Thursday, May 23, 2013
The Last Day
Today is our last day of the year, and I always find myself exhausted and reflective on this day. It amazes me how far everyone has come in a year (not just academically), and this song is how far I believe they will go in the years to come. Thank you to everyone who has supported the school this year (parents, friends, and community members), and have a great summer!
Monday, May 20, 2013
Springtime in Education
Today's blog comes from the folks at Imagining Learning; they conduct "listening sessions" all over the country to hear what students are saying about their schools and education.
Charles Kouns posted this blog post calling for reform, and, to date, it is the most personal, profound, articulate plea for why it's time for schools to change. Take a moment this morning to read and send him your thoughts.
Here's a brief video describing what Imaging Learning does:
Have a great day!
Charles Kouns posted this blog post calling for reform, and, to date, it is the most personal, profound, articulate plea for why it's time for schools to change. Take a moment this morning to read and send him your thoughts.
Here's a brief video describing what Imaging Learning does:
Have a great day!
Wednesday, May 8, 2013
First Hydroponic Salad
Sunday, May 5, 2013
On Adolescence
So La Petite turned 13 on Saturday, May 4th. This is a hard enough birthday, but in the wake of her father's death, it has been a bit more difficult. So I asked friends and family to send me their answers to two simple prompts: what is one thing you wish you had known when you were 13, and what is one wish you have for La's 13th year. I am in the process of assembling their answers into a book.
The answers were touching, personal, and painful. The answers shared many similarities; there were memories of insecurity, fear and uncertainty. Some respondents wished they had been kinder. Some wished they had been braver. One said that if she had known she would be alive for so long, she would have had more fun.
I can't share who said what. They are a private gift for La, and I think for some people it was difficult to re-visit middle school; they did not post their answers to my Facebook page but sent them via email or private message.
I remember clearly middle school. It was awful, for a number of reasons. I was awkward, physically and socially. I was smart and bored - a lethal combination. I was an outsider. I read a lot, listened to country music (everyone else listened to pop), and I was friends with my bus driver - also lethal. I threw up on an amusement park ride. I let a group of girls bully another girl. Not in the same vicious manner of today, but still bullying. That is my main regret.
The advice people gave was all the same, in different stories and examples: trust yourself. Be confident. Follow your dreams. Love yourself and your family, and take the time to cultivate good friends.
This is why I love this age. I love this age because it is crucial help them to do it right, to make sure that you are helping, not hurting. Because when we most of us look back, we see the awkwardness, not the beautiful potential and limitless possibility stretched before us.
Yes, teens are crazy. There is scientific proof. Teens and parents don't always get along, but most figure it out.
But during middle school, everything feels awful. It may not be totally dramatic for every teen, but every person who wrote to La indicated some level of insecurity and awkwardness, enough so that it stayed with them for their life to this point. Because teens can be so awfully frustrating, the knee-jerk reaction is to shut them down, fight back, exert control.
This is the exact opposite of how to parent a teen. Listen. Remember what it was like to be 13. Find out what they are interested in, and take an interest in it yourself (this last one can be very difficult, but try anyway). Recognize that your kid is changing and your relationship has to change, too. Every time La wants to snuggle or talk late at night when all I want to do is go to sleep, I remind myself that teens develop a different circadian rhythm during adolescence, generally, and she won't be around forever, so I prop my eyelids open and do the best I can.
La will remember this birthday as the first without her dad. There is nothing I can do about that, but I hope she also remembers to be strong and kind; I hope she sees her value and her ability. If, some years down the road, someone asks her to remember herself at 13, I hope she sees the beautiful, intelligent and compassionate human she is.
This is the job of parenting an adolescent. I hope I am up to the task.
The answers were touching, personal, and painful. The answers shared many similarities; there were memories of insecurity, fear and uncertainty. Some respondents wished they had been kinder. Some wished they had been braver. One said that if she had known she would be alive for so long, she would have had more fun.
I can't share who said what. They are a private gift for La, and I think for some people it was difficult to re-visit middle school; they did not post their answers to my Facebook page but sent them via email or private message.
I remember clearly middle school. It was awful, for a number of reasons. I was awkward, physically and socially. I was smart and bored - a lethal combination. I was an outsider. I read a lot, listened to country music (everyone else listened to pop), and I was friends with my bus driver - also lethal. I threw up on an amusement park ride. I let a group of girls bully another girl. Not in the same vicious manner of today, but still bullying. That is my main regret.
The advice people gave was all the same, in different stories and examples: trust yourself. Be confident. Follow your dreams. Love yourself and your family, and take the time to cultivate good friends.
This is why I love this age. I love this age because it is crucial help them to do it right, to make sure that you are helping, not hurting. Because when we most of us look back, we see the awkwardness, not the beautiful potential and limitless possibility stretched before us.
Yes, teens are crazy. There is scientific proof. Teens and parents don't always get along, but most figure it out.
But during middle school, everything feels awful. It may not be totally dramatic for every teen, but every person who wrote to La indicated some level of insecurity and awkwardness, enough so that it stayed with them for their life to this point. Because teens can be so awfully frustrating, the knee-jerk reaction is to shut them down, fight back, exert control.
This is the exact opposite of how to parent a teen. Listen. Remember what it was like to be 13. Find out what they are interested in, and take an interest in it yourself (this last one can be very difficult, but try anyway). Recognize that your kid is changing and your relationship has to change, too. Every time La wants to snuggle or talk late at night when all I want to do is go to sleep, I remind myself that teens develop a different circadian rhythm during adolescence, generally, and she won't be around forever, so I prop my eyelids open and do the best I can.
La will remember this birthday as the first without her dad. There is nothing I can do about that, but I hope she also remembers to be strong and kind; I hope she sees her value and her ability. If, some years down the road, someone asks her to remember herself at 13, I hope she sees the beautiful, intelligent and compassionate human she is.
This is the job of parenting an adolescent. I hope I am up to the task.
Monday, April 29, 2013
French Cooking
Ella and Sicily prepared a meal for HoneyFern on Friday, and the results are in: diners gave them an average rating of five stars on everything from food to service.
The girls focused on French food; they started with mini-quiches (spinach and simple cheese), then had tilapia in a beurre blanc (SO DELICIOUS. Seriously. I couldn't believe how subtle the flavor was, and how amazing. Perfect with the simple fish), a cheese course and chocolate mousse for dessert.
Diners were served in courses; here are the ladies, serving the fish:
This may be our last student cooking as we race towards the end of the year, and what a way to end. Delicious!
The girls focused on French food; they started with mini-quiches (spinach and simple cheese), then had tilapia in a beurre blanc (SO DELICIOUS. Seriously. I couldn't believe how subtle the flavor was, and how amazing. Perfect with the simple fish), a cheese course and chocolate mousse for dessert.
Diners were served in courses; here are the ladies, serving the fish:
This may be our last student cooking as we race towards the end of the year, and what a way to end. Delicious!
Sunday, April 28, 2013
Overnight Field Trips: Wahsega 4H Center
The week before last, HoneyFern went on an overnight field trip to Wahsega 4H Center just north of Dahlonega, Georgia.
It was striking to me, watching the students in this environment. They were so confident, capable and knowledgeable; they worked together, dove into the challenges and didn't back down when they got frustrated.
I took massive amounts of pictures but suffered an unfortnate technical error and don't have them all, but here are some of the highlights.
Quakers, the resident duck:
HoneyFern getting ready to start their challenge course:
The course included a challenge that had never been completed; students had to balance this platform, and then switch sides (all of them) without unbalancing the platform. HoneyFern did it.
We also did a zipline; we climbed up a phone pole to a 43-foot platform that swayed in the breeze (!), then leapt off into the abyss. Some students loved it, some hated it, but everyone made it. The final day of the camp we participated in a survival challenge; students had to build a shelter of available materials. This we did, in the pouring rain. I don't have a picture of this, but it was a pretty solid shelter.
And finally, some of our amazing students. This is the picture they would want me to post, even though I took a great one of them smiling and looking relaxed and happy. So I will forgo the typical picture and post this one of them "acting natural."
#LoveMySchool
It was striking to me, watching the students in this environment. They were so confident, capable and knowledgeable; they worked together, dove into the challenges and didn't back down when they got frustrated.
I took massive amounts of pictures but suffered an unfortnate technical error and don't have them all, but here are some of the highlights.
Quakers, the resident duck:
HoneyFern getting ready to start their challenge course:
The course included a challenge that had never been completed; students had to balance this platform, and then switch sides (all of them) without unbalancing the platform. HoneyFern did it.
They also aced another one of the challenges that no one had completed (crossing a hot lava river on shamrocks). I had to bite my tongue to not point out in a very teacher-y fashion that all of the skills they were using (collaborative, communication, planning, logic, problem-solving, design) they had learned this year through the design and development of their projects. I bit my tongue a lot this trip to just let them apply their skill and relax in the mountains, but I wanted to shout out, "See!! It works!! Here's proof!!"
We raced on these after a practice run; I won't say who won, but it was a very, very close race!
We also did a zipline; we climbed up a phone pole to a 43-foot platform that swayed in the breeze (!), then leapt off into the abyss. Some students loved it, some hated it, but everyone made it. The final day of the camp we participated in a survival challenge; students had to build a shelter of available materials. This we did, in the pouring rain. I don't have a picture of this, but it was a pretty solid shelter.
And finally, some of our amazing students. This is the picture they would want me to post, even though I took a great one of them smiling and looking relaxed and happy. So I will forgo the typical picture and post this one of them "acting natural."
#LoveMySchool
Thursday, April 25, 2013
On Birthdays, and Sage Advice
May 4th is La Petite's 13th birthday. I have asked friends and family to take a moment in the next few days to write down two things: something they wish they had known when they were 13, and a wish for La's 13th year.
This morning, her Uncle Sock (Scott, my brother), sent an email with this letter to her. I am reposting it here in its entirety, whether he likes it or not, because I think it is excellent, loving advice to not only La but also people of all ages. Not sure when he got to be so smart, but I am glad he is my brother.
This morning, her Uncle Sock (Scott, my brother), sent an email with this letter to her. I am reposting it here in its entirety, whether he likes it or not, because I think it is excellent, loving advice to not only La but also people of all ages. Not sure when he got to be so smart, but I am glad he is my brother.
Dear Sicily –
It has been quite some time since I was 13 but I still have vivid memories of that age and the excitement I felt about becoming a teenager. It was about this age when I started to realize that as I got older, more was expected of me and but this was offset by more opportunities being available to me. One of the benefits of getting older is perspective. Things that were so crushingly important to me a certain stages of my life now seem unimportant if not trivial. Perspective is something that one gains through experience and time and it is something that we continue to gather as we go through life. Hindsight is said to be 20/20, but the truth is that the answers are always there if you know the right questions and have the right person to ask.
While no specific instances particularly stands out, I do recall being very concerned about appearing to know what I was doing or saying. As for that actually being the case, not so much. If you approach new situations with an open and inquisitive mind, you will broaden your world and gain the knowledge of other peoples perspectives. Gaining other perspectives, including those from people which you disagree, will prepare you for just about every life situation you will face.
Here are a few tips that might help you navigate through the next few years:
Stay even – don’t let the highs get too high, or the lows too low
Make a friend with someone that you have nothing in common with
When you look at pictures of yourself 20 years from now, your haircut and clothes will make you laugh
Trust your mom and never be afraid to talk to her about anything; she has been there and done that and can help
Express your opinion, but in a way that is respectful and cognizant of differing opinions
Have fun – you might be teenager, but your are still a kid. Enjoy the silly kid stuff as long as you can.
Appreciate yourself and be confident
Accept failures, not as defeat, but as an opportunity and challenge to do better
Define your values and stick with them – be flexible enough to change as you gain perspective
You are not going to marry your first, second, third or even fourth boyfriend
Be compassionate
If you want to be trusted, be trustworthy
Set goals
Understand the sacrifices that your Mom makes for you and let her know you appreciate it
Clean up your room and make your bed; trust me, eventually you will feel good about it
Graciously accept your victories
Be tolerant of others
Occasionally, delay gratification
Earn some money and save it for something special
Stay awesome! (just an older version)
Make a friend with someone that you have nothing in common with
When you look at pictures of yourself 20 years from now, your haircut and clothes will make you laugh
Trust your mom and never be afraid to talk to her about anything; she has been there and done that and can help
Express your opinion, but in a way that is respectful and cognizant of differing opinions
Have fun – you might be teenager, but your are still a kid. Enjoy the silly kid stuff as long as you can.
Appreciate yourself and be confident
Accept failures, not as defeat, but as an opportunity and challenge to do better
Define your values and stick with them – be flexible enough to change as you gain perspective
You are not going to marry your first, second, third or even fourth boyfriend
Be compassionate
If you want to be trusted, be trustworthy
Set goals
Understand the sacrifices that your Mom makes for you and let her know you appreciate it
Clean up your room and make your bed; trust me, eventually you will feel good about it
Graciously accept your victories
Be tolerant of others
Occasionally, delay gratification
Earn some money and save it for something special
Stay awesome! (just an older version)
I am very proud to be your uncle. I love you. Happy Birthday!
Have a great day!
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