BulgingButtons

Not bad for a fat girl

Monthly Archives: February 2017


by Leave a comment

All About the Story

Imagine you’re 15 and your undocumented immigrant mother has told you that the family is running away, again. You shove everything into a trash bag, and help your little sister do the same. At 3 am you arrive at the Sonoran Court Apartments, your new home. Your neighbor is a shadowy Sudanese immigrant. His ties with the supernatural world are terrifying, and he’s trying to convince you that you’re in danger. This is Daisy’s life.

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

ca9f9d3cfbc6b803d582b2b79d50cb19_typingpal-computer-computer-typing-clipart_200-262.jpegI’m sitting in a workshop with Janet Reid, aka The Query Shark. I just have to say, she’s hilarious. This crowd doesn’t seem to completely realize this, but she is.
I’m glad I’m here. I’m glad I’m learning. And I’m glad that the main message, over and over, is, “it’s all about the story.”

So what that means, in short, is I have to get back to the story. Grrr. No, really, I love the story. I do. I just have to finish my revisions. You know, making the story better. The plot chasm I’ve been fretting over has a solution that I’ve been working on, so there’s that.

So now it’s time to get back to it. After the workshop, of course. I can do this, I know I can. Daisy needs me.


by Leave a comment

Greek Mythology Like Never Before

67a1408b76d203375d97ad21f6a535a9.jpgMy fourth grade students have been studying Greek Mythology over the past few weeks, and it’s been so much fun. I’ve taught this content before, of course, but never quite this in depth, and never with some of the techniques we’ve been using. Boy, what a difference!

Some of the changes this time around:

  • more versions of the same myth (in particular Hercules’ Quest: when we view the Disney film it will be the fourth version we’ll examine)
  • more myths (Psyche & Eros, Arachne, Medusa, and others)
  • incorporating drama into our study (tableaux of various scenes, forcing students to deeply explore the characters’ feelings and actions)
  • incorporating more art into our study (resulting in some wonderful projects)
  • allowing students to not only choose various ways of expressing their learning, but letting them create the various choices (and they were so much more engaged in the activities they designed themselves)

Just spending more time in Ancient Greece has been so beneficial to the students. They’re seeing recurring themes including jealousy, vanity, bravery, and sacrifice. They’re drawing parallels between characters and stories and they’re becoming quite knowledgable.

As an added bonus, the Rick Riordan books (the Percy Jackson series) have been flying off the library shelves, as have the other mythology books. The students are excited!

I’m so pleased with their enthusiasm and their level of commitment to their work. I believe we’re building a strong foundation for future learning as they’re developing a love of these ancient tales. I don’t know if this work will show up in the form of growth on their end of year standardized tests, but I know it’s beneficial. For that reason, I’m feeling successful and yes, a little bit proud. I can’t help but feel a bit like Zeus on Mt. Olympus, looking down at the mortals with affection and feeling pleased with their successes.


by 5 Comments

Over the Hump

So this tiniest month is turning out to be sort of a mountain for me. It’s nothing terribly serious, just a bunch of smallish things, not the least of which is a bout of allergies that is bringing me down. In fact the other day my principal took one look at me and sent me home.

allergies_cartoonoptNormally I would have fought this banishment, but I welcomed it that day. I fretted for about three minutes over what would become of my students for the rest of the day (he, and my fabulous teammates, handled it) then I headed home to bed. Ah sleep. Sweet sweet relief from the sneezing, runny nose, watery eyes, and wheezing. I wish I could sleep more.

Needless to say, I didn’t get all my steps that day. No dance party on my wrist that day (that’s what I call it when my Fitbit celebrates me reaching my daily step goal).  I fell woefully short and didn’t give it another thought, until the next day when it was too late. I felt like a failure. After all, my step goal isn’t that huge. I could have walked around my house in a sneezy runny nosed fog, right? I suppose, but the more I thought about it the easier it became to forgive myself for missing one day and move on.

I’m still not feeling great. Something in the air is kicking my butt, even with my arsenal of remedies, but I’m up and about again. I’m making my step goals and keeping positive, and looking ahead to March. Why March? Spring break!

How are you doing with your tiniest month challenge? Any obstacles? Hurdles? Road blocks? Keep going warriors! We’re on the downward side of the month, you can do it!