanked in turn. Really fun. Attended Thanksgiving with Mike and mutual friends - lovely evening.
Friday: catch up day, really wanted to stay home all day and do all those mundane chore things, listen to my music, clean, take care of bills, write Christmas cards, early night.
Saturday: caught up and did my 7 collages - whipped those up and have clearer insight as to how to create a conversation and keep it out there in creation. Powerful. Finished writing Christmas cards with acknowledgments, made a newsy letter to go with it and photos of Nina, me, and Mike, and who I am today, right now, for myself and others.
Sunday: yes, it rolls around again, I've looped back to Sunday. Deenie call, Nina call, and now catching up with the Blog. This coming weekend will be the last of the Wisdom weekend, closing of this part of my Blog - all the homework is complete.
Stage 5 of the conversation is enhance, flood. I'm thinking this week of taking my acknowledgement totally into the community and letting it take off, like pay it forward. So after this is posted I am creating mini certificate/ticket/token type papers with comments like: Your smile made my day! You are great! You are extraordinary! You are the best! Just a slew of them. Hand them out to my students and anyone on campus and it becomes their job to pass that acknowledgement to someone else - either spoken or as that slip of paper.
Maybe: I am loved, I am precious, I am adored, I am cherished....
I'll let you know how that works out.
In the meantime
you are perfect, whole, and complete
Monday: Living Life Passionately, dinner with Tim who attended the intro and walked away with the possibility of being fun and playful. This is where he is at his best when he generates a sense of lightness around him - his eyes have that extra twinkle and he is witty, funny, and easy to be with. I had the opportunity to acknowledge Tim in front of everyone at the beginning, it meant a lot to me that he came to check out what makes the world I get to play in.
During that night we looked into what is the purpose worthy of our lives. What do we do day by day that pulls us and creates a purpose for us - as opposed to living through the filter of what is the purpose of my life, what do I choose to live my life for? What are my values? It impacts the content of my conversations since I choose to live my life to make a profound difference, have an impact and be contribution to my community. I get to live moment by moment and have integrity to that and be present to how my words carry weight. Oprah said: we owe it to our Creator to maximize our potential, and that's how she lives her life.
I hear "stories" about someone called Tom whom I have not yet met. My share is that Tom is being who he is being without realizing how much of a jerk he creates himself out to be for everyone around him. They see him clearly as a narcisstic, selfish jerk saying the meanest and most inconsiderate thing possible. Clearly Tom can never understand why others don't like him. This would be his blind spot. We all have ours.
If he could enter the conversation of... consider there is something in life you are doing - like making someone wrong, being right, looking good at whatever cost... like that, what is the payoff? Why do you choose to continually do that? What are you getting to be or have by being that way? By making someone wrong, you get to be right.... that kind of thought. Then, there is a huge impact that is created by continually being that way. All the things that Tom so desperately wants for himself, closeness, relatedness, affinity, full self-expression, love, acceptance is denied in that moment. If he could have the awareness of the cost, the impact, then he could take the opportunity to give up that behavior.
Behaviors we carry through our lives are survival tools we invented at an early age that worked when we were little, and we live as adults thinking they still work. They do, they help us survive - as opposed to live, thrive, be alive, be fully expressed. When we get to identify survival behavior patterns as something that no longer works, then we can give that up (in the moment, and moment by moment) and invent for ourselves a different way of being that lights us up. Invent as opposed to change - because changing is repeating the same differently.
See, that gives us a future to live into, something that inspires, and generates a way of truly connecting with someone at an adult grown up level. The moment I gave up that my life is a blur I got connected to I am responsible for all my unanswered emails, phone calls, and letters that need to be written. I immediately became connected with communication at all different levels and nailed the jobs, quickly, efficiently, and effectively. It felt wonderful.
Tuesday: Went to Rhythm Room with Mike, did swing dancing - loved it, acknowledged Morgan for his way cool shirt, had a nice chat going with Michelle and Barb, later with Delores, Gary, Mark, and Mike. Just a fun, light hearted evening. The band was amazing.
Had Shaelyn come in for lunch detention, and she asked if I still loved her, entered into the conversation about unconditional love, loving her and not the behavior, and the Nina story about her friend who never wants to be married because of the strings attached - and that she was raised with the sense that love comes with strings, when it never does. Anyway, what's interesting is my lassie squealed on her friend whose parent is trying to get me fired. My red flag went up surruptiously.
I called the mother on the pretext of your daughter is absent a lot and I am concerned and frustrated because she has done minimal work and we are at progress report time. Is there something I need to know? Yes, mom says daughter came home with sheets of stories of how wicked and cruel I am to her in class - flabbergasted, I apologized profusely if I came across that way, and by conversation's end, mom was very clear that I was a cool, caring teacher.
Mom came by at the end of the day to pick up work for junior, her son (cute, hottie senior) came by and I enrolled him into popping into daughter's 4th hour to admire her ongoing art work so she would feel more motivated by it, and also have him as her trophy brother where the girls would swoon over him, thereby elevating her status within the class.
When daughter is absent again, I will call and offer to pop by the driveway to drop off work and give special instructions so the young lassie can stay on top of her work. Mom, brother, and myself felt complete, and I got to have a terrific weekend because my integrity was restored around that conversation.
Wednesday: Such a relief to stay home, be home, and chill. What few kids showed up at school were great, took a little while longer to settle. Last few classes we had presentations by FIDM which made it easy as a teacher. I can now see why teachers choose guest speakers and videos on the day before break. Good move.
Thursday: Thanksgiving day, sent out bunches of cards affording me the opportunity to acknowledge, thank, and be thanked in turn. Really fun. Attended Thanksgiving with Mike and mutual friends - lovely evening.
Friday: catch up day, really wanted to stay home all day and do all those mundane chore things, listen to my music, clean, take care of bills, write Christmas cards, early night.
Saturday: caught up and did my 7 collages - whipped those up and have clearer insight as to how to create a conversation and keep it out there in creation. Powerful. Finished writing Christmas cards with acknowledgments, made a newsy letter to go with it and photos of Nina, me, and Mike, and who I am today, right now, for myself and others.
Sunday: yes, it rolls around again, I've looped back to Sunday. Deenie call, Nina call, and now catching up with the Blog. This coming weekend will be the last of the Wisdom weekend, closing of this part of my Blog - all the homework is complete.
Stage 5 of the conversation is enhance, flood. I'm thinking this week of taking my acknowledgement totally into the community and letting it take off, like pay it forward. So after this is posted I am creating mini certificate/ticket/token type papers with comments like: Your smile made my day! You are great! You are extraordinary! You are the best! Just a slew of them. Hand them out to my students and anyone on campus and it becomes their job to pass that acknowledgement to someone else - either spoken or as that slip of paper.
Maybe: I am loved, I am precious, I am adored, I am cherished....
I'll let you know how that works out.
In the meantime
you are perfect, whole, and complete
Sunday, November 18, 2007
Sunday yes
Two days ago Lawrence called and asked for Nina's account. I emailed him the number and also took the opportunity to acknowledge him for being the wonderful dad that he is and Nina inheriting his best qualities which had her be as successful and independent a woman as she is. What came out of that was a conversation between father and daughter (he forwarded the email), that he got to acknowledge her for who she was and that she was responsible for her own success too, and Nina got to acknowledge her own dad for being so great. Truly terrific. A generative conversation.
I also got that having a mended relationship allows me the grace to be present in my relationship with Mike with a sense of freedom and calm. I feel blessed.
Today, I spoke with Deenie and acknowledged her for her listening and coaching. I also realized that Jeannifer is a natural coach and will have an enrollment conversation with her to take on coaching for Wisdom - it seems a pull for her, and that would work as a celebration for who she is as opposed to fighting with that strength. All good.
Swing dancing, acknowledged and celebrated my partners for their ability to learn, and be open to trying all those cool moves. Can't remember what anonymous good deeds I am creating. Is that still a homework assignment? Need to do those collages.
night.
I also got that having a mended relationship allows me the grace to be present in my relationship with Mike with a sense of freedom and calm. I feel blessed.
Today, I spoke with Deenie and acknowledged her for her listening and coaching. I also realized that Jeannifer is a natural coach and will have an enrollment conversation with her to take on coaching for Wisdom - it seems a pull for her, and that would work as a celebration for who she is as opposed to fighting with that strength. All good.
Swing dancing, acknowledged and celebrated my partners for their ability to learn, and be open to trying all those cool moves. Can't remember what anonymous good deeds I am creating. Is that still a homework assignment? Need to do those collages.
night.
Saturday, November 17, 2007
Saturday once more
Yes, my life is still a blur, except I do read my emails and take care of business with relief. Things are getting done and it's a weight off my shoulders. My time is used wisely to phone all the right people, write letters, and follow up. The action plan.
Being done with the goddess party and other committments clears an opening and affords me time to take care of things I've been juggling up in the air. I feel as I have space and know that's all in my head - that has always existed. My life is joyous ease, vital, and alive.
Thursday: such an early morning 7am meeting had me surfacing my energies, being present, giving and alive moment by moment. Working at finding joy and smiles when my whole body said "crash, sleep, go back to bed" and I got to give that up moment by moment. Went home early with an early night, so wonderful. Ms Davodi came by to observe the kids, welcomed and acknowledged her for being dedicated to finish her internship no matter what (new grueling and unforgiving boss). Christine observed the class again, wrote her notes, and tucked herself in the corner. Kids are such a celebration in their accomplishments - shared that with them. Talked to David about getting his butt in to school (thanked Manny for being such a great friend in pulling him out of bed). There's a meeting coming up around David.
Thursday is the celebration of my only free day of the week.
Friday: just zoomed through the last day, needed to have 1 minute no talk time to settle the kids (it seems as though this is a usual Friday routine, will consider how I can switch it and change the culture of Friday my being the toughy and let them take that discipline on for themselves). Spoke to Sarah and acknowledged her for her ability to focus with high work ethic and requested she be the model for her peers, same with Michael who is adored, worshiped as the jock and who stands to make the difference in the best possible way. Had an enrolment conversation with another single teacher and she's going to sign up with Phx singles adventure and exploration. Way cool.
Friday was intense: being the Greeter at Aunt Chiladas - happily introducing and welcoming others to the social group (yes arrived late, drove up and down Glendale looking for it, and met many friendly folk helping me) then left after 45 minutes to swing dance at the Sheraton. Lost for an hour on the highway going the opposite direction, George the bellboy was terrific in getting me there. What I got out of the evening is the generosity of people who love to step in and help with what they know, and my willingness to trust them, oh and a GPS would be soooo great. It's kinda that fight against having a cell phone, then having it and loving every moment of freedom because of it.
After swing dancing, Mike and I left to listen to Shae at O'Connors - a very passionate, moving singer. Lots of fun.
Today, Saturday is an easy, slow, catch up one. Mike and I are heading out to movies - as in a for real date night. Most our time together is wrapped around large groups, swing, meet up, so having each other to ourselves is a treat.
I receive a Peter e-zine and he reminds us that when we make our conversations about someone else, for their benefit, so they can get something for their lives, our communication flows. When it's no longer about me, and all about "them" life is a breeze, awakening, fulfilled, and vibrant. Who I am is gift and I get to give that away.
Being done with the goddess party and other committments clears an opening and affords me time to take care of things I've been juggling up in the air. I feel as I have space and know that's all in my head - that has always existed. My life is joyous ease, vital, and alive.
Thursday: such an early morning 7am meeting had me surfacing my energies, being present, giving and alive moment by moment. Working at finding joy and smiles when my whole body said "crash, sleep, go back to bed" and I got to give that up moment by moment. Went home early with an early night, so wonderful. Ms Davodi came by to observe the kids, welcomed and acknowledged her for being dedicated to finish her internship no matter what (new grueling and unforgiving boss). Christine observed the class again, wrote her notes, and tucked herself in the corner. Kids are such a celebration in their accomplishments - shared that with them. Talked to David about getting his butt in to school (thanked Manny for being such a great friend in pulling him out of bed). There's a meeting coming up around David.
Thursday is the celebration of my only free day of the week.
Friday: just zoomed through the last day, needed to have 1 minute no talk time to settle the kids (it seems as though this is a usual Friday routine, will consider how I can switch it and change the culture of Friday my being the toughy and let them take that discipline on for themselves). Spoke to Sarah and acknowledged her for her ability to focus with high work ethic and requested she be the model for her peers, same with Michael who is adored, worshiped as the jock and who stands to make the difference in the best possible way. Had an enrolment conversation with another single teacher and she's going to sign up with Phx singles adventure and exploration. Way cool.
Friday was intense: being the Greeter at Aunt Chiladas - happily introducing and welcoming others to the social group (yes arrived late, drove up and down Glendale looking for it, and met many friendly folk helping me) then left after 45 minutes to swing dance at the Sheraton. Lost for an hour on the highway going the opposite direction, George the bellboy was terrific in getting me there. What I got out of the evening is the generosity of people who love to step in and help with what they know, and my willingness to trust them, oh and a GPS would be soooo great. It's kinda that fight against having a cell phone, then having it and loving every moment of freedom because of it.
After swing dancing, Mike and I left to listen to Shae at O'Connors - a very passionate, moving singer. Lots of fun.
Today, Saturday is an easy, slow, catch up one. Mike and I are heading out to movies - as in a for real date night. Most our time together is wrapped around large groups, swing, meet up, so having each other to ourselves is a treat.
I receive a Peter e-zine and he reminds us that when we make our conversations about someone else, for their benefit, so they can get something for their lives, our communication flows. When it's no longer about me, and all about "them" life is a breeze, awakening, fulfilled, and vibrant. Who I am is gift and I get to give that away.
Wednesday, November 14, 2007
Terrific
Monday was truly awesome. Great day, kids did exceptionally well, self-monitoring, pulling focusing and being on task towards them, acknowledged them - had 2 students hold up their work so kids can gape at their results.
Tuesday: Goddess party - huge success, gave and received lots of acknowledgments, melded my Wisdom, Living Life Passionately, work, friends communities together, had enrollment conversations - truly wonderful - rich with what is possible for everyone. It was an extraordinary evening of friends sharing their passions. Toe reading was fun, David did an excellent job and we got to know him and see him differently - in his ability to create us for ourselves in the best way.
Today received acknowledgments from mentee observer, who noticed how my students truly respect and love me, the classroom atmosphere is one of relaxation and concentration, the students who are stepping up to contribute to the music where everyone grooves and enjoy listening, she enjoyed the class and seeing student progression and settling into their work. Way cool.
Attended meeting for Unitown, truly excited to have the opportunity to be contribution in making a difference in students getting diversity acceptance and celebration in their lives.
Tonight swing dancing - gotta go and get ready...
Tuesday: Goddess party - huge success, gave and received lots of acknowledgments, melded my Wisdom, Living Life Passionately, work, friends communities together, had enrollment conversations - truly wonderful - rich with what is possible for everyone. It was an extraordinary evening of friends sharing their passions. Toe reading was fun, David did an excellent job and we got to know him and see him differently - in his ability to create us for ourselves in the best way.
Today received acknowledgments from mentee observer, who noticed how my students truly respect and love me, the classroom atmosphere is one of relaxation and concentration, the students who are stepping up to contribute to the music where everyone grooves and enjoy listening, she enjoyed the class and seeing student progression and settling into their work. Way cool.
Attended meeting for Unitown, truly excited to have the opportunity to be contribution in making a difference in students getting diversity acceptance and celebration in their lives.
Tonight swing dancing - gotta go and get ready...
Monday, November 12, 2007
New Week
Sunday was terrific, Chili Chocolate festival, meeting tons of new friends, tested assorted world chocolates, some mixed in with chilis, ate green chicken chili, tried mole, bought hot chocolate with chili mix. mmmmmm yum, of course, complimented Harry, Jen, Mark for organizing the event and being who they are being. Lots of smiles and laughs through the day. Uploading photos to website in acknowledgment of those present.
Drag show in the evening, introducing people and in so doing having the opportunity to acknowledge them and their contribution to the group. Photos taken of myself and friends as recognition for my being there.
Monday, stay home, catch up, went shopping for edibles for the teachers' art meeting - in recognition of them as professionals, as celebration for the Bond vote passing which means we all get funding for stuff (and keep our jobs). Looking forward to presenting Susan with flowers and publicly acknowledging her Award in front of the teachers.
Tomorrow, I'm organizing a "home party" with 5 buddies who have their own business. Devorah carries a line of Israeli hand made jewelry (Ayal Barr), Donna carries European purses (www.beijobags.com) Matina carries medicinal chocolates "Xo Cai", Heather is going to be talking about healthy eating and healing, and David is going to be there to read toes for free. It's going to be way fun. Gay, Freda, Mary are coming, Nadine and Jacque might attend as well. Fun, fun, fun.
Good deeds: returning carts, leaving box for someone to use, usual traffic stuff, tipping in general jar, letting someone else take parking spot in front of store.
Ooooh, will be present in my listening of another in conversation, remember it's all about them, their noise, and what's available for them in their own thinking. Focus. Work tomorrow.
Drag show in the evening, introducing people and in so doing having the opportunity to acknowledge them and their contribution to the group. Photos taken of myself and friends as recognition for my being there.
Monday, stay home, catch up, went shopping for edibles for the teachers' art meeting - in recognition of them as professionals, as celebration for the Bond vote passing which means we all get funding for stuff (and keep our jobs). Looking forward to presenting Susan with flowers and publicly acknowledging her Award in front of the teachers.
Tomorrow, I'm organizing a "home party" with 5 buddies who have their own business. Devorah carries a line of Israeli hand made jewelry (Ayal Barr), Donna carries European purses (www.beijobags.com) Matina carries medicinal chocolates "Xo Cai", Heather is going to be talking about healthy eating and healing, and David is going to be there to read toes for free. It's going to be way fun. Gay, Freda, Mary are coming, Nadine and Jacque might attend as well. Fun, fun, fun.
Good deeds: returning carts, leaving box for someone to use, usual traffic stuff, tipping in general jar, letting someone else take parking spot in front of store.
Ooooh, will be present in my listening of another in conversation, remember it's all about them, their noise, and what's available for them in their own thinking. Focus. Work tomorrow.
Saturday, November 10, 2007
weekly
Okay, my life is a blur and weekly reflections will have to do. I do think of my initiative daily and bring forth acknowledgment, see myself being acknowledged and if I had to think of a particular event to bring to mind over the week - I am lost.
Monday, Diane registered for the Forum, she knew that she wanted to file her past in the past and be done with carrying all that baggage around with her, sleep through the nights and just stop being triggered by life's circumstances. Yeah all those stories she has about what happened will dissappear and not run her anymore. Yeee haaaa.
Tuesday, was Harry's birthday and we were princess and I acknowledged him greatly in his card, and was in turn acknowledged by my friends for the message of the card. I can see that I'm seen as someone who contributes in an authentic feelings way that builds another.
Wednesday, Wow what happened to Wednesday, kids were starting to grid, everything zoomed in the best way possible. Went to Club Red and it was closed, chatted to a stranger person and acknowledged him for helping us figure out where to go next, ended up at Tempe Market Place, acknowledge Craig for having the gallery and in return was invited to have my students exhibit work there.
Thursday, acknowledged the class for their stupendous results in bus evacuation drill, and Gail for being an outstanding mom, and being a stand that she gets her relationship with her very angry teen daughter (over dinner at Houstons). My acknowledgment is having my Mentee teacher observe and take notes in my class. I am a far better teacher because of her presence, I could see myself rise to the occasion and tighten up in my teaching behavior. All good.
Friday, stayed home went to bed early, what a blessing, acknowledged myself for taking care of myself. The cold sore has gone down tons.
Saturday, acknowledged Janet for her contribution in the art ed world, planned the next meetings, good deed, Janet will buy flowers and we will publicly acknowledge Susan for being the recipient for Art Ed High School teacher award from AAEA.
General good deeds: usual, traffic, picking up, cleaning up, tipping generally and well, emailing teachers to give kudos around kids who have done well, took on the job of chaperone for unitown so that kids will have a life they love, a support group they can count on. I'll be the invisible adult facilitating while kid counselors direct the camp.
My celebrations: Diane is going to have her freedom in her life to maximize who she is - truly powerful stuff, get past her constraints and her making herself wrong a whole lot. Tim is having dinner with me and attending the intro. Paul made a comment that I am testimony to what Landmark offers, my energy, enthusiasm and joy, and because of that he is going back again to another intro, and bringing a joint friend Mark. Way cool.
My Living Life Passionately Homework: What am I using up my life for? Really has me thinking about my choices I am making around the every day. Today, I committed to and did work towards planning meetings for the Lead art Teachers, made phone calls. Completed my invites to the Home Party I'm organizing (way cool 5 friends jewelry, bags, medicinal chocolates, wholesome healing, and toe reading), will explore clay lesson for the students, and still have time building a relationship with Mike, socializing, and having fun.
Did I ever tell you that I absolutely love my life?
Monday, Diane registered for the Forum, she knew that she wanted to file her past in the past and be done with carrying all that baggage around with her, sleep through the nights and just stop being triggered by life's circumstances. Yeah all those stories she has about what happened will dissappear and not run her anymore. Yeee haaaa.
Tuesday, was Harry's birthday and we were princess and I acknowledged him greatly in his card, and was in turn acknowledged by my friends for the message of the card. I can see that I'm seen as someone who contributes in an authentic feelings way that builds another.
Wednesday, Wow what happened to Wednesday, kids were starting to grid, everything zoomed in the best way possible. Went to Club Red and it was closed, chatted to a stranger person and acknowledged him for helping us figure out where to go next, ended up at Tempe Market Place, acknowledge Craig for having the gallery and in return was invited to have my students exhibit work there.
Thursday, acknowledged the class for their stupendous results in bus evacuation drill, and Gail for being an outstanding mom, and being a stand that she gets her relationship with her very angry teen daughter (over dinner at Houstons). My acknowledgment is having my Mentee teacher observe and take notes in my class. I am a far better teacher because of her presence, I could see myself rise to the occasion and tighten up in my teaching behavior. All good.
Friday, stayed home went to bed early, what a blessing, acknowledged myself for taking care of myself. The cold sore has gone down tons.
Saturday, acknowledged Janet for her contribution in the art ed world, planned the next meetings, good deed, Janet will buy flowers and we will publicly acknowledge Susan for being the recipient for Art Ed High School teacher award from AAEA.
General good deeds: usual, traffic, picking up, cleaning up, tipping generally and well, emailing teachers to give kudos around kids who have done well, took on the job of chaperone for unitown so that kids will have a life they love, a support group they can count on. I'll be the invisible adult facilitating while kid counselors direct the camp.
My celebrations: Diane is going to have her freedom in her life to maximize who she is - truly powerful stuff, get past her constraints and her making herself wrong a whole lot. Tim is having dinner with me and attending the intro. Paul made a comment that I am testimony to what Landmark offers, my energy, enthusiasm and joy, and because of that he is going back again to another intro, and bringing a joint friend Mark. Way cool.
My Living Life Passionately Homework: What am I using up my life for? Really has me thinking about my choices I am making around the every day. Today, I committed to and did work towards planning meetings for the Lead art Teachers, made phone calls. Completed my invites to the Home Party I'm organizing (way cool 5 friends jewelry, bags, medicinal chocolates, wholesome healing, and toe reading), will explore clay lesson for the students, and still have time building a relationship with Mike, socializing, and having fun.
Did I ever tell you that I absolutely love my life?
Sunday, November 4, 2007
Phew
Today, woke up with a foggy head and feeling slow - a cold sore appeared and my whole day seemed to be slow all round. I think it's called recovery and reflection. Because my body is slowing down I can step back and look at the past weekend and let it settle.
I chose to go the school today, pick up work, pick up medicines, and then go to Lindy Hop. All major routes were closed and I took back routes all the way, making me 45 minutes late. I turned up anyway and Gary was happy to see me - since it meant he had a dancing partner to work with, and I was refreshed and ready for the second 1 hour lesson. I got to give up my foggy head and just throw myself into dancing, and it disappeared. I had lots of laughs and gave laughs too. The one question that prompted positive answers was: How are you feeling about this? Everyone beamed and proudly claimed their growth.
I am always acknowledging Tim and being in the space of listening for his possibilities. I'm truly excited that he is attending an introduction November 19th, it's finally a yes. That's so way cool that he sees there is something in it for him just by the way I'm being in the face of life. He wants that for himself. His saying yes is an acknowledgment for me in such a big way.
Tomorrow Diane is having dinner with me at FEZ then attending the intro - that's exciting, she's happy to do so. I need to follow up with Les and thank him and Paul for attending as well to add completion to the evening.
Acknowledgments today: email, Tim, Deenie my accomplishment coach whose birthday it is today. Good deed: collecting all student work and looking over it to prepare for tomorrow so I know where they stand and to acknowledge them for their work while I was gone. Need to work on those collages.
My homework for Living Life Passionately is: I choose my life, everything that it is, and everything that it isn't. In saying that I can see how there are areas that have been chosen for me, that I stepped into, and I did not choose. That there is resentment around it, and I am surviving because I'm making it wrong. So I choose my life, and everything it is and it is not gives me an empowering conversation that leaves me at the cause of my life, as opposed to being at the result of it.
I am playing the game of life and not being played by the game of life. So I decided to buy soup and drink it on the way to Sedona. Hot soup spilled over, soaked me between my legs (yes that's where it was craddled) and I lifted the container to the other side of the car, proclaiming, I choose my life, everything it is and everything it isn't - all the while laughing out loud. It was way too funny.
Life is too short. Make a choice.
I chose to go the school today, pick up work, pick up medicines, and then go to Lindy Hop. All major routes were closed and I took back routes all the way, making me 45 minutes late. I turned up anyway and Gary was happy to see me - since it meant he had a dancing partner to work with, and I was refreshed and ready for the second 1 hour lesson. I got to give up my foggy head and just throw myself into dancing, and it disappeared. I had lots of laughs and gave laughs too. The one question that prompted positive answers was: How are you feeling about this? Everyone beamed and proudly claimed their growth.
I am always acknowledging Tim and being in the space of listening for his possibilities. I'm truly excited that he is attending an introduction November 19th, it's finally a yes. That's so way cool that he sees there is something in it for him just by the way I'm being in the face of life. He wants that for himself. His saying yes is an acknowledgment for me in such a big way.
Tomorrow Diane is having dinner with me at FEZ then attending the intro - that's exciting, she's happy to do so. I need to follow up with Les and thank him and Paul for attending as well to add completion to the evening.
Acknowledgments today: email, Tim, Deenie my accomplishment coach whose birthday it is today. Good deed: collecting all student work and looking over it to prepare for tomorrow so I know where they stand and to acknowledge them for their work while I was gone. Need to work on those collages.
My homework for Living Life Passionately is: I choose my life, everything that it is, and everything that it isn't. In saying that I can see how there are areas that have been chosen for me, that I stepped into, and I did not choose. That there is resentment around it, and I am surviving because I'm making it wrong. So I choose my life, and everything it is and it is not gives me an empowering conversation that leaves me at the cause of my life, as opposed to being at the result of it.
I am playing the game of life and not being played by the game of life. So I decided to buy soup and drink it on the way to Sedona. Hot soup spilled over, soaked me between my legs (yes that's where it was craddled) and I lifted the container to the other side of the car, proclaiming, I choose my life, everything it is and everything it isn't - all the while laughing out loud. It was way too funny.
Life is too short. Make a choice.
Saturday, November 3, 2007
Saturday already
Time zooms by way too fast. Where has it all gone to? I left Thursday, it's a blur - packed in a frenzy, pulled things together. Acknowledged someone I'm sure, thought to myself I need to remember that and now it's all dissapeared. Friday, was intense - gave a lot of acknowledgements to those I presented for, my co-presenter, received tons of thanks and kind comments around my workshop. I still received those today as I'm ready to leave the conference. Last night, treated out to a magnificent dinner with the group and became related to everyone who went the conference and Ken and Sharon. Loads of fun. Lots of laughs and great conversations.
One of the participants is going through an intense time in her life and just needed to brainstorm, verbalize, and emote through the evenings. It was great to see her wake up calmer, peaceful, and say it was the first time in months that she laughed and slept well. All good. The best part of this conference is that it was the first time we all truly related to each other like human beings - and our stories did not revolve around art education. They were personal, real, and heart resonating.
This morning I had so many amazing things happen. Walked through the vendors to have one last look around and was given textbook and supplemental information worth $500 just because the vendor did not want to take it home. Selected 3 free books from a vendor who is woooing us because we are having textbook adoption this year and next. Was acknowledged (and gave acknowledgments) to a small group of friends - outside in the sunshine, holding hands, pretty way cool.
Good deeds: refrained from putting my name in the raffle - I always win something big, and wanted someone else to have a turn. Notified staff the general bathroom was in bad shape, posted the name and number on a conference room door (that was hard to find). This weekend was incredible, and I have tomorrow too. Love my life.
One of the participants is going through an intense time in her life and just needed to brainstorm, verbalize, and emote through the evenings. It was great to see her wake up calmer, peaceful, and say it was the first time in months that she laughed and slept well. All good. The best part of this conference is that it was the first time we all truly related to each other like human beings - and our stories did not revolve around art education. They were personal, real, and heart resonating.
This morning I had so many amazing things happen. Walked through the vendors to have one last look around and was given textbook and supplemental information worth $500 just because the vendor did not want to take it home. Selected 3 free books from a vendor who is woooing us because we are having textbook adoption this year and next. Was acknowledged (and gave acknowledgments) to a small group of friends - outside in the sunshine, holding hands, pretty way cool.
Good deeds: refrained from putting my name in the raffle - I always win something big, and wanted someone else to have a turn. Notified staff the general bathroom was in bad shape, posted the name and number on a conference room door (that was hard to find). This weekend was incredible, and I have tomorrow too. Love my life.
Sunday, October 28, 2007
Today
Acknowledgments: dance partners, on line friends, good deed traffic, organizing self for the week so I have the space for my students and others without feeling pressured, went to Starbucks this morning and left $1 to pay towards the next person's order, tipped $1 in the general tipping container.
Invitation to Nadine to attend home introduction for Wisdom, and Brian for the community event as a follow through for both of them since they are keenly interested. Will speak to Matina, Heather, Melissa on Monday and let them have the info for the community event so they can schedule it as well. Will invite Jacqui as well.
Invitation to Nadine to attend home introduction for Wisdom, and Brian for the community event as a follow through for both of them since they are keenly interested. Will speak to Matina, Heather, Melissa on Monday and let them have the info for the community event so they can schedule it as well. Will invite Jacqui as well.
Saturday, October 27, 2007
Two day
Last night was simply amazing. Lots of great costumes, easy to give acknowledgments of creativity, appreciation, also gave acknowledgement to a beginning dancer with clunky shoes - showing her the steps and saw she was trying hard to learn and make it part of her muscle memory. Enrolment conversation with the bartender in terms of swing dancing, she enjoyed watching us and is signing herself and her husband up this year. Took tons of photos of everyone enjoying themselves. All good. Good deed, requesting a guy to join in the general lesson since females outnumbered guys, and also stepping off the beginners dance floor for the same reason - sharing Mike.
Yesterday, I had an enrolling conversation with C my student. Madame made it into class late - like 10 minutes into announcements late. She ran screaming down the hallway because someone threw water over her and she went to get revenge. When I told her she was tardy she became defiant and I asked her to step outside. I can see how her life is drama, and my life is drama and that I created and added to her drama.
We went outside and talked about being tardy, and mostly being defiant. It took a while to calm her down, slow down my rate of speech, lower my voice to almost monotone to bring her to a listening level. My request to her was to self-monitor her triggers, what she might want to say, how her body is feeling when she is triggered, and what might come up for her as she begins to enter her cognitive analyses. This is where it was a moment for education comes in as opposed to writing her up for defiance. Using the screwdriver as opposed to the hammer. There was a shift in her way of listening for me since I was not making her wrong, just opening up doors of possibilities for her to consider.
Upon reflection, whenever I have someone in the hallway to talk, I will have them just outside my door, facing me to protect them from other students in the hallway, and from prying eyes inside the classroom. I will also drop my voice consistently and that will also keep myself in check.
Today, my acknowledgments are mostly via email since I was checking my messages this morning, conversation with Mike, my good deed right now would be mostly driving, letting cars cut in, weave, allowing lots of space yet keeping up with the flow. Forwarding mail that would make a difference to future recipients.
Yesterday, I had an enrolling conversation with C my student. Madame made it into class late - like 10 minutes into announcements late. She ran screaming down the hallway because someone threw water over her and she went to get revenge. When I told her she was tardy she became defiant and I asked her to step outside. I can see how her life is drama, and my life is drama and that I created and added to her drama.
We went outside and talked about being tardy, and mostly being defiant. It took a while to calm her down, slow down my rate of speech, lower my voice to almost monotone to bring her to a listening level. My request to her was to self-monitor her triggers, what she might want to say, how her body is feeling when she is triggered, and what might come up for her as she begins to enter her cognitive analyses. This is where it was a moment for education comes in as opposed to writing her up for defiance. Using the screwdriver as opposed to the hammer. There was a shift in her way of listening for me since I was not making her wrong, just opening up doors of possibilities for her to consider.
Upon reflection, whenever I have someone in the hallway to talk, I will have them just outside my door, facing me to protect them from other students in the hallway, and from prying eyes inside the classroom. I will also drop my voice consistently and that will also keep myself in check.
Today, my acknowledgments are mostly via email since I was checking my messages this morning, conversation with Mike, my good deed right now would be mostly driving, letting cars cut in, weave, allowing lots of space yet keeping up with the flow. Forwarding mail that would make a difference to future recipients.
Thursday, October 25, 2007
Two day
Wednesday: Club Red, acknowledged dance partners, students, good deed, set up David and Dianne to dance together, loudly clapped and whooped up both the teachers, partners, and live band - added festive joyous atmosphere to dance floor. Acknowledgement in smiles and laughter.
Thursday: acknowledged class for their work on geometric solids, values, and let them know their cow skulls will be exhibited in the Horror hall of fame. Good deed, let car cut in front in traffic, held door open just long enough to be grabbed, had students sweep up and clean off their outside work tables - leaving it cleaner than when they started working.
Thursday: acknowledged class for their work on geometric solids, values, and let them know their cow skulls will be exhibited in the Horror hall of fame. Good deed, let car cut in front in traffic, held door open just long enough to be grabbed, had students sweep up and clean off their outside work tables - leaving it cleaner than when they started working.
Tuesday, October 23, 2007
Catching Up
Monday: Went to Living Life Passionately, introduced and acknowledged Les and Paul who came to see what the program could offer. Both liked what they heard and created for themselves. It was great to have them there. John approached me to work with him on the Production Team and I declined, thanked him for his acknowledgment of me.
Good deed: allowing space in traffic for smoother flow of cars weaving and changing lanes
Tuesday: Acknowledged the classes for being great, extraordinary, setting high standards and being amazing high school art students. Noticed how Cally lightened up around me. Noticed how much I've lightened up since that's the hint from our Monday night class. I am pulling towards myself that I accept everything that my life is and everything that my life is not, and totally bringing myself back to the miraculous of my life and it's beauty in the ordinary every dayness of it. I am smiling, my body language is upbeat, happy, everything just flows evenly. Negative folk really has no impact on who I am being. It's awesome.
Good deed: being joyful energy to those I come into contact with, shift their experience of their own world and be that for those around them. The ripple effect.
Good deed: allowing space in traffic for smoother flow of cars weaving and changing lanes
Tuesday: Acknowledged the classes for being great, extraordinary, setting high standards and being amazing high school art students. Noticed how Cally lightened up around me. Noticed how much I've lightened up since that's the hint from our Monday night class. I am pulling towards myself that I accept everything that my life is and everything that my life is not, and totally bringing myself back to the miraculous of my life and it's beauty in the ordinary every dayness of it. I am smiling, my body language is upbeat, happy, everything just flows evenly. Negative folk really has no impact on who I am being. It's awesome.
Good deed: being joyful energy to those I come into contact with, shift their experience of their own world and be that for those around them. The ripple effect.
Sunday, October 21, 2007
Weekend Review
Friday night at the Fear Farm was stupendous, spooks, gruesome ghouls, amazing props, working together in collaboration to get even more lost in a labarynth of corn, like being a corn child gave me lots of laughs, screams. I totally gave up controlling screams and just went ahead and let it all out with laughs following shortly behind. It was a blast. Friends everywhere to count on for even more fun. Loads of acknowledgements to everyone around me. What a blast. Good deed, taking annonymous happy snappies to capture those memories of I was there - unposed, being in the moment of... sneak shots.
Saturday night: dinner at Tipps 88, acknowledged our hostess and Linda for her greatness in who she was being. Had an enrolling conversation with Linda about pursuing her dreams and fulfilling her heart in possibilities: teaching fashion design at SCC was one such thought. Conversations vanish. I will email her and remind her of her dream course: So you wanna be a designer. Good deed, returning chairs after dinner when everyone left, cheering loudly while hiding in the crowd for the karaoke singers, inspiring others to give hearty claps at the end of performances in acknowledgment of their courage and talent.
Sunday morning: breakfast at The Farm, acknowledgment of Natalie for hosting, those who set up for their service and our enjoyment of the establishment. Good deed, my sleeping and resting so I will be fresh and present for any and everyone tonight at the convention. Giving Tess Harry and Jennifer's phone number for MU so she knows how to get there and not get lost. I also asked what everyone's initiative was to re-present it in their world.
Saturday night: dinner at Tipps 88, acknowledged our hostess and Linda for her greatness in who she was being. Had an enrolling conversation with Linda about pursuing her dreams and fulfilling her heart in possibilities: teaching fashion design at SCC was one such thought. Conversations vanish. I will email her and remind her of her dream course: So you wanna be a designer. Good deed, returning chairs after dinner when everyone left, cheering loudly while hiding in the crowd for the karaoke singers, inspiring others to give hearty claps at the end of performances in acknowledgment of their courage and talent.
Sunday morning: breakfast at The Farm, acknowledgment of Natalie for hosting, those who set up for their service and our enjoyment of the establishment. Good deed, my sleeping and resting so I will be fresh and present for any and everyone tonight at the convention. Giving Tess Harry and Jennifer's phone number for MU so she knows how to get there and not get lost. I also asked what everyone's initiative was to re-present it in their world.
Friday, October 19, 2007
Great Day
Acknowledgment: Deanna, John, Tim, on line, added them to my friends list.
My community: looked at the rock climbing page and familiarized myself with the attendants so when I see them tonight at the Fear Farm I will remember them and be less strange in communication. Good deed: printed out the list of class participants for the course I'm teaching and will prepare their self-portraits in advance, tweaking it before getting together with the co-presenter.
Today, will head off to school to finish off prepping work for exhibiting. Can't believe how time is zooming by so fast. Oh, will collage that listening stage.
My community: looked at the rock climbing page and familiarized myself with the attendants so when I see them tonight at the Fear Farm I will remember them and be less strange in communication. Good deed: printed out the list of class participants for the course I'm teaching and will prepare their self-portraits in advance, tweaking it before getting together with the co-presenter.
Today, will head off to school to finish off prepping work for exhibiting. Can't believe how time is zooming by so fast. Oh, will collage that listening stage.
Thursday, October 18, 2007
Productive Day
Today was highly productive. I recognized Nina for being so competent in her job, loving it, and rising to the occasion of filling a niche in the organization, worked in the classroom for 8 straight hours prepping, grading, putting work on black construction paper ready to exhibit at the front office. Good deed, switching on the copy machines and leaving it on for the next person (it's a holiday). Spent the remainder of the day catching up with 27 email at home.
Wednesday was terrific, we went rock climbing, met bunches of new people: John, Trish, Kevin, Deanna. Jeff said he already knew me - as in 3x. I really ought to say hi to folk and let them tell me if they already know me, that's what happens when I'm super friendly, folk just seem to always remember meeting me. Acknowledged Tim, Paul, John, Deanna, Mike, Harry. Really fun and playful, lots of smiles and chuckles. It was an easy evening that flowed effortlessly. Good deed, undoing straps, lines, harnesses in preparation for the next person.
I love, love, love my life.
enrolling conversation with xracing car driver, Les who is intrigued by Landmark and what it offers for myself, invited him to an intro on Monday.
Wednesday was terrific, we went rock climbing, met bunches of new people: John, Trish, Kevin, Deanna. Jeff said he already knew me - as in 3x. I really ought to say hi to folk and let them tell me if they already know me, that's what happens when I'm super friendly, folk just seem to always remember meeting me. Acknowledged Tim, Paul, John, Deanna, Mike, Harry. Really fun and playful, lots of smiles and chuckles. It was an easy evening that flowed effortlessly. Good deed, undoing straps, lines, harnesses in preparation for the next person.
I love, love, love my life.
enrolling conversation with xracing car driver, Les who is intrigued by Landmark and what it offers for myself, invited him to an intro on Monday.
Monday, October 15, 2007
Good Deed
Today my good deed was to create a place in my LLP group such that the hearing for the group leader is one of acceptance, love, and generosity. To switch how we listen for her as possibility and create an environment that is acceptance for everything we all are and everything we are not. That we choose each other and be there for each other. I walked away complete as did everyone, and I liked how the one individual who was going to drop out of the group because of how the leader was being took on the role of enrolling others into love and acceptance of the group leader and being a stand that she is the one who is folded into the group. We evolved from a group of no possibility to one where everything is possible simply because of what we are up to.
I acknowledged Joe, Matina, Heather's son, Heather, Devorah, Tim
Devorah acknowledge me for continuing my work and being the difference that makes the difference in people's lives.
Enrollment conversations with Matina, Heather, Melissa for Wisdom weekend. Brian is also intent on attending. Social: breakfast at the Farm with Natalie, Deenie, Eileen.
I acknowledged Joe, Matina, Heather's son, Heather, Devorah, Tim
Devorah acknowledge me for continuing my work and being the difference that makes the difference in people's lives.
Enrollment conversations with Matina, Heather, Melissa for Wisdom weekend. Brian is also intent on attending. Social: breakfast at the Farm with Natalie, Deenie, Eileen.
Sunday, October 14, 2007
Last Night, Today
Last night was splendid, ball gowns, black suits, amazing food, gorgeous dinner settings and chairs draped in kimono style gold sashes. I got to meet Ms Senior Arizona, and other famous celebrities, and also was recognized by some other individual who met me in passing. I had an enrollment conversation with Jerry, Sharon's boyfriend for whom his family was splintered and he wanted it whole and complete. That was cool. I acknowledged Margie for her exquisite taste in ball gowns and being an accomplished dancer.
My good deed was quietly asking Paul to dance with Sandy who had only been on the dance floor once that evening.
Acknowledgments returning: Al, Sandy, Dr Michael
Sunday: I had conversation with Mike thanking him for an amazing evening, his outstanding dance performance, and just overall him being himself. We have a pact that we will never presume to know everything about the other for as long as we are in process as a relationship, that we allow each other the space to continually change and be-come, evolve. I commit to and choose Mike.
I have an outstanding life, last night I got to wear a splendid gown that swishes when spun - way fun on the dance floor, and be in a space where the evening was about Mike, and then later about us.
Today, Deenie shared that I am an illuminator. I had an impact on the environment in Starbucks this morning, that my shared giggles type acknowledgment of the young lady serving coffee brought about multitude of smiles in the room - switched how people were being (distant, removed) to that of joy and enjoyment as they waited in line for their turn.
Life is celebration
My good deed was quietly asking Paul to dance with Sandy who had only been on the dance floor once that evening.
Acknowledgments returning: Al, Sandy, Dr Michael
Sunday: I had conversation with Mike thanking him for an amazing evening, his outstanding dance performance, and just overall him being himself. We have a pact that we will never presume to know everything about the other for as long as we are in process as a relationship, that we allow each other the space to continually change and be-come, evolve. I commit to and choose Mike.
I have an outstanding life, last night I got to wear a splendid gown that swishes when spun - way fun on the dance floor, and be in a space where the evening was about Mike, and then later about us.
Today, Deenie shared that I am an illuminator. I had an impact on the environment in Starbucks this morning, that my shared giggles type acknowledgment of the young lady serving coffee brought about multitude of smiles in the room - switched how people were being (distant, removed) to that of joy and enjoyment as they waited in line for their turn.
Life is celebration
Saturday, October 13, 2007
State Fair
Friday is always a high energy, restless day for students, and twice that when it's before the break. Kids had a hard time settling. My acknowledgment of their frustrations, their ability to stay focused and bring themselves back into their work helped settle the class. I also asked Ms Davido to hand out candy as a thank you to them for being such great workers. Friday was great and zoomed by so quickly. Good deed: traffic, letting cars cut in.
I went to the State Fair with Mike and acknowledged strangers for their contribution in their work, asked the ticket person how their day was going, showed an interest in who they were really seeing them perk up and light up their face is my reward. We lost our group of friends and enjoyed the rest of the evening watching the First Nations rodeo - bucking horses and pulling steers to the ground events.
Walking through the midway and hearing Mike talk about the "trickster" aspect of running the kiosks totally brought back to me that when one kills possibility there is no place for possibility and that I am empowered to bring the conversation of possibility. Conversation happens the way it does because of me, and what I choose to create. I talked about the multitude of possibilities of celebration, promise, lights, excitement that happens in the midway and switched the tone and content of the conversation. It became a vital, alive place to be in and lifted spirits. I saw Jeanifer (about whom the group - including myself have a lot of noise and I get that I choose her as group leader and I choose to accept how she is being in the face of circumstances), and offered to have her join my group to explore the State Fair. She declined and I was okay with that answer too.
Noise, I get to hear others noise in conversation and can see where it can be triggered.
Saturday. Today, we went for coffee and I met Barbara the lady who owns Bailey her horse that she loves to care for in the weekends, and by acknowledging her love of ownership she shared more about her passion for horseriding. I met Laura the editor who is interested in swing dance lessons and perhaps I might see her at Club Red, ready to explore something different. I notice today that I can readily receive acknowledgments from Mike and I allow him to do nice things for me. It's all good.
Tonight, I'm off to a celebrity swing $200 black tie benefit as Mike's guest - truly excited by that. This time last year going to such an event was not in my vision. I knew I would have an opportunity to wear my gown, just didn't think it would be this soon.
I went to the State Fair with Mike and acknowledged strangers for their contribution in their work, asked the ticket person how their day was going, showed an interest in who they were really seeing them perk up and light up their face is my reward. We lost our group of friends and enjoyed the rest of the evening watching the First Nations rodeo - bucking horses and pulling steers to the ground events.
Walking through the midway and hearing Mike talk about the "trickster" aspect of running the kiosks totally brought back to me that when one kills possibility there is no place for possibility and that I am empowered to bring the conversation of possibility. Conversation happens the way it does because of me, and what I choose to create. I talked about the multitude of possibilities of celebration, promise, lights, excitement that happens in the midway and switched the tone and content of the conversation. It became a vital, alive place to be in and lifted spirits. I saw Jeanifer (about whom the group - including myself have a lot of noise and I get that I choose her as group leader and I choose to accept how she is being in the face of circumstances), and offered to have her join my group to explore the State Fair. She declined and I was okay with that answer too.
Noise, I get to hear others noise in conversation and can see where it can be triggered.
Saturday. Today, we went for coffee and I met Barbara the lady who owns Bailey her horse that she loves to care for in the weekends, and by acknowledging her love of ownership she shared more about her passion for horseriding. I met Laura the editor who is interested in swing dance lessons and perhaps I might see her at Club Red, ready to explore something different. I notice today that I can readily receive acknowledgments from Mike and I allow him to do nice things for me. It's all good.
Tonight, I'm off to a celebrity swing $200 black tie benefit as Mike's guest - truly excited by that. This time last year going to such an event was not in my vision. I knew I would have an opportunity to wear my gown, just didn't think it would be this soon.
Thursday, October 11, 2007
Acknowledgment
Today I had to presence my initiative, it helps that I journal. Writing keeps the conversation in the forefront so I can make it happen. Today, I received acknowledgments from Trish - on line. Yesterday, from students from a class I was substitute teaching - they wanted me to be on board with them. I was at play yesterday and a little less today.
Tomorrow I will be at ease around the students on their last Friday before the break. Good deed - returning the grocery cart, clearing the mess outside of the classroom, having the students pick up papers from the floor. Last night, asking a newcomer to ask Charlie to dance, since Charlie is a great dancer and tends to hide out.
Lots of fun all round, great days. Tonight early night.
I noticed I'm having a hard time receiving acknowledgments. I can feel myself shutting down around receiving them from someone close to me, like I don't deserve them. Really interesting.
Noise, noise, noise - I could hear a student's noise as he wanted to do his work his way and did not want to switch over to any other way of working. He even cursed me, and I did not react, just described his feelings and how I was a stand for his success, sending him back to the table. It felt healthy.
Tomorrow I will be at ease around the students on their last Friday before the break. Good deed - returning the grocery cart, clearing the mess outside of the classroom, having the students pick up papers from the floor. Last night, asking a newcomer to ask Charlie to dance, since Charlie is a great dancer and tends to hide out.
Lots of fun all round, great days. Tonight early night.
I noticed I'm having a hard time receiving acknowledgments. I can feel myself shutting down around receiving them from someone close to me, like I don't deserve them. Really interesting.
Noise, noise, noise - I could hear a student's noise as he wanted to do his work his way and did not want to switch over to any other way of working. He even cursed me, and I did not react, just described his feelings and how I was a stand for his success, sending him back to the table. It felt healthy.
Wednesday, October 10, 2007
Weekend 4
The weekend was glorious with Wisdom insights and wows. 7 Stages of language to consider in any conversation that we want to have an impact in - that's powerful stuff. It is Wednesday and my initiative is taking off really well.
Acknowledgment: sometimes I just do it so naturally, I really have to think where and how, they become to me like breathing and there is a shift not only in the person, but also in me when it's given.
Result: Yesterday, I was invited to a Hawaiin Luaua by Lisa - and I don't really know her, had to click on her name to figure out who she was. I acknowledged, declined the offer and she emailed me back to let me know she would invite me again. Way cool.
This morning, Harry wanted a ride to swing dancing which I cleared with Mike. I acknowledged Harry in my response and he in turn acknowledged me back for all the work I do, and decided to get there on his own steam.
My homework is to collage the 7 stages of conversation, do the initiative and journal, be at play with the socials. I posted the socials online and have had no takers which means I will need to go out and hook up with someone else's social. I will check out what's going online.
Good deed: return grocery carts to their bay. Have students pick up their trash off the floor so the custodian has less cleaning up to do, and it teaches them to be responsible.
Acknowledgment: sometimes I just do it so naturally, I really have to think where and how, they become to me like breathing and there is a shift not only in the person, but also in me when it's given.
Result: Yesterday, I was invited to a Hawaiin Luaua by Lisa - and I don't really know her, had to click on her name to figure out who she was. I acknowledged, declined the offer and she emailed me back to let me know she would invite me again. Way cool.
This morning, Harry wanted a ride to swing dancing which I cleared with Mike. I acknowledged Harry in my response and he in turn acknowledged me back for all the work I do, and decided to get there on his own steam.
My homework is to collage the 7 stages of conversation, do the initiative and journal, be at play with the socials. I posted the socials online and have had no takers which means I will need to go out and hook up with someone else's social. I will check out what's going online.
Good deed: return grocery carts to their bay. Have students pick up their trash off the floor so the custodian has less cleaning up to do, and it teaches them to be responsible.
Sunday, September 16, 2007
Enrollment Conversation
Had an enrollment conversation last night with Paul around giving and receiving acknowledgment, this morning received a lovely email acknowledging me for who I am being as a stand for my kids and the impact it has on their lives. Way cool.
This morning shopped with Jackie and stopped to push grocery carts into each other to clear a passage for people to walk through in the shade. Good deed. Normally, I would have walked past the area and let the employers take care of this - it felt good to be contribution.
Acknowledged Thomas and Patrick for being a good dancer.
This morning shopped with Jackie and stopped to push grocery carts into each other to clear a passage for people to walk through in the shade. Good deed. Normally, I would have walked past the area and let the employers take care of this - it felt good to be contribution.
Acknowledged Thomas and Patrick for being a good dancer.
Friday, September 14, 2007
Daily Journaling
Daily journaling is difficult online since I'm at this computer infrequently. I will start writing to keep up with the days...
Abundance today in thank yous in the community, Susan, students, peers, those who service. I notice that there is so much to be thankful for and positives keep repeating.
Noise, not a whole lot. I'm aware of it when I hear it from myself or the other, also what comes up for me is my advice is their noise and it stills me into listening deeply, the other can be fully expressed until satiated.
It's nice to have be a constant, and be closer to who I am.
Good deeds, picking up, teaching students to pick up materials rolled onto the floor, put scrap into recycle, eases the job for the custodians and teaches responsibility. Letting cars cut into traffic.
Every day is a celebration with my community
Abundance today in thank yous in the community, Susan, students, peers, those who service. I notice that there is so much to be thankful for and positives keep repeating.
Noise, not a whole lot. I'm aware of it when I hear it from myself or the other, also what comes up for me is my advice is their noise and it stills me into listening deeply, the other can be fully expressed until satiated.
It's nice to have be a constant, and be closer to who I am.
Good deeds, picking up, teaching students to pick up materials rolled onto the floor, put scrap into recycle, eases the job for the custodians and teaches responsibility. Letting cars cut into traffic.
Every day is a celebration with my community
Friday, September 7, 2007
Where did the week go?
Acknowledgements given and returned 100 fold, through my emails, on my personal profile page at Meet Up, through telephone conversations, day to day conversations. I love the initiative.
Today, I won a drafting table. Way cool. No noise there.
Noise today was about me feeling small about teaching Visual Art 2 and looking for support from seasoned teachers. Totally saw that the moment I had the conversation. Structural conversation, hunched over, squished up significant face, lowered monotone voice, tightness in body - yeah, that. Then lightened by interrupting conversation prompted an immediate physiological change, body upright, voice lighter, face relaxed, laughter. Joy. So, I can give that up, being small, and playing small.
Being authentic that's about wanting help, being in my victim language, stamping my foot, and wanting to do well, not wanting to dissapoint, and that's all noise too. Love this stuff.
All week, unknown good deeds, picking things up, tidying areas, leaving the space better than before, asking someone to ask someonelse to dance, matching people up.
Hosting Lindy Hop, collaging with Coral and whoever else wants to join, going to Tempe Performing arts festival opening all good Wisdom community oriented socials.
Today, I won a drafting table. Way cool. No noise there.
Noise today was about me feeling small about teaching Visual Art 2 and looking for support from seasoned teachers. Totally saw that the moment I had the conversation. Structural conversation, hunched over, squished up significant face, lowered monotone voice, tightness in body - yeah, that. Then lightened by interrupting conversation prompted an immediate physiological change, body upright, voice lighter, face relaxed, laughter. Joy. So, I can give that up, being small, and playing small.
Being authentic that's about wanting help, being in my victim language, stamping my foot, and wanting to do well, not wanting to dissapoint, and that's all noise too. Love this stuff.
All week, unknown good deeds, picking things up, tidying areas, leaving the space better than before, asking someone to ask someonelse to dance, matching people up.
Hosting Lindy Hop, collaging with Coral and whoever else wants to join, going to Tempe Performing arts festival opening all good Wisdom community oriented socials.
Monday, September 3, 2007
Boomerang
I start my day of with acknowledgments of myself, how great life is, full of abundance, where everything comes together. Last night I had a terrific time going to salsa lesson, flowed with staying for a group dinner, meeting new people, and closed of last night with an enrollment conversation about Meet up, Landmark, and Wisdom. I will be bringing Tom to my Monday night Living Life Passionately class - he's heard a lot about Landmark and wants to see what it's all about.
His reciprocal acknowledgment of me is sending me this poem by Oriah. He felt the enrollment conversation had placed him in the middle of this:
The Invitation
It doesn't interest me what you do for a living.
I want to know what you ache for
and if you dare to dream of meeting your heart's longing.
It doesn't interest me how old you are.
I want to know if you will risk looking like a fool
for love
for your dream
for the adventure of being alive.
It doesn't interest me what planets are squaring your moon...
I want to know if you have touched the centre of your own sorrow
if you have been opened by life's betrayals
or have become shriveled and closed
from fear of further pain.
I want to know if you can sit with pain
mine or your own
without moving to hide itor fade it
or fix it.
I want to know if you can be with joy
mine or your own
if you can dance with wildness
and let the ecstasy fill you to the tips of your fingers and toes
without cautioning usto be carefulto be realisticto remember the limitations of being human.
It doesn't interest me if the story you are telling me
is true.
I want to know if you can
disappoint another
to be true to yourself.
If you can bear the accusation of betrayal
and not betray your own soul.
If you can be faithless
and therefore trustworthy.
I want to know if you can see Beauty
even when it is not pretty
every day.
And if you can source your own lifefrom its presence.
I want to know if you can live with failure
yours and mine
and still stand at the edge of the lake
and shout to the silver of the full moon,"Yes."
It doesn't interest me
to know where you live or how much money you have.
I want to know if you can get up
after the night of grief and despair
weary and bruised to the bone
and do what needs to be done
to feed the children.
It doesn't interest me who you know
or how you came to be here.
I want to know if you will stand
in the centre of the fire
with meand not shrink back.
It doesn't interest me where or what or with whom
you have studied.
I want to know what sustains you
from the inside
when all else falls away.
I want to know if you can be alone
with yourself
and if you truly like the company you keep
in the empty moments.
*********
What I create in my community comes back to me like a boomerang, and for that I'm blessed. I started my day by acknowledging Tom and Tim for their being contribution in playing full out in being great in the world.
His reciprocal acknowledgment of me is sending me this poem by Oriah. He felt the enrollment conversation had placed him in the middle of this:
The Invitation
It doesn't interest me what you do for a living.
I want to know what you ache for
and if you dare to dream of meeting your heart's longing.
It doesn't interest me how old you are.
I want to know if you will risk looking like a fool
for love
for your dream
for the adventure of being alive.
It doesn't interest me what planets are squaring your moon...
I want to know if you have touched the centre of your own sorrow
if you have been opened by life's betrayals
or have become shriveled and closed
from fear of further pain.
I want to know if you can sit with pain
mine or your own
without moving to hide itor fade it
or fix it.
I want to know if you can be with joy
mine or your own
if you can dance with wildness
and let the ecstasy fill you to the tips of your fingers and toes
without cautioning usto be carefulto be realisticto remember the limitations of being human.
It doesn't interest me if the story you are telling me
is true.
I want to know if you can
disappoint another
to be true to yourself.
If you can bear the accusation of betrayal
and not betray your own soul.
If you can be faithless
and therefore trustworthy.
I want to know if you can see Beauty
even when it is not pretty
every day.
And if you can source your own lifefrom its presence.
I want to know if you can live with failure
yours and mine
and still stand at the edge of the lake
and shout to the silver of the full moon,"Yes."
It doesn't interest me
to know where you live or how much money you have.
I want to know if you can get up
after the night of grief and despair
weary and bruised to the bone
and do what needs to be done
to feed the children.
It doesn't interest me who you know
or how you came to be here.
I want to know if you will stand
in the centre of the fire
with meand not shrink back.
It doesn't interest me where or what or with whom
you have studied.
I want to know what sustains you
from the inside
when all else falls away.
I want to know if you can be alone
with yourself
and if you truly like the company you keep
in the empty moments.
*********
What I create in my community comes back to me like a boomerang, and for that I'm blessed. I started my day by acknowledging Tom and Tim for their being contribution in playing full out in being great in the world.
Sunday, September 2, 2007
Today
I love my accomplishment coach - she is awesome, inspirational, and really helps me set the tone for the rest of my week. Just a breathe of fresh, honest, authentic conversation. I am inspired to be that for my community.
What do I love about my life?: Cuz Al reflected on how wonderful his kids and wife were, and then shared his discovery of his debilitating thyroid disease which is now medicated and from which he now gets the relationships he never had before. He shared in a way that was made possible because of the reflective question. It created a space for him to say something that created a closeness for both of us to talk about and celebrate together.
Acknowledgments, come easy to me and now I'm upping it one notch to make them profound, to create the other in a way that makes a difference and can be heard in the context delivered. My measurement is being acknowledged back via words or actions. I now socialize enough to not really have that be a measurement. What I notice is how I am perceived by others. Last night I had an enrollment conversation about Landmark such that the individual wanted to know how to find out more, and he would google Landmark education. I was responsible and made it known that there would be cult information - which is what we are not. Freda, my friend, pointed out immediately that it was not how I appeared to her. Both are inspired and Freda loves the sound of the Wisdom class. I will invite her to our Community Fair.
I will find out from Mike if he might be willing to partner with me in swing dancing for the Community event, showcase his New York Times best seller series, I think that would be way cool.
Off to work on my collage.
What do I love about my life?: Cuz Al reflected on how wonderful his kids and wife were, and then shared his discovery of his debilitating thyroid disease which is now medicated and from which he now gets the relationships he never had before. He shared in a way that was made possible because of the reflective question. It created a space for him to say something that created a closeness for both of us to talk about and celebrate together.
Acknowledgments, come easy to me and now I'm upping it one notch to make them profound, to create the other in a way that makes a difference and can be heard in the context delivered. My measurement is being acknowledged back via words or actions. I now socialize enough to not really have that be a measurement. What I notice is how I am perceived by others. Last night I had an enrollment conversation about Landmark such that the individual wanted to know how to find out more, and he would google Landmark education. I was responsible and made it known that there would be cult information - which is what we are not. Freda, my friend, pointed out immediately that it was not how I appeared to her. Both are inspired and Freda loves the sound of the Wisdom class. I will invite her to our Community Fair.
I will find out from Mike if he might be willing to partner with me in swing dancing for the Community event, showcase his New York Times best seller series, I think that would be way cool.
Off to work on my collage.
Saturday, September 1, 2007
Zooming Days
How is it that it is already Saturday? Every day I think of what I'm going to journal, and somehow it does not make it to the finger tips. The daily annonymous deed that was unusual was my surruptiously taking down out dated student event posters. The rest falls into what almost becomes habit - cleaning up after myself, clearing trash hazadous to slips and unsightly (I do feel for the custodian). Teaching students to pick up after themselves.
Generative conversation: What do you like about your life. Wow, I asked the computer techie this to discover she is retiring in two months after 35 years of service, age 58, with a history of being a principal - her listening for me and how I stand for what's possible for my student who has gone dissaray had depth, and having asked her that question revealed why. We got to know each other in a whole different way and I saw her as a for real person, beyond someone who fixes glitches.
Noise: I can see how I respond to noise immediately when I react with emotion, feel the blood rise to my face in teen power play and my racket of "I'm right" steps in. The moment it happens I know I've reached a place of discomfort and it is incomplete. I step outside with the student and get complete and create a relationship worth having. Thank you Landmark. Good one to collage for my racket.
The enrollment conversation is soooo not about noise. There is no room for it because it speaks to what is universal, touching, and human. I had an enrollment conversation about the impact Landmark has on my life, and it is all about being genuine and sharing so that the other can see something for themself. Resonance a way of connecting beyond noise.
Social calendar: Swing dance lesson, attending Rave live band with Coral this week. Will work on collage homework this weekend.
Generative conversation: What do you like about your life. Wow, I asked the computer techie this to discover she is retiring in two months after 35 years of service, age 58, with a history of being a principal - her listening for me and how I stand for what's possible for my student who has gone dissaray had depth, and having asked her that question revealed why. We got to know each other in a whole different way and I saw her as a for real person, beyond someone who fixes glitches.
Noise: I can see how I respond to noise immediately when I react with emotion, feel the blood rise to my face in teen power play and my racket of "I'm right" steps in. The moment it happens I know I've reached a place of discomfort and it is incomplete. I step outside with the student and get complete and create a relationship worth having. Thank you Landmark. Good one to collage for my racket.
The enrollment conversation is soooo not about noise. There is no room for it because it speaks to what is universal, touching, and human. I had an enrollment conversation about the impact Landmark has on my life, and it is all about being genuine and sharing so that the other can see something for themself. Resonance a way of connecting beyond noise.
Social calendar: Swing dance lesson, attending Rave live band with Coral this week. Will work on collage homework this weekend.
Wednesday, August 29, 2007
Work Day
There were many gifts today, Susan and her husband help set up the video and LCD projector with way cool sound, a mom popped in to pick up her daughter who was walking in tardy every day and I had just removed milady's cell phone - to return it with explanation to her mom, the kids got really excited about their inventions. They are adorable, having nuclear fission powered fridges that eject a soda can at 400 miles - their creativity and vision for what is possible lights up their faces; there's an excitement in their voices and gestures. The kids are all settling down to work with minimal disruption. Lovely.
Acknowledgments: the classes, Susan and her husband
Wiped down the bathroom sink, picked up papers off floor, re-organized the piles of papers at the back counter.
Acknowledgments: the classes, Susan and her husband
Wiped down the bathroom sink, picked up papers off floor, re-organized the piles of papers at the back counter.
Monday, August 27, 2007
Easy Day
My job is to be happy. Everything went smoothly, had lots of fun with the kids, over dramatized to teach what learning attitude is not - got lots of giggles and laughs, their work is looking amazing. Acknowledged Susan for being such a greater teacher getting such high quality products from her kiddies. The day zoomed by so fast, with lots of energy left for the remainder. Picked up stuff off the floor, moved objects left in the middle of the hall to the side walls where they were safer and less likely to be stepped on, slipped on.
Nina left today, taking all her stuff with her, lots of hugs. Tomorrow, I'm hosting swing dancing for both the Meet Up group and Wisdom group - bliss.
Nina left today, taking all her stuff with her, lots of hugs. Tomorrow, I'm hosting swing dancing for both the Meet Up group and Wisdom group - bliss.
Sunday, August 26, 2007
Mercury Game
I stayed home for the most part of the day, had my coaching call with Deenie, that was fabulous to be in conversation where everything is possible and be in a space where generativity takes place. The whole aspect of one anonymous good deed quite easily becomes several without putting too much thought into it, just remembering to log it in is amazing to me. I notice how I used to struggle with coming up with just one annonymous good deed, and now in the swing of it all, one follows another.
Today Mike acknowledged me for many wonderful things and that felt ever so good. Nina has negotiated to come home tonight so she can pack and get herself organized to leave on Tuesday. Went to the Mercury game, and that was delightful, in play, enjoying every moment, hearing the excitement, the screams of delight and anguish among the audience. Truly pleasant.
Noise: choice between dating someone who is in Landmark, or someone who is not. Is that noise, making wrong, or do I look at it from the point of view of is it workable.
Today Mike acknowledged me for many wonderful things and that felt ever so good. Nina has negotiated to come home tonight so she can pack and get herself organized to leave on Tuesday. Went to the Mercury game, and that was delightful, in play, enjoying every moment, hearing the excitement, the screams of delight and anguish among the audience. Truly pleasant.
Noise: choice between dating someone who is in Landmark, or someone who is not. Is that noise, making wrong, or do I look at it from the point of view of is it workable.
Saturday, August 25, 2007
Peaceful Day
Today was a peaceful, quiet, fun day with Nina. We did all the girly shopping things together. Noticed and arrested whatever judgments I might have around fashion creating the form as object. Met and acknowledged Andrea for being such a great mom, returned scattered shoes to their rightful spots, quickly finished eating in time to give up my prime lunch table for someone who was just stepping out with a trayful of food (love people watching) .
Friday, August 24, 2007
Break Through
Today I shared with my Wisdom online community my courageous moment of cleaning up and being complete with my ex-husband in acknowledging where I was at fault through the marriage and divorce and having that resolved. It was an uplifting experience creating an opening for a different way of relating - having the past totally healed and behind for everyone, including Nina. I acknowledged him for his contribution as dad, especially today in being there for Nina because she needed technology back up and he proofed her dissertation (which had me nodding off). The breakthrough was getting through my noise. Huge release.
Yesterday, my other annonymous good deed was to leave my change to cover a student who might be short in paying for their lunch or drink at the food kiosk. I think I might walk over at the beginning of lunch and leave small change for that instance more often.
Today, it was the usual let someone in during traffic, wave someone on, pass on the first parking spot and take the second one, re-stack some books on the shelves outside the bookstore.
Yesterday, my other annonymous good deed was to leave my change to cover a student who might be short in paying for their lunch or drink at the food kiosk. I think I might walk over at the beginning of lunch and leave small change for that instance more often.
Today, it was the usual let someone in during traffic, wave someone on, pass on the first parking spot and take the second one, re-stack some books on the shelves outside the bookstore.
Thursday, August 23, 2007
Reflection
Tons of annonymous good deeds - it's easy when I'm out and about. Folded untidy piles of clothes at a store when no one was looking, picked up trash, a student had her notebooks and belongings scattered (kicked about) all over the hallway after the rush and I picked up the pieces and set it in a nice neat pile by the wall (everyone was in class). I notice I am more mindful of what's around me and one annonymous good deed follows another with ease. Somethings become an everyday occurence, picking up trash, letting others cut into traffic.
I can see why acknowledgment is easiest with those who serve, because that's just a given. I continue to acknowledge the student as an individual and the class as a whole along with.
Yes I can totally see what I say as noise and I notice that however I word my advice (through my experience) triggers the need for the recipient to give advice, and I in turn get to hear that as noise - kinda like a ping pong effect. I created my own noise today in running my racket about making someone wrong and it left me feeling powerless and empty. My daughter, Nina, acknowledged all the cool things about the situation and I was completely enrolled. It's wonderful to have that created for me, restorative and aaaaaaaaah.
Breaking recurring conversations is something I am aware of this week. Things that come up over and over again, I can release and let go, notice what is, and elect to play with conversation that breaks the pattern with a clearing for something fresh, different, or a moment for reflection. It leaves me and the other in a space of "choice."
I can see why acknowledgment is easiest with those who serve, because that's just a given. I continue to acknowledge the student as an individual and the class as a whole along with.
Yes I can totally see what I say as noise and I notice that however I word my advice (through my experience) triggers the need for the recipient to give advice, and I in turn get to hear that as noise - kinda like a ping pong effect. I created my own noise today in running my racket about making someone wrong and it left me feeling powerless and empty. My daughter, Nina, acknowledged all the cool things about the situation and I was completely enrolled. It's wonderful to have that created for me, restorative and aaaaaaaaah.
Breaking recurring conversations is something I am aware of this week. Things that come up over and over again, I can release and let go, notice what is, and elect to play with conversation that breaks the pattern with a clearing for something fresh, different, or a moment for reflection. It leaves me and the other in a space of "choice."
Tuesday, August 21, 2007
Nina Time
I picked up Nina from the airport and it is wonderful visiting with her. I needed to stop my noise in my listening to young student, Rachel, who wanted to know what to do if a boy she doesn't like wants to date her. This is huge in her world, and in my listening I had my voices saying I needed to run out in time to collect Nina, this is insignificant, it will pass.... Being 100% present I changed my structural language, shifted my body, and gave her my full attention, slowing the pace of my voice to create even more space for her in my life. The physiological change created a different way of listening and I could totally focus on her needs. The mind follows the body's intent. We both felt complete at the end of the conversation.
Acknowledgments: airport server, information desk, random students
Annonymous good deed: clearing and wiping down the table at the airport after I finished eating, tucking in the chair so the area is ready for the next person. Being aware of the environment, those around me and how I contribute to make it a better place.
Acknowledgments: airport server, information desk, random students
Annonymous good deed: clearing and wiping down the table at the airport after I finished eating, tucking in the chair so the area is ready for the next person. Being aware of the environment, those around me and how I contribute to make it a better place.
Sunday, August 19, 2007
Two Posts
Likely there will be two posts. What I'm noticing is that the other person gets to talk a lot, tons and tons. Spot light is all on them and I get to be a listening wall. Is that's what's supposed to happen? Oh wait... that's my noise.
Saturday, August 18, 2007
Dancing
During conversation with Laura this evening I offered prompts so she could continue to be fully self-expressed and noticed the difference between noise and being of service. This was her second time out with the Meet Up group and she was happy to get out and carve a life for herself. I also pulled her onto the dance floor with the dancing group she danced with smiles. My annoymous good deed might be asking Kermit to ask her to dance - I'll do that next time. I tend to want to do the good deed in person without thinking about it, my strong suit?
It's easiest restraining myself from interrupting, being my racket, with strangers, or people I almost sort of know. I am more mindful when I speak with someone I do know. Interesting.
Acknowledgments: the young lady packing up the table to leave, the young gentleman serving us and the other one who made our meal. It creates a space of cheerfulness in coming and going, leaving me with the sense of peace.
It's easiest restraining myself from interrupting, being my racket, with strangers, or people I almost sort of know. I am more mindful when I speak with someone I do know. Interesting.
Acknowledgments: the young lady packing up the table to leave, the young gentleman serving us and the other one who made our meal. It creates a space of cheerfulness in coming and going, leaving me with the sense of peace.
Friday, August 17, 2007
August 17
During group conversation I notice my need to add or interrupt and I literally restrain, force my mouth to remain closed (structural), look at Sue and Sally and neither seem to notice my lack of contribution. In fact, they are really get into expressing themselves and their faces light up. The thread of that conversation has a space to close.
At the base of my need for adding to conversation is my expression "I am important, I count, and take me seriously." I want to be seen as knowledgeable and all grown up. It's all "I" centered and about my needs and it comes across that way. This is the source of my racket and its around domination or avoiding domination.
Today, the good deed was to have Sally extend the invitation to Janet to join us for "happy meal" (we are non-alcoholics). Janet is a new administrator who works endlessly, and declined because her husband is leaving this weekend.
These are my acknowledgments given verbally: my students for having great learning attitudes, rising to the challenge of trying something different, the parents last night for attending open house to be related to their children and be a stand for their success. Today, I completed with the class those who invited/parents who came/did not come and acknowledged them as students. I notice my first week of school has been stress less, easy, and filled with lots of smiles.
At the base of my need for adding to conversation is my expression "I am important, I count, and take me seriously." I want to be seen as knowledgeable and all grown up. It's all "I" centered and about my needs and it comes across that way. This is the source of my racket and its around domination or avoiding domination.
Today, the good deed was to have Sally extend the invitation to Janet to join us for "happy meal" (we are non-alcoholics). Janet is a new administrator who works endlessly, and declined because her husband is leaving this weekend.
These are my acknowledgments given verbally: my students for having great learning attitudes, rising to the challenge of trying something different, the parents last night for attending open house to be related to their children and be a stand for their success. Today, I completed with the class those who invited/parents who came/did not come and acknowledged them as students. I notice my first week of school has been stress less, easy, and filled with lots of smiles.
Thursday, August 16, 2007
Wisdom Journal
Thursday, August 16, 2007
Wisdom Homework: To observe noise (trying to give advice) in conversation, do an annonymous good deed that the recipient will use, and journal outcome.
Observation:
I kept thinking what I'm thinking is Noise as Susan talks, and I can see how she has a conversation that loops into what she wants to talk about - what's truly important to her, her daughter leaving for Korea last night. I try to differentiate between noise and perpetration withhold and realize that it's all noise. Nothing I can say forwards anything or makes the difference. This is a disappearing conversation. I notice that I want to say something that shows I know my stuff (she's my mentor teacher, department lead) and have to refrain because I can see it's like being one up on someone.
It's hard to break the pattern, habit of noise making, and I find myself slipping, catching myself erupting noise and immediately see the impact it has on relatedness - we aren't. The empowering habit is being present in my listening.
Annonymous Good Deed
Today, I looked for ways to contribute anonymously, and could not see an opening. Yesterday was easier, let someone cut in traffic. In fact, today, I cut off someone and then realized that I could be gracious and let someone in as a good deed. After thought. Perhaps I might pick up post it notes and pop them on secretary's desk, thank you cards, something to slip on their desk? Maybe put something on the parked car window that would make a difference? Wondering what could I do to generate a "Pay it forward" motion.
All is well.
Wisdom Homework: To observe noise (trying to give advice) in conversation, do an annonymous good deed that the recipient will use, and journal outcome.
Observation:
I kept thinking what I'm thinking is Noise as Susan talks, and I can see how she has a conversation that loops into what she wants to talk about - what's truly important to her, her daughter leaving for Korea last night. I try to differentiate between noise and perpetration withhold and realize that it's all noise. Nothing I can say forwards anything or makes the difference. This is a disappearing conversation. I notice that I want to say something that shows I know my stuff (she's my mentor teacher, department lead) and have to refrain because I can see it's like being one up on someone.
It's hard to break the pattern, habit of noise making, and I find myself slipping, catching myself erupting noise and immediately see the impact it has on relatedness - we aren't. The empowering habit is being present in my listening.
Annonymous Good Deed
Today, I looked for ways to contribute anonymously, and could not see an opening. Yesterday was easier, let someone cut in traffic. In fact, today, I cut off someone and then realized that I could be gracious and let someone in as a good deed. After thought. Perhaps I might pick up post it notes and pop them on secretary's desk, thank you cards, something to slip on their desk? Maybe put something on the parked car window that would make a difference? Wondering what could I do to generate a "Pay it forward" motion.
All is well.
Saturday, May 19, 2007
Lions Quest
Yes, we just got over AIMS and now we are finishing up three Wednesdays of Lions Quest - drugs, tobacco and alcohol education. I predict we will see zero substance abuse experimentation on campus because the kids get it that it's not cool, and what I do see is a rise in physical misbehavior. The incident of dumping kids in trash cans is on the rise.
14 1/2 days to the last day of school, less one day for a Jillians field trip/celebration, the 1/2 day is graduation and clean up, the day before that is finishing up, clearing out projects, signing Yearbooks, so for real teaching days - 12.
The kids will just finish their painting assignment, (It's just studio trimming off art history and other understandings) others will have worked through their printmaking assignment and the whistles will have the final firing. I settle for a lot less at this stage since the students do not receive in depth preparation for their paintings. Perhaps I need to reconsider what and how I teach in the last two weeks of school.
This school year has been wonderful:
Middle School Lead art teacher, mentor to student teacher two semesters, beginning teacher coach all year, in charge of the schools internet permission slips, spear head the PTO wish list for teachers, set up the arts walk, inspire art teachers to create artwork for a gallery exhibit, write an $8000 grant for photographer artist in residence for next year, be nominated as outstanding art teacher, and graduate with Masters in Curriculum and Instruction.
14 1/2 days to the last day of school, less one day for a Jillians field trip/celebration, the 1/2 day is graduation and clean up, the day before that is finishing up, clearing out projects, signing Yearbooks, so for real teaching days - 12.
The kids will just finish their painting assignment, (It's just studio trimming off art history and other understandings) others will have worked through their printmaking assignment and the whistles will have the final firing. I settle for a lot less at this stage since the students do not receive in depth preparation for their paintings. Perhaps I need to reconsider what and how I teach in the last two weeks of school.
This school year has been wonderful:
Middle School Lead art teacher, mentor to student teacher two semesters, beginning teacher coach all year, in charge of the schools internet permission slips, spear head the PTO wish list for teachers, set up the arts walk, inspire art teachers to create artwork for a gallery exhibit, write an $8000 grant for photographer artist in residence for next year, be nominated as outstanding art teacher, and graduate with Masters in Curriculum and Instruction.
Friday, April 13, 2007
Outstanding Art Teacher
Today I received word I have been nominated by our principal for Outstanding Art Teacher of the year award for the Arts in Ed Council. I just finished writing a $8000 grant (actually a sum of two different grants, one used as a matching grant for the other) and it was intense. The photographer is working with our kids to create a permanent photographic collage on metal on campus and cyanotype journal books to be used in writing classes.
Here's to a great weekend after a truly hectic week of collecting signatures, writing endless letters, and late night perculating of yet more writing. No wonder I'm a little behind in my Master's writing homework - I'm all written out. Next week I have it that I can finally focus on guess what - writing for my Masters and doing the reading for that. The two grants have been huge for me and the school and being done gives me mental space to take on the next big giant.
Two weeks of intense data gathering, then analyzing. I am pumped.
Here's to a great weekend after a truly hectic week of collecting signatures, writing endless letters, and late night perculating of yet more writing. No wonder I'm a little behind in my Master's writing homework - I'm all written out. Next week I have it that I can finally focus on guess what - writing for my Masters and doing the reading for that. The two grants have been huge for me and the school and being done gives me mental space to take on the next big giant.
Two weeks of intense data gathering, then analyzing. I am pumped.
Thursday, April 12, 2007
AIMS Week
This week has been a nice break from routine. I am proctoring my Advisory (think Homeroom) kids in AIMS, and then we have alternating 3 period schedules for the remainder of the day. There are teachers showing movies all week long and basically resigned themselves to zero instruction. Some are bringing in popcorn, chips, and games to add to their mix, slipping this under admin radar. I wonder if this is also a contributing factor in complaints that students have already "checked out" after AIMS and are on summer holidays in their minds; or is it perhaps AIMS is scheduled in April instead of marking the end of the school year?
My students, walking in, take out their work and carry on working, and it seems as though many of them are truly happy to be involved in doing something concrete, and mind engaging, except for Ryan who wanted to check out, be in the next hour class and watch movies. The student teacher walked around giving them candy while they were working.
I enjoy the mix up of schedules, routines, different faces and classes switched brings a freshness to the day and it's interesting how I feel towards classes because of how they are staggered. I noticed this in the last class where 2nd hour walked in rambunctious, lively, and highly social x10. They had a whole different energy and were still highly functional.
Next week we are less AIMs and I pick up 2 of classes. The student teacher has 3 weeks left and is already interviewing for jobs in our District. I am looking forward to being back in the rhythm of teaching and directly working with students. Life is good.
My students, walking in, take out their work and carry on working, and it seems as though many of them are truly happy to be involved in doing something concrete, and mind engaging, except for Ryan who wanted to check out, be in the next hour class and watch movies. The student teacher walked around giving them candy while they were working.
I enjoy the mix up of schedules, routines, different faces and classes switched brings a freshness to the day and it's interesting how I feel towards classes because of how they are staggered. I noticed this in the last class where 2nd hour walked in rambunctious, lively, and highly social x10. They had a whole different energy and were still highly functional.
Next week we are less AIMs and I pick up 2 of classes. The student teacher has 3 weeks left and is already interviewing for jobs in our District. I am looking forward to being back in the rhythm of teaching and directly working with students. Life is good.
Sunday, April 8, 2007
The Real Research
My real research is about Ian, smart, gifted, fast working, likely quick start, attention needy, leader, born with opportunities, who finishes 2 weeks in advance of everyone else. He epitomizes my gifted, advanced student who can go two ways in his behavior and pull the class along with him. I also have a difficult time getting into the head of the bright 8th grader and knowing what will best motivate this artist. Ian is vocal and happy to be the focus of a paper. I trust he is also able to be reflective and share his feelings and thinkings about the way he works. This paper will give me an insight into how the student approaches art and based on my findings I will better prepare and plan meaningful and appropriate interim lessons.
The research question is: What don't I know about how this student I approaches art?
Collecting data: have interviewed him initially and discovered he loves art and draws/doodles at home, and now am observing how he works with his painting project. On Monday I will request he records his reflections (via tape) about why he is making the choices he is making in painting, and how he feels about his process, or perhaps ease him into the process with a reflections check list approach. There will be a month's worth of data collection and analysis.
The process: I have already documented his progress in terms of the interim assignment: blind, 1/2 blind, and contour line drawing, and now I will compare that to how he approaches his regular classroom assignment: painting the Major Impact on my Life. The readings related to the paper will be Viktor Lowenfeld, Michael Day, Betty Edwards, Pamela Taylor and multiple drawing process books.
Time Frame: The paper is due May 5th ready for editing and handed in complete on May 17th. Journal entries are continuous, initial interview is done, then one when Ian picks up the interim project again, and the final one when he is complete. I have copies of his work sample.
The research question is: What don't I know about how this student I approaches art?
Collecting data: have interviewed him initially and discovered he loves art and draws/doodles at home, and now am observing how he works with his painting project. On Monday I will request he records his reflections (via tape) about why he is making the choices he is making in painting, and how he feels about his process, or perhaps ease him into the process with a reflections check list approach. There will be a month's worth of data collection and analysis.
The process: I have already documented his progress in terms of the interim assignment: blind, 1/2 blind, and contour line drawing, and now I will compare that to how he approaches his regular classroom assignment: painting the Major Impact on my Life. The readings related to the paper will be Viktor Lowenfeld, Michael Day, Betty Edwards, Pamela Taylor and multiple drawing process books.
Time Frame: The paper is due May 5th ready for editing and handed in complete on May 17th. Journal entries are continuous, initial interview is done, then one when Ian picks up the interim project again, and the final one when he is complete. I have copies of his work sample.
Friday, February 23, 2007
Scan and Rotate
My intervention strategy for the student teacher was to ask her to focus only on increasing her scan and table rotation time. I mapped her rotations with a different color pencil for each rotation, wrote the number of seconds for each scan, and documented when she stopped at a student if it was for instruction or feedback.
Where she scanned within a range of 10 to 20 seconds, she managed to catch just about every kind of behavior and intercept, redirect, or answer a need. Her worst scan was 56 seconds, where it was tunnel vision, missing a raised tiring hand held for 28 seconds during which time she serviced two other turn jumping students. The student became off task and pulled other students off task during the latter part of the 28 seconds.
Mapping her rotations evidenced a pattern where two tables were continuously visited, one only twice and the others three times. The two tables have students with high learning and attention needs. This was 5th period. I briefly went over the results and asked her to share the impact of her new exercise.
She improved her scan and rotation rate in 6th period with terrific results where off task behavior was non-existent. The student teacher was far more proficient at addressing student needs. This class is her most difficult class and it was evidently far more enjoyable, her energy level was up, she had more smiles as she walked around the classroom speaking to student needs during their multi-level transition into 3 different ongoing activities.
Where she scanned within a range of 10 to 20 seconds, she managed to catch just about every kind of behavior and intercept, redirect, or answer a need. Her worst scan was 56 seconds, where it was tunnel vision, missing a raised tiring hand held for 28 seconds during which time she serviced two other turn jumping students. The student became off task and pulled other students off task during the latter part of the 28 seconds.
Mapping her rotations evidenced a pattern where two tables were continuously visited, one only twice and the others three times. The two tables have students with high learning and attention needs. This was 5th period. I briefly went over the results and asked her to share the impact of her new exercise.
She improved her scan and rotation rate in 6th period with terrific results where off task behavior was non-existent. The student teacher was far more proficient at addressing student needs. This class is her most difficult class and it was evidently far more enjoyable, her energy level was up, she had more smiles as she walked around the classroom speaking to student needs during their multi-level transition into 3 different ongoing activities.
Providing Structure
Today, 7th hour was terrific. Students collaboratively created their edible color wheels, reviewed color relationships, color schemes and names in preparation for their oral evaluation before being allowed to eat the end result. It was fun, structured, social, concrete, and the results were immediate with lots of laughter and sense making. I rotated through the tables at least six times checking and making sure everyone was working, mixing colors so they were obviously different to each other, and catching students as they were finishing up and directing them to the next stage. Testing the students was fun, and I had to walk away from one table three times because students needed to teach each other resulting in 100% success. Giggles and finality came as cookies were eaten.
Thereafter, I showed examples of students' paintings depicting a major event or person who had an impact on their lives, and I read safe and moving excerpts describing symbols utilized so they could understand where they were heading and the relevance of working on the color wheel. The paintings are based on a color scheme and integrate color gradation. Students were 100% engaged. They sat, listened, and watched. They returned to their seats and completed a journal entry describing their favorite photograph using sensory words in preparation for confronting personal emotional content.
Upon reflection, in today's lesson students had collaborated, listened to a demonstration (moved to a different location), switched their minds to reflection (returned to their seats). Everyone was 100% on task, engaged, and they emotionally went from an all time high of social fun and laughter to quiet reflection and independent writing. It was Friday, and the best meaningful lesson for the end of a short week.
Thereafter, I showed examples of students' paintings depicting a major event or person who had an impact on their lives, and I read safe and moving excerpts describing symbols utilized so they could understand where they were heading and the relevance of working on the color wheel. The paintings are based on a color scheme and integrate color gradation. Students were 100% engaged. They sat, listened, and watched. They returned to their seats and completed a journal entry describing their favorite photograph using sensory words in preparation for confronting personal emotional content.
Upon reflection, in today's lesson students had collaborated, listened to a demonstration (moved to a different location), switched their minds to reflection (returned to their seats). Everyone was 100% on task, engaged, and they emotionally went from an all time high of social fun and laughter to quiet reflection and independent writing. It was Friday, and the best meaningful lesson for the end of a short week.
Tuesday, February 20, 2007
Difficult Class
Taking over all the classes I realize that period 6 is the most difficult class of the day, that period 7 has overt challenges while period 6 is more about subversive behavior. It's about identifying who the students who monitor the teacher to see where she is in the room so they can opt out of working, or play the game of looking like they are working. As soon as the student teacher took back her classes today, the students went back to their old patterns of being off task, minimal committment to producing anything significant. I really thought they would follow through with the environment created on Thursday and Friday - part of me wants these kids for another whole week.
When I compare how the student teacher interacts with this class and how I did it, I think the biggest difference is in providing structure, immediate feedback, and clearly defining expectations and consequences. The rest of the classes are fine with the lighter approach.
My greatest frustration source is allowing her to take over the class completely, sitting on my hands is truly difficult. Today, we had a talk about picking up the pace of rotating through the class, spending time only with students in need, identifying students who will be in need, pre-empting behaviors, scanning the room often (6x more than now) and stepping into the rhythm of needs which is high right now because of lesson transition.
There are many projects going on right now in class: lesson completion, selecting and matting work, completing self-evaluations, interviewing and grading students immediately, self-regulation in terms of applying the transition assignment (checking on these). It is a hectic class time, and will remain so until the end of this week when the majority is working on the transition project, ready to start fresh on Monday. Where the teacher stands, scans, nails behaviors, applauds is critical to keeping it a smooth running engine.
Today, period 7 "I" worked through his blind, 1/2 blind, contour line drawing of hands, three times, saying: "this is boring" which I translated for him as it's hard, and difficult, and because looking good is important for him, it's hard to want to do. He heard me and took on giving it his best because I promised there would be something astounding for him at its end. Literally, by lesson end, after aligning angles and measurements - he could clearly see the growth he had in drawing his hand compared to his original drawing. He was beaming. Success. He is excited for tomorrow.
When I compare how the student teacher interacts with this class and how I did it, I think the biggest difference is in providing structure, immediate feedback, and clearly defining expectations and consequences. The rest of the classes are fine with the lighter approach.
My greatest frustration source is allowing her to take over the class completely, sitting on my hands is truly difficult. Today, we had a talk about picking up the pace of rotating through the class, spending time only with students in need, identifying students who will be in need, pre-empting behaviors, scanning the room often (6x more than now) and stepping into the rhythm of needs which is high right now because of lesson transition.
There are many projects going on right now in class: lesson completion, selecting and matting work, completing self-evaluations, interviewing and grading students immediately, self-regulation in terms of applying the transition assignment (checking on these). It is a hectic class time, and will remain so until the end of this week when the majority is working on the transition project, ready to start fresh on Monday. Where the teacher stands, scans, nails behaviors, applauds is critical to keeping it a smooth running engine.
Today, period 7 "I" worked through his blind, 1/2 blind, contour line drawing of hands, three times, saying: "this is boring" which I translated for him as it's hard, and difficult, and because looking good is important for him, it's hard to want to do. He heard me and took on giving it his best because I promised there would be something astounding for him at its end. Literally, by lesson end, after aligning angles and measurements - he could clearly see the growth he had in drawing his hand compared to his original drawing. He was beaming. Success. He is excited for tomorrow.
Saturday, February 17, 2007
New Homework
We have new research homework. We have to go to a place where our students would frequent and observe all the kinds of literacies available to them: signs, pamphlets, visuals... and then codify them as a research community.
This Thursday and Friday my student teacher was sick and I took back all my classes with relief. I finally could reign them in, shape them, redirect them and set them back on track. I accept only work that is extraordinary, sophisticated, complex, and outstanding. Students generally beg to take their work home that day, and sometimes it means they go through a process of re-working their compositions until resolution takes place. I love the look on their faces as they glow and feel proud of their accomplishments, and sometimes it's hard to be a stand for their potential and show them what they are going to get out of taking the risk.
Period 3 is the best class ever, they were fine, they just needed to have another set of tools in evaluating their work to be able to take it to another level. I have come to realize period 6 is really a difficult class in that they are very social, mostly kinesthetic in learning, and need greater structure than all the other classes. Two 8th graders have just joined the class (having been bounced out of other classes - yes a sign, and I've been given a heads up from the assistant principal and two other teachers). I am thinking that the intervention strategy for this class is to teach behavior self-monitoring skills and keep giving positive earned feedback.
We are at transitions, a group of students have completed their assignment and are ready to move on (3 - 4 per class) and the remaining students have another week's work, with 3-4 students who need even more time. To manage this transition, I stop the class and teach everyone blind, 1/2 blind and contour line drawing of their hand. The finished students roll into this assignment. My research paper is going to be about the transition and finding out what is the best drawing project that inspires and motivates students - something on those lines.
This Thursday and Friday my student teacher was sick and I took back all my classes with relief. I finally could reign them in, shape them, redirect them and set them back on track. I accept only work that is extraordinary, sophisticated, complex, and outstanding. Students generally beg to take their work home that day, and sometimes it means they go through a process of re-working their compositions until resolution takes place. I love the look on their faces as they glow and feel proud of their accomplishments, and sometimes it's hard to be a stand for their potential and show them what they are going to get out of taking the risk.
Period 3 is the best class ever, they were fine, they just needed to have another set of tools in evaluating their work to be able to take it to another level. I have come to realize period 6 is really a difficult class in that they are very social, mostly kinesthetic in learning, and need greater structure than all the other classes. Two 8th graders have just joined the class (having been bounced out of other classes - yes a sign, and I've been given a heads up from the assistant principal and two other teachers). I am thinking that the intervention strategy for this class is to teach behavior self-monitoring skills and keep giving positive earned feedback.
We are at transitions, a group of students have completed their assignment and are ready to move on (3 - 4 per class) and the remaining students have another week's work, with 3-4 students who need even more time. To manage this transition, I stop the class and teach everyone blind, 1/2 blind and contour line drawing of their hand. The finished students roll into this assignment. My research paper is going to be about the transition and finding out what is the best drawing project that inspires and motivates students - something on those lines.
Saturday, February 10, 2007
Research Question
Through the masters class we now have to conjure up a research question. Ideally for me that would pertain to what is present in my classroom relating to studio work or curriculum around studio since my masters is in curriculum and design.
I am imagining my journal entries will entail the what of curriculum. Advanced, gifted students are finishing off their Matisse projects and will be done by Monday. Tuesday we need to fold them out into a looking and drawing assignment, training their hands to draw what their eye sees, and also make it meaningful, somehow self-referential. Perhaps the culminating project will be in a different media - white on black paper, a reverse image. Is there a way I could have this as a beginning of many layers of exploration that become something greater - develops into an amazing collage type artwork?
I need a two week lesson to absorb the faster students and allow the majority students ample time to wrap up their first assignments without feeling rushed. The following week the student teacher will teach clay whistles for her first university observation. My curriculum right now is defined by when the observation of a lesson needs to take place. It coincides with that saying: if you don't have an agenda you follow someone else's agenda.
I am imagining my journal entries will entail the what of curriculum. Advanced, gifted students are finishing off their Matisse projects and will be done by Monday. Tuesday we need to fold them out into a looking and drawing assignment, training their hands to draw what their eye sees, and also make it meaningful, somehow self-referential. Perhaps the culminating project will be in a different media - white on black paper, a reverse image. Is there a way I could have this as a beginning of many layers of exploration that become something greater - develops into an amazing collage type artwork?
I need a two week lesson to absorb the faster students and allow the majority students ample time to wrap up their first assignments without feeling rushed. The following week the student teacher will teach clay whistles for her first university observation. My curriculum right now is defined by when the observation of a lesson needs to take place. It coincides with that saying: if you don't have an agenda you follow someone else's agenda.
Wednesday, February 7, 2007
Conference
Returning student "C" is working at below potential, she behaves silly to fit in with her friends, it seems she wants so badly to belong to the crowd. Today, I finally pulled her aside when she showed me her second hasty and simple solution with her thumbnail. Student "K" said you sound angry, and I told her it was a voice of concern since that group was having a difficult time settling down and the next step would be to separate all of them. They heard this, their heads went down and they began to work again.
I showed student "C" the quality of work (other exemplars) that I knew she is capable of, and requested she make the choice of maximizing herself, celebrate herself, and be proud of her creativity and talent, true friends love her, and are happy for her accomplishments (yes the pulpit stuff). I shared with her how dissapointed I was because I already know how capable and strong she is as an artist. Her face changed to that of hearing beyond listening, and she gave me a nod of acceptance. This is just before I had to call for clean up so I look forward to tomorrow to see if this transaction has an impact both on her and the table.
The easy thing is to move and separate the friends. At this age, kids need to know how to make choices, to follow the crowd, to be strong within themselves - taking the high road, and see how they have an impact on shaping others, having the power to choose to be shaped by others. I truly want this to be a lesson in choice. Students in the art room are here to expand themselves beyond creative visual problem solving.
I showed student "C" the quality of work (other exemplars) that I knew she is capable of, and requested she make the choice of maximizing herself, celebrate herself, and be proud of her creativity and talent, true friends love her, and are happy for her accomplishments (yes the pulpit stuff). I shared with her how dissapointed I was because I already know how capable and strong she is as an artist. Her face changed to that of hearing beyond listening, and she gave me a nod of acceptance. This is just before I had to call for clean up so I look forward to tomorrow to see if this transaction has an impact both on her and the table.
The easy thing is to move and separate the friends. At this age, kids need to know how to make choices, to follow the crowd, to be strong within themselves - taking the high road, and see how they have an impact on shaping others, having the power to choose to be shaped by others. I truly want this to be a lesson in choice. Students in the art room are here to expand themselves beyond creative visual problem solving.
Tuesday, February 6, 2007
Behavior Follow Up
7th hour class: I gave "I" the positive attention, made the request that he sit away from his friends during classroom presentation to circumnavigate negative behavior and achieved 100% compliance. He is proud of his ongoing work and seemed a lot less anxious over all. Who I am towards him as being a stand for his contribution, looking for great achievements impacts who he gets to be in class. Relocating him to a place where he can stop trying to shine for his buddies and be the center of their attention was a great idea. He is far more focused on creating and doing a good job.
Today, I monitored how I rotate through tables, what I scan for in terms of following directions, and on task behavior. I notice student "M" has a difficult time staying motivated. In fact, I notice where students tend to be off task I could identify a triad within one table in three different periods varying in gender and grade. Most off task behavior was during the generation of their thumbnails (rough drafts). Students were 100% engaged once they settled and took ownership of cutting and pasting, excited to see their outcome taking shape. My objective is to identify the origination of off task behavior and see what it says about the student in terms of unaddressed learning needs.
Today, I monitored how I rotate through tables, what I scan for in terms of following directions, and on task behavior. I notice student "M" has a difficult time staying motivated. In fact, I notice where students tend to be off task I could identify a triad within one table in three different periods varying in gender and grade. Most off task behavior was during the generation of their thumbnails (rough drafts). Students were 100% engaged once they settled and took ownership of cutting and pasting, excited to see their outcome taking shape. My objective is to identify the origination of off task behavior and see what it says about the student in terms of unaddressed learning needs.
Student Teacher
Yesterday, I spent the time practicing command phrases, pacing, and projection with the student teacher. It helped her find her voice and presence in the classroom, and this helped me slow down and become more mindful of my rate my pace, projection, location, and body movement.
My 7th hour class is a lot more settled with "I" relocated to another table to sit with "A" who is the quieter, gentler soul, and definitely someone who wants to do well in class. While I was giving a presentation, I noticed "I" was busy trying to have an interaction with one of his friends at his old table - I sense he needs attention every lesson. Perhaps I will try to give him positive attention as soon as he walks in, and also again when he takes out his work, and then when he starts working.
Students are working on their name plates, focusing, and coming up with great ideas.
Once again, I interupted class because students were using habitual images - musical note in their work and the student teacher let that pass (we had a talk at lunch about reinforcing this and having students rework their compositions, making them more complex). Research says to focus on desired behavior, and students need to have the reminder at the beginning of the school year of what to omit therefore what is acceptable. Where is the balance? How much interuption is too much, is it necessary, when do students actually pay attention to important information? Everything seems important, what filters do they use to define important versus critical?
My 7th hour class is a lot more settled with "I" relocated to another table to sit with "A" who is the quieter, gentler soul, and definitely someone who wants to do well in class. While I was giving a presentation, I noticed "I" was busy trying to have an interaction with one of his friends at his old table - I sense he needs attention every lesson. Perhaps I will try to give him positive attention as soon as he walks in, and also again when he takes out his work, and then when he starts working.
Students are working on their name plates, focusing, and coming up with great ideas.
Once again, I interupted class because students were using habitual images - musical note in their work and the student teacher let that pass (we had a talk at lunch about reinforcing this and having students rework their compositions, making them more complex). Research says to focus on desired behavior, and students need to have the reminder at the beginning of the school year of what to omit therefore what is acceptable. Where is the balance? How much interuption is too much, is it necessary, when do students actually pay attention to important information? Everything seems important, what filters do they use to define important versus critical?
Friday, February 2, 2007
Looking for Answers
My 7th hour class, end of the day, 8th grade with 5 gentleman who are connected at the hips. Playful, smart, sassy, 3 of which are natural leaders, wanting to be together. They gave a first year teacher a hard time and essentially took over the classroom for the semester they had that elective.
Yesterday, one of their friends switched over into art, and I have "A" sitting at a different table - the lone male among 4 Goth females. This is week one of the semester. There has been, in the past, where I allow a group to sit together and they are more creative, happier, and productive, and will do anything to continue sitting together on the same table. In the past this has been a wonderful management tool. I am unsure if this is going to be appropriate for this particular group. I talked to them yesterday (having spoken to other teachers about the different bonds/affinities between the boys) and asked them to rise up and meet the challenge of being supportive of each others' productive success to earn the privilege of staying together at the table.
I think my rationale is always be firm, consistent, and send a clear message that I can anticipate and correct misbehavior early on. I now wonder if I am making them wrong before they even perform, if I am looking out for what's wrong, I will find it. Perhaps what I need to start looking for is what's right and share with them what they are doing that's terrific instead of being so uptight about how they are being disruptive. I moved "L" to the otherside of the table. I think it's a visual reminder that I do mean business, and intend for them to be working along with collaborating.
Today, the group wanted me to move "A" over and join them because he was by himself, and I asked them if one of them wanted to go and sit with him and keep him company. "I" offered (the major kingpin of the table) and I immediately said "yes." What a huge relief. I question myself - am I being too cautious? Ought I give them a fair shake and see them as being successful? It seems as though I am already pre-judging them before they have a chance to act out. Most of these students came to me in 7th grade, and they were a bucket of beans. Sometimes beans sprout and become princes. I want to set up the classroom for the student teacher so she will be 100% successful, so the classroom runs smoothly, and learning takes place at every level.
Yesterday in my Master's class we talked about critical teaching. Perhaps this would be a good group for a socially inspired lesson focusing on social injustice and inequities. Give them a chance for leadership to cause a difference, have an impact, empower them with a reality extending beyond classroom walls mmmmmmm...
Yesterday, one of their friends switched over into art, and I have "A" sitting at a different table - the lone male among 4 Goth females. This is week one of the semester. There has been, in the past, where I allow a group to sit together and they are more creative, happier, and productive, and will do anything to continue sitting together on the same table. In the past this has been a wonderful management tool. I am unsure if this is going to be appropriate for this particular group. I talked to them yesterday (having spoken to other teachers about the different bonds/affinities between the boys) and asked them to rise up and meet the challenge of being supportive of each others' productive success to earn the privilege of staying together at the table.
I think my rationale is always be firm, consistent, and send a clear message that I can anticipate and correct misbehavior early on. I now wonder if I am making them wrong before they even perform, if I am looking out for what's wrong, I will find it. Perhaps what I need to start looking for is what's right and share with them what they are doing that's terrific instead of being so uptight about how they are being disruptive. I moved "L" to the otherside of the table. I think it's a visual reminder that I do mean business, and intend for them to be working along with collaborating.
Today, the group wanted me to move "A" over and join them because he was by himself, and I asked them if one of them wanted to go and sit with him and keep him company. "I" offered (the major kingpin of the table) and I immediately said "yes." What a huge relief. I question myself - am I being too cautious? Ought I give them a fair shake and see them as being successful? It seems as though I am already pre-judging them before they have a chance to act out. Most of these students came to me in 7th grade, and they were a bucket of beans. Sometimes beans sprout and become princes. I want to set up the classroom for the student teacher so she will be 100% successful, so the classroom runs smoothly, and learning takes place at every level.
Yesterday in my Master's class we talked about critical teaching. Perhaps this would be a good group for a socially inspired lesson focusing on social injustice and inequities. Give them a chance for leadership to cause a difference, have an impact, empower them with a reality extending beyond classroom walls mmmmmmm...
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