Happiness

I struggled this week – anytime there is tragedy like we saw in Boston, I struggle. It reminds me that there is evil in this world. Evil that I cannot understand. It is during times like these that I try and surround myself with love, laughter, positivity.

I immediately posted these two photos on Facebook:

And that is the type of message I try and remember. There is where I choose to focus.

So today, finally, I had the chance to see my students after a crazy week. Field trip Tuesday, early out Wednesday. I knew I needed them, I needed to teach. They help remind me that there is so much right with this world, and I needed that. And many of them were still talking about Boston. Honestly, I think it’s a bit more than my fifth graders can handle. I wanted to walk the line between not sharing too much, but comforting those that knew about it. So I turned to John Green. We watched this video:

And we talked about the message of the flags, the message of the helpers. We discussed how we can be helpers, even in our own school. How we can make someone’s day better? With each class I was impressed by the students’ thoughts and ideas. There is so much good within them.

After each discussion, I just smiled. Walking around the room I was greeted by a sign on our class “IVAN.” I forgot to get a photo, but it said, “I ❤ Tag.” Then a student asked me if I could purchase another gorilla so we could reunite Tag and IVAN. As it so happens, I have an extra at home. It will be coming in tomorrow.

I saw these sad faces looking at me. The book is Fig Pudding and they just hit a sad part. One said, “This is one of Mr. Sharp’s favorite books? Does it get happy soon?” And I looked at those faces and then thought, Oh boy. And then asked, Are you sure you want to read See You at Harry’s next?

So no rock star teaching today. No earth shattering lessons. Just a day with sixty-eight kids. Kids that make me smile, laugh, and cry. And when you end a day like this – it is an amazing day.

This is my homeroom watching the video How Animals Eat Their Food. (See the actual video HERE.) This video expresses everything I love about kids. Pure happiness.

Agápe

I love going to church. I love hearing the message from our priest, hearing his words and the music wash over me, and leave feeling renewed. Today our gospel message involved Jesus talking to Simon Peter and asking Peter if he loved him.

Our priest interestingly began his homily by talking about the difference between cats and dogs. How dogs greet you at the door, tails wagging, come when you call, usually see thrilled to see you. Cats, on the other hand, greet you on their terms. He said in his experience it is easier to love a dog, but you have to be more selfless to love a cat because you will not have that feeling reciprocated as often.

Then Father talked about the definition of love as in our gospel today. That Jesus was looking at more of the Ancient Greek definition, which they used the word agápe. That means more of an unconditional love. Simon Peter was using love in terms of the word philia, which is more of a friendship love. Father asked us to think, who in our life needs more unconditional love from us?

As Father continued with his homily, and then even on the drive home, my mind kept turning back to these two definitions of love.  Of course, it is easy to love most of the time. It is when times get rough – when people frustrate you – do you still show love? I love my children, even when I want to throw my hands up in frustration, I still love them.

And then I thought, as always, of my students. I tell them every year, from the moment I see their names on my class list, I love them. They become my family. And yet, some are easier to love than others. Some frustrated me beyond belief. But I know, and Father taught me again today, that those students who drive me to the breaking point are the ones who need my love the most. Who need patience, understanding, compassion, kindness. And I breathe, and smile.

I think of the blogs, videos, articles, letters of the past week. The teachers frustrated with the system. The politicians frustrated with the teachers. Education is such a mess right now; I just don’t see the path to sanity. But when I look at my own district, my own school, my own classroom, my students – I do see my path. Unconditional love, for those sixty-seven kids this year. For the five hundred kids over the past fourteen years. If I focus on them, I know what I need to do. I cannot fix it all, but I can make a difference. Agápe, unconditional love. I’m in.

Screen Free Week

I was thrilled to be part of Random House’s blog tour for Unplug and Read. If you haven’t checked out my post with Kirby Larson, click HERE. Scroll down at the end and enter the Hattie Ever After giveaway!

Random House has also created a great video to share in honor of their Unplug and Read campaign. I watched it with all three classes on Friday. We’ve had some discussions of what they will do for Screen Free Week. Many are excited about trying. Some of my more ardent video game playing boys are frightened of the whole idea. J Check out the video and read the information they have compiled for the week. As I posted at the start of my blog on Friday  - I won’t be going completely screen free, but modified. I’ve given that as an option for my students (and children) as well. Will you be joining us?

Imagine going about your day without the trappings of screen media: no phones, computers, tablets, televisions. Preschoolers today spend as much as 4.1 to 4.6 hours per day on one screen or another. Including multi-tasking, children 8 to 18 spend 7.5 hours per day with screens. This spring, Random House Children’s Books is issuing a challenge: UNPLUG & READ during Screen Free Week April 29 – May 5.

Why I Stay

My friend Beth Shaum asked recently if I would share why I stay in the classroom. It seems our retention rate has become comparable to the divorce rate in this country. 50% of teachers leave the classroom within their first five years of teaching. I’d be willing to bet the number of veteran teachers leaving the classroom is increasing. Why is this? I think we could point to a number of factors.

Increases in…

Federal involvement in education

Standardized testing

Pressures to raise test scores

Disrespect towards teachers from students and parents

Added curriculum

Students’ schedules outside of the classroom

Paperwork

Data

Accountability

And there is so much more. I don’t think every change in education has been negative – but sometimes those changes that are negative seem to pile up. It can make the most experienced teacher feel defeated, insecure, lost. No wonder new teachers are fleeing our profession. So, I’ve given it a lot of thought. Why do I stay in this profession? What makes teaching something I would choose to go into again in a heartbeat?

I am so grateful to teach in the district that I do. While I feel beaten down by outside forces, I have strong support here. A wonderful community, a wonderful place. But if I can feel the stress, what must others in other districts feel like? How are they struggling? With that thought in mind, I thought about Beth’s question again. Why do I stay?

I stay for my students.

They make me excited to come to school.

They make me laugh multiple times each day.

They keep me young.

I stay for my own children.

To show them what finding your joy looks like.

To show them what it means to work hard.

To be an example of dedication.

I stay because I will not be defeated.

I will teach how I believe is right.

I will teach how I know is necessary for growth.

I will not let my students become numbers on a sheet.

I stay because I love reading and writing.

It is my passion.

It is who I am.

It is what saved me as a student.

I stay because a teacher is who I am.

If I wasn’t in the classroom, I would still teach.

If I wasn’t in the classroom, I would feel incomplete.

If I wasn’t in the classroom, I would feel an incomprehensible loss.

And so I stay.

Exhausted.

Insecure.

Vulenrable.

Yet, resolved.

Our profession can weather this storm.

We will.

We will become stronger for it.

And when we do,

I will be where I am right now.
In the classroom, with my students.

Teaching.
I will stay.

Please take a few minutes to watch Beth’s video. It speaks to why so many of us stay. 

Unplug and Read Hattie Ever After

Hi. My name is Katherine Sokolowski and I am a bit addicted to technology. With Screen-Free week coming up, I need to own up.

Amount of TV Screen time I have per week – likely one hour. Pretty good, right?

However…

Amount of laptop time I have per week (typing, Tweeting, Facebook checking, emailing, blogging, etc.) – likely four or more hours a day. Or 28 hours a week. LORDY! (And it would be more than that; I’m on longer on the weekend.)

So, here are my resolutions for Screen-Free Week

1 – No TV at all. (Should be easy)

2 – No blogging. (Harder)

3 – Limit of one hour per day on my laptop/ iPad. (Hardest)

What will I do?

1 – Read as much as possible.

2- Find my journal again. Write there.

3- Spend time with my boys outside.

**********************************************************************************

In light of Screen-Free Week coming up, I interviewed author Kirby Larson about her thoughts about screen time.

When you were a kid, what was your favorite Screen Free activity?

READING! And reading in bed. And reading when I was supposed to be doing my chores. And reading when I was supposed to be doing homework. And, of course, playing outside with the neighbor kids.

Do you feel like you have a good balance of screen time with other parts of your life?

(Deep breath) I will be very honest here. This is something I struggle with. Because I write at the computer, I am in front of a screen nearly the entire day some days. I do not think that's good for anyone. Luckily, I have Winston the Wonder Dog to drag me outside at least twice daily for a walk. I am trying to do a better job of balancing this aspect of my life. 

Do you plan on participating in “Screen Free Week”?

As long as writing time at the computer doesn't count, it sounds like a great thing to try!

  

What do you think would be the hardest part about going screen free? Are you looking forward to it or dreading it?

Well, it will probably kill me not to know what all my Nerdy Book Club friends are talking about. But imagine all the extra reading time I'll be able to fit in!

When was the last time you went screen free for more than 12 hours?

I can't even remember. (I guess I need this Screen Free week more than I realized!)

What is your writing process like? When you are writing, do you use a computer or do you begin by writing by hand?

As I mentioned above, I write at the computer. My handwriting's too awful to write by hand. I do, however, revise by hand. I think it's easier to catch things when I read a hard copy of a manuscript with a pen or pencil in hand.

Do you think going screen free will help budding writers get their creative juices flowing?

We can always hope! I would think spending time outside, in nature, or going to a museum or playing a board game with the family would go a long ways to restoring and refreshing the creative mind.

Finally, your character Hattie (Hattie Big Sky, Hattie Ever After) doesn’t have to worry about having too much screen time due to the time period. What items would Hattie have had to balance in her life like we do with screen time?

On the homestead (Hattie Big Sky), Hattie's day was filled with chores -- even getting water to wash up or make coffee involved work. "Free time" would have been a foreign concept to her. When she goes to San Francisco, in Hattie Ever After, she still has a full day with working to earn money to pay for her room at the hotel, to buy food, to buy some stylish city clothes. In addition, she didn't have access to automatic washers and dryers, or hair dryers or microwaves so nearly everything she did would take longer than it would for us. She lived in an era when leisure time was set aside for Sundays -- church, a promenade and perhaps dinner with friends. I think she would be quite dismayed to know how much free time I have. . .and how much of it I waste! 

Thanks for coming by, Kirby!

To celebrate Screen Free Week, I'd like to giveaway a copy of Hattie Ever After.

Rules for the Giveaway 

1. It will run from 4/12 to 11:59 P.M. on 4/15. 

2. You must be at least 13. 

3. Please pay it forward.