Working in Education through the Language Lens

A powerful children's book - I just had to share! "You believe I'm beautiful - and so I am!"

While embarking on a pretty significant landscaping endeavor today (as you can note by the plethora of weeds) I came across a snakeskin. No big deal right?  WRONG! I'm deathly afraid of snakes -  so much so that I cannot even watch them on TV - okay that borders irrational but I just can't seem to get over it. I have a snake in bright purple and orange tattooed on the side of my left bicep hiding away and covered by the goddess of protection on the outside of my left arm (bicep) -  and for Pete's sake I'm 41 years old - enough already! background: I grew up in South Africa and one day our school took a field trip hike up one of the neighboring koppies (small mountains) - in our uniforms - which included black leather baby doll shoes, white socks and a blue cotton dress. Never the less - as I took a step while chatting away with my class, a snake slithered across the top of my foot (eliciting a lovely school girl shrill shriek). To this da...

The Science: I would love to understand the science behind our inability to resist reading signs. Bulletin boards, t-shirts, framed sayings, post it notes - you name it. They can remain unchanged and yet I will read them again, and again, and again. It's insane and brilliant at the same time. my challenge:  Then we come to the paper towel dispenser. The picture is pretty clear right?- you need two hands to effectively remove the book size sheet of brown, recycled, coarse paper from the dispenser.  and yet - not just on this day alas - EVERY day  I try to remove it - with just one hand! WHY? I guess it's the 'superman/superwoman complex'. I can do all of these other great things, surely, a little piece of paper and gadget won't stump me. Why do I ignore the sign - definitely my intellectual privilege talks louder than my reality and I grab with one hand.  Surely - if I grab in the middle with force it will tear off? I mean I'...

It has come to my attention lately - there is a definite increase in the number of automobiles running red lights. I have witnessed accidents in front of me at intersections as my lane has moved into the intersection on green - and the oncoming traffic had also passed through on red. As I left my ice tea beverage dispensary (not to be named - but a definite confession of a certain Mango Iced tea - large - with two splenda's please- addiction); I saw three cars in a row speed up to a very large intersection as the traffic lights turned orange (yes - my South African heritage here). I cringed as the last two cars raced through clearly on red - waiting for that sickening sound of metal against metal. Thankfully, this time .... it didn't happen! SLOW DOWN! I want to yell, and yes may have yelled, because my goodness - what is the rush all about? What is so important that you risk your life and others to get through an intersection that would probably keep you waiting a m...

What happens when I don't blog for a few weeks - you get a handful of blogs in two days. I've been thinking about this topic for a few months now actually, because every time I respond to "how are you?" with "busy", I shudder. And I'm the one saying it. So it's time to STOP and reconsider: Does that even answer the question? How am I? How many of you have had the same reply: lift those hands up high - c'mon, this is a judgement free zone if you know me by now. I often told the story of one of the first cultural differences I experienced, immigrating to the US from South Africa at age 18 - was the way in which people interact here. So many people said hello, and looked you in the eye. Perhaps it was one of the 'street smarts' skills we were taught, not to engage with strangers (yes really), but I was astounded by how many people talked to me. How many strangers spoke to me. But then I paid attention to the interchange and it was so ...

"No, no you cannot"! This won't be the last conversation we have with our boys about this topic, we just didn't think we would have it again - so soon! Rewind: We adopted our first two Taiwanese sons (brothers Michael -7 and James -12 at the time), and they entered first and seventh grade respectively. As an ELL teacher I knew it would be in the best interest to start a grade behind, and in James' case starting middle school upon arrival - a necessity. Living in a suburban/rural part of the county, we are not as ethnically diverse as our other schools, however being part of the neighborhood school is exactly why I moved from teaching across the river. To be part of the community! James entered 7th grade as one of possibly two Asian students, and one of possibly 4 minority students. Within the first few months he said a kid had called him "Asian". We explained that you just respond kindly with, "my name is James". Even Michael at first gr...

I regret not taking a picture inside the showers at the past campsite. Whoa! Whoa! What kind of blog is this.....? I'm sorry, you're right, I only have one regret in life and that wasn't it. And I meant the shower knobs. I have had the pleasure of being in two different states, at two different campsites the past two weekends.  Camp with me as we explore the shower knobs on a growth mindset journey. Huh? Don't worry, just follow along..... Campsite A, in Appleton Wisconsin had plush lawns, a solar heated pool, sand volleyball court, paved basketball hoop and a camp store that sold, well a little bit of everything. The bathrooms were not disappointing either, they came with their permanently wet and slightly muddy floors with just the right amount of shower cleaner/mildew scent. However, on the first night of showers, one of the boys sprinted back asking for quarters? Huh? This momma isn't going to be fooled by free quarters.... For real though, a little quarter ...

Anyone who has been bed bound or couch bound  or in my case hammock bound has had more than a fair share of thinking time. My turn has come in the case of surgery recovery. Down at the campground with the family and being positioned under my own canopy in a remarkably comfortable hammock. It may also be the combination of pain medications that has led to an over stimulation of thought. However, today as I was managing through the morning routines I was thinking a lot about the shark attacks that have happened off the coast of North Carolina. It led me to think about people in these three categories: A) those that don't heed any warning or just don't seem to care because of their own denial perhaps. Or thinking that 'it won't happen to me" which leads them to reckless, deeper and dangerous waters. B) The other group are those who sensationalize and even profit off of the terror, the mayhem, the drama of it all.  Within days, no truly, hours there were jokes, mee...