AI is No Joke!

When I moved to TX from WI back in 1986, I was so grateful to Triple A for their Trip Tiks to help me navigate the route. Decades later, thanks to Artificial Intelligence (AI), now all I need is my phone and a map app.

0

PPBF: Hope At Sea

Today I'm thinking about hope. 

7

Empowering Choices

Today I'm thinking about choices and this John C. Maxwell quote.

0

What Should Danny Do?

Happy Friday; today I'm excited because we get to celebrate

Jacob's 25th birthday as a family this weekend.

It doesn't seem possible that a quarter of a century has gone by

since this boy came into our lives during a thunderstorm.

2

The Dog Days of Summer

As we cruise into July and wade knee deep into the dog days of summer, 

I'm thinking about, well, our best furry friends.

It started when my friend Tanya sent me this picture of Milo.

Don't you love this?

For some reason, it reminded me of this essay I found years ago:

It's whimsical, sure, but also kind of fun to imagine.

Dogs do have a lot to teach us, after all.

Then I remembered I'd promised to share 

the story of Digger, The Hero Dog.

It tells the real-life tale of Digger, who

saved his friend Kilee from a burning building. 

Click {here} for a video clip about 

his heroic rescue and her determined recovery

and {here} to read a review by Maria Dismondy.

Use it to talk about fire safety, loyalty and friendship.

It also reminded me that I've never told you about

this Maribeth Boelts (of Those Shoes fame)

treasure I found at the half-price store awhile back.

It is the sweetest story, one you can use

as a springboard for a discussion on adoption, 

friendship, and unconditional love.

Click {here} for a Humane Society lesson plan idea.

Finally, I realized I've never showcased this title, one of our Joshua's 

childhood favorites about fairness, starring Pinky and Blue.

Blue puts up with a lot from his little friend Pinky, including sharing almost everything. One non-negotiable, however, is his favorite toy rabbit. Will the squabble over that squishy rip their friendship apart? The brilliant illustrations and hilarious text make this one a delightfully engaging read-aloud for your young dog-lovers.

Want some more dog-gone good read alouds?

21 Woof-tastic Children's Books About Dogs 

Our 7 Favorite Picture Books About Dogs 

20 Dog Picture Book Pleasures For Young Readers

What are your go-to faves for the dog days of summer?

0

Making Something Spectacular

Today I'm thinking about how cool it is when parts come together 

to make something whole.

About how seemingly small pieces quickly combine 

to create something really special.

About how every little contribution

makes a big difference.

It's something that has been on my mind for a while now, something that came to the forefront today as our fifth graders started to paint their mosaic mural.

Each student paints their portion of the mural, whose theme this year depicts how our school and community came together to help one another recover and restore after hurricane Harvey blew through.

UPDATE: After day 2.

Finished masterpiece: Restoration

We actually once made a rainstorm five-hundred-students strong at one of our character assemblies, to illustrate what happens when we all do something small to create something big.

In unity, strength.

I love experiencing the magic when parts of the whole 
unify to make something spectacular.

0

Growth Plans

Today I'm thinking about these two words: Growth Plan.

What feeling does those words in concert conjure up? Is it negative or positive? Do you have a personal growth plan? How about a professional one? Do you want one? Do you need one? Do you have one? Might you benefit from one? Not one that's imposed on you, but one that you've adopted for yourself.

Today I'm excited about two upcoming Twitter opps that might help encourage your digital growth plan. If you've been wanting to try Twitter but just haven't taken the plunge yet, then this slow chat, led by edu-hero Julie Woodard, is for you. Sign up, log in and join the fun using the hashtag #fantabulosity. 

Inspired by the passionate Principal of Change, George Couros, we talked about innovation today. We were so blessed to have him in FISD two summers ago. 

The next two days we'll be discussing two of my favorite topics: kindness and empathy. On Thursday, we'll be talking about all things pirate! Won't you join us?

Then, on Tuesday night at 8 pm {CST}, we will be celebrating three years of our #teacherfriends chat. Can it be three years already? There will be thousands of dollars in prizes; two of them will be signed copies of my book. Again, all you have to do is log in and join in the chat for guaranteed growth and a chance to win. 

Have I mentioned that I won a wobble seat from the chat just a few weeks ago?

Click image for more info from Debbie Clement, proud distributor! 

Not on Twitter yet? What are you waiting for?

And once you get comfy on Twitter, download the Voxer app

and join our Poolside Peacemakers Voxer group!

Speaking of a growth plan and not putting things off, today we welcome 

Jeff Tierney from Boys Town with his thoughts on procrastination.

Why do today what you can put off 'til ... whenever?: 

How to help kids stop procrastinating

How many of us have had the joy of being told that science project, you know … the one with the flour plaster volcanoes … is actually due tomorrow? Yes, your child knew when it was due three weeks ago and even mentioned it once to you in passing, but did you really imagine that you would be reminded about it at 8:00 p.m. the night before it had to be done? I know you weren’t expecting it because my wife and I were never expecting the same sort of surprises when we became victims of our son’s procrastination.

Let’s see what tools in our parental arsenal we’ve tried up to this point to get our kids not to put off every important task until the last possible moments: Endless reminding hasn’t worked. Even threats of taking away privileges that will never be seen again didn’t fix it either. Some of our kids are just so good at procrastinating they’ve become pros at it. And it doesn’t just apply to schoolwork. There are always the bedrooms that never get cleaned and trash to be taken out despite solemn oaths that they will all get done “in just a little while.”

If our kids could articulate what their behavior has already told us they would say “But I can’t do it now, not when there are so many other things that I could be doing that would be so much more fun.” And that’s a big part of the problem. Kids are often distracted by opportunities to engage in more immediately rewarding activities than doing schoolwork or cleaning their rooms. Our task as parents becomes teaching them a strategy that allows them to do both.

Award winning children’s author Julia Cook addresses this very issue in her recent book The PROcrastinator, published by the Boys Town Press. The lead character Norman David Edward, better known as Noodle, finds it so hard to feed his cat, take out the trash, and (especially) get his homework done when there are a lot better things to do instead. So Noodle puts them off until he is hopelessly behind on homework and has a very hungry, angry cat. Noodle’s mom says he has become so good at procrastinating that now she considers him a pro at it. A PROcrastinator.

In the end, Noodle’s mom teaches him a strategy to manage his days and all of his responsibilities, all while still having plenty of time to play new video games with his friends. The trick is in figuring out what can be accomplished in under two minutes and getting those things done before anything else. Noodle also learns how to break bigger tasks into smaller parts that are easier to get done as well. This is a great strategy that all parents can use with their children who may be inclined to put things off until the last minute.

Of course, one of the most important things we parents can do is recognize when our kids are taking care of their responsibilities right away and really praise them for their efforts. This is especially true when we see them making steady progress on long-term goals such as working on a school project, studying for an upcoming test, etc. Parents can even set up rewards to be earned for their kids’ consistency in completing household responsibilities without being asked repeatedly. What happens when we use these sorts of strategies for encouraging responsibility and good planning? Less reminding and frustration on our part as parents and better teaching our children the skills they’ll need to be successful in school and out in the “real world.”

About the author: Jeff Tierney, M.Ed. has worked with children and families for over 35 years. He has been at Boys Town in Nebraska for the past 28 years working in the staff training and evaluation areas and, most recently, as Director of the Boys Town Press. Jeff is the author of Teaching Social Skills to Youth, Basic Social Skills for Youth, and articles in professional journals on reducing aggressive behavior in children and teens.

Click {here} for more information about the Boys Town’s award-winning resources for families, schools, and communities. 

Is procrastinating less part of your growth plan?

0

Rocking Responsibility

Today I'm excited because my guest post on the core value of responsibility went live at Free Spirit Press. Click the graphic below to check it out.

What's your favorite way to help your learners rock responsibility?

One thing that helps us nurture the virtue of responsibility is our Peer Assistance and Leadership (PAL) mentoring. Specially-trained high school students come to us every year to support and mentor a younger student. This morning, one of them came back for a visit while on Fall break from college classes and sent the heart of her young PALee (and mine!) soaring.  

I was so blessed to get to see, hear, feel and experience their 

happy reunion.

For the last fifteen years, I would singlehandedly read all of the bios of the teen mentors and them pair them with my students. This year, we decided to try something new: A PAL draft. So instead of me doing the pairing, I asked my students to fill out a "What do I want my PAL to know?" draft card. Then, today, I spent an hour with our new batch of PALs, sharing the cards and letting them choose the child whom they will mentor this year. 

Empowerment in action. 

As you might imagine, we ran out of time, so Round 2 of our draft continues tomorrow and I can't wait. Do I have the best job or what?

3

PPBF: But It's Not My Fault

Happy PPBF. Today, a responsibility gold mine.

Title: But It's Not My Fault

Author: Julia Cook

Illustrator: Anita DuFalla

Publisher: Boys Town Press

Date: March 23, 2015

Suitable for: ages 5-8

Themes: responsibility, ownership, choices

Realistic Fiction

Brief synopsis: Noodle gets in trouble for stuff that he's sure is not his fault. Will he learn the difference between fault and responsibility?

Opening page: 

My name is Norman David Edwards ... but everybody calls me Noodle.   

Resources:

Check out the book's page {here}.

Read an author interview about the book {here}.

Download this freebie activity from Jennifer Tracy at TpT.

Here's a bookmark template to reinforce the lesson. 

Watch the book's trailer:

Why I like this book: Julia Cook books are so real because, as a former teacher and school counselor and a current mom and grandmother, she's been in our shoes. They deal with real-world issues, which she tackles head on with authenticity, transparency, and grace. In this treasure, Julia spotlights responsibility, choices and consequences; Noodle's story helps teach a life skill that every child can benefit from experiencing, reflecting upon, reviewing and practicing over and over again.

Try one or both of these little ditties:

Before trying this one, talk about stakeholders, the people who have a stake in our decisions, who care about, are involved in or will be affected by our choices. Let students brainstorm a list of all of their stakeholders and talk about why these people really make their every decision even more important.

How might you use this text to make a school-to-home connection? The Assistant Principal over at Robinson Elementary actually sends it home following office referrals so that families can work together to help their children be accountable and take responsibility for their choices.

For this and other PPBF titles today, visit Susanna's blog next.

5

The Power of the Circle

Today I'm energized because yesterday afternoon I got to visit my high school PALs for a few minutes. Those superheroes-in-training exude excitement about the chance to empower and supercharge those special someones under their care this year. I gave them each one of these capes to decorate as we anticipate and eagerly await their flight to our campus:

Click to order yours from Really Good Stuff.

It's a visual representation, I told them, of who they are.
Our first impression of them and what they'll bring to us.
We can't wait to see their superpowers posted on our walls.

Speaking of superpowers, I found this tiny treasure on my morning walk ...

and it made me think about the power of circling up.
Part of the excitement about my new space is that we've got lots of room now, 
to huddle up, 
to sit and stand in a circle,
to sing, move and laugh together.
Knee to knee, shoulder to shoulder, sometimes hand in hand even,
with the person beside us.
Eye to eye with the friends in our group. 
To utilized inner-outer circle pair and share time.
To engage in team-building time.
And to look at each other with a message that clearly conveys
"I see you. You matter!" 
as we play to learn and connect to lead. 

On my walk I also got to thinking about the circular nature
of collective responsibility {So much interconnectedness when I walk}.

In our #leadupchat Twitter talk this morning, Bob Abrams shared this food for thought nugget that was posted on a wall in the gym at a Chinese school, so I attached it to the picture I took this week of Joshua in his new FHS letterman jacket.

Such a powerful reflection question ... 
How do I make my school proud?
... one which we could ask ourselves wherever we go. 
How do I make myself proud? 
My family proud?
My friends proud? 
My community proud? 
My Higher Power proud?

And why might it matter?

 I guess it boils down to this:
What goes around comes around.
And therein lies the power of the circle.

How do you use circle time to empower your super class family?

0

Earth Day 2015

First things first; April 22nd is my father's birthday. And every year, he shares it with Earth Day. It's a pretty good fit for a dairy farmer, someone who made his living off the land. Farmers have to be uber-responsible. I always tell my students that responsibility is all about choices and chores, and, believe me, 

there were a lot of chores on that farm. 

Now that he's semi-retired, Dad spends a lot of his time in his wood shop, crafting cool stuff. Here's a picture of the rain barrel that he and the boys worked together to make when he was here a few years back. He's really good at building things. And people.

Birthday blessings, Dad. Thank you for your strong example.

Today one of my littles asked, "What's Earth Day?" and it felt weird to try to explain that it's a day set aside for us to celebrate the Earth, 

because I could hear what was coming next. 

"Shouldn't every day be Earth Day?" Why yes, yes it should. 

Did you know that our responsibility pillar is colored green because of our responsibility to the earth? From the Character Counts! website: As in being solid or reliable, like an oak. 

And before I could even look for something Earth-Day-ish to post, look what found me. Click it to go to its source, the HeartMath Institute.

Harmony. 

My 2015 one little word. 

Being one with Mother Nature.

On Earth Day. And Every Day.

Oh, and we finished our state testing, so I'm ready to celebrate.

Birthday cake anyone?

0

R Is For Responsibility

Happy Tuesday evening. I hope that things are going well in your corner of the world. My week started Sunday at Camp Lone Star with my family for their annual BBQ fundraiser. It's always so good to all be together, especially in a place whose theme this year is True Peace.

I spent the night in San Antonio and had the pleasure of speaking to a group of music teachers Monday morning. Here's the winner of our character cape.

I spent some relaxing time at my friend Mary's place Monday night, then today on my way home, I met two beautiful teacher bloggers {Cheryl from Crayons and Curls and Lynda from Curls and a Smile} and enjoyed a fantastic luncheon. Life is good.

I came home to a wonderful Chapter 8 post over at 

Hippo Hooray For Second Grade {here}.

Thank you, Angela, for your thoughtful review.

Ah, responsibility, the ability to respond.

This is a great graphic to illustrate that all-important virtue.

These critters live at Mary's little house on the prairie. And her response? She's found a way for them to co-exist. In fact, she doesn't just leave them alone, she feeds them. She's been doing it for five years. It was funny last night, actually, because when Mary didn't get dinner to the mama raccoon in what it thought was a timely manner, that cute coon actually came knocking at the front door. I couldn't believe it. She also feeds the bees, the birds, and the deer. Mary takes responsibility for nature, naturally. It was so much fun to experience.

Anyway, responsibility is about choices and chores. 

Check out this comprehensive chore Pinterest page {here}.

We've designed this CHORE Bingo Board for your chore champs.

Brainstorm a list of at least 30 age-appropriate chores that students could handle. Write them on the white board and ask students to copy their favorite 24 randomly on the Bingo card. While they're writing out their cards, you'll have to write them on a piece of paper and cut it into strips, one chore per slip. Then you'll be ready to play. The first player to get five in a row {or four corners and the middle} is the winner, but in all reality, it's the kids who have chores who are the winners, because they learn early on to take responsibility. 

Oh, and don't forget to talk about stakeholders with your students. A stakeholder is anyone who has a stake in your decisions, anyone who cares about your choices. It's an important concept, and it's never too early to get them thinking about whom their choices are going to affect, either positively or negatively.

After a riveting game of BINGO and a discussion about stakeholders, seal the deal with the song RES-PON-SIBLE.

0

PPBF: Josias, Hold the Book

Today I'm excited to share a book that connects with me all the way back to my roots on the farm. Prepare to fall in love with Josias. He's one responsible kid! 


Title: Josias, Hold the Book
Author: Jennifer Riesmeyer Elvgren
Illustrator: Nicole Tadgell
Publisher: Boyds Mills Press
Date: 2006 (reprint edition January 1, 2011)
Suitable for: grades 1-4
Themes: Haitian culture, responsibility, poverty
Realistic Fiction
Brief synopsis: A young Haitian gardener, Josias can't help but notice that his family's beans aren't growing like they used to. Though his friends invite him every day to "hold the book" - an expression that means attend school to learn - Josias repeatedly declines because he's working diligently on the family farm to find a solution to their issue with the beans. Is it possible that if Josias agrees to "hold the book" he'd be able to research other options and save his bean crop?

Opening pages:  Josias frowned at the bare rows of dirt between the sweet potatoes and peas in his family's tiny garden. "The beans have grown well here every year. Why not this one?" He wiped the sweat from his brow as the Haitian sun climbed higher in the sky.

Resources:  

Read a Kirkus review {here}.

Why I like this book and how I would use it:  

First-grade teacher Margaret Limmer first introduced me to this book a few years ago during their farm unit. She said that it reminded her of me since I, too, grew up working on a farm. She also said it was an excellent book to teach problem solving and responsibility. After reading it, however, my first question had to do with fairness: Was it fair that Josias had to work and wasn't able to "hold the book" like his friend Chrislove? That led to my next inquiry: Is education a right or a privilege? These would be interesting writing prompts or discussion points before reading Josias' story aloud to your class. 

While reading aloud, ask students to keep track of the ways in which Josias attempts to help his beans grow. What, if anything, would they have done differently to solve that problem?

Might the books that his friends are reading at school hold the solution to this problem? Is not being able to hold the book holding Josias back? A teacher helps by explaining about crop rotation, and Josias learns a valuable lesson that could even help modernize his family. An author's note at the end of the book gives her readers an insider's look into the plight of the Haitian farmer and the schooling issues that rural children face in that third-world nation. 

Have students compare and contract their life with Josias' way of living. What, if anything, is the same? And what do they note is different? This might also lead to a study of the people, customs, and traditions in Haiti and could even springboard a service project. What is one of the needs that we could help fill there? After the earthquake there, we collected gently-used shoes and sent them through Soles 4 Souls, an organization designed to wear out poverty. Seize this opportunity to find out what they understand about poverty. Are Josias and his family rich or poor? How do they know?

Follow up the story with a writing lesson. What would your students say in a letter to Josias? Tell him about your country and ask him about his. What are your responsibilities as a student? As a family member? As a friend? What are his? 

Want a science experiment? Plant some beans and try watering them with different liquids: water, milk, coffee, lemonade, cola. What do your student predict might happen? Write a hypothesis, then plant those seeds. Help students keep data; measure and document. Track growth and other reactions to the treatment and care. Let students discuss their observations and outcomes.

Check out this book and the other gems on our PPBF list.

17

Taking Responsibility

I clipped this comic years ago because our Kaitlyn was born around the time that this baby Zoe was born ... and, coincidentally, she would also put herself into time out when she'd done something wrong. As a result, Kaitlyn learned the value of taking responsibility (and sometimes a time out!) at a very young age; she really was very easy to parent.

Source: Houston Chronicle circa 1998 ...

I'm also sharing it because I need some comic relief as we're off to court this morning for the plea phase of the State's case against the driver who crossed the center line on that bridge into my lane of traffic last year and hit me head-on. We'll both be there, she to take responsibility and make restitution, and I to read my Victim Impact Statement. And to forgive her. Then let go and move on.

It's going to be an interesting day ... 

if anybody needs me, leave a message and 

I'll get back to you after it's over.

I'm so grateful to those of you who have reached out to me through this ordeal, through prayers, support, kind words. You have been a lifeline to me and I have appreciated every single sentiment.

Oh, and check back tomorrow to see who won that signed copy of Maria's 

sweet new board book. Contest ends today at noon central.

6

PPBF: The Big Box

Today's PPBF is an oldie but goodie on my shelves that came to mind when we were discussing differentiation and individualized instruction the other day.

Title: The Big Box

Author: Toni Morrison with Slade Morrison

Illustrator: Giselle Potter

Publisher: Jump At The Sun (Hyperion Books)

Date: 1999

Suitable for ages: 8 and up

Themes: self-control, creativity, freedom

Brief synopsis:  Three children who challenge their boundaries and, in an adult's world, "just can't handle their freedom" are banished to life in The Big Box.

Opening Page: Patty and Mickey and Liza Sue

Live in a big brown box.

It has carpets and curtains and beanbag chairs.

And the door has three big locks.

Oh, it's pretty inside and the windows are wide

With shutters to keep out the day.

They have swings and slides and custom-made beds

And the doors open only one way.

Resources: 

Read a review from BrainPickings {here}.

Read a Publishers Weekly review {here}. 

Read the history behind the story {here}.

Find discussion questions at Teaching Children Philosophy {here}.

My suggestions for follow-up include using these reflection questions:

1. Did Patty do something wrong? If so, what?
2. Did Mickey do something wrong? If so, what?
3. Did Liza do something wrong? If so, what
4. Who, if anyone, acted unfairly in this story?
5. The children got really cool stuff when their parents visited. Would you be willing to trade your freedom for those things? Why or why not?
6. Were the children acting responsibly before they were put in the Box? Do you suppose that time in The Box would improve their behavior? Why or why not?
7. Describe a time when you might have felt like Patty, Liza, or Mickey. What steps did you take to improve your situation?
8. Think about the Six Pillars of Character. Give examples of how the three children showed good character and didn't show good character.

And this reinforcement activity:

Please Release Me!

Ask your students to choose one of the children: Mickey, Patty or Liza. They will be writing and delivering a short speech, campaigning for the release of their chosen child from his/her prison sentence. They can do it as a third-person narrative on their child's behalf or in the first-person as the child him/herself. Encourage your students to base their argument on your character values. Allow students to use the following questions as a guide:

1. Why would your chosen character benefit from his/her release?
2. What has your chosen character done to deserve his/her release?
3. How will your chosen character behave differently following his/her release?
4. What has your chosen character learned from his/her time in The Big Box?
5. Where will your chosen character go following his/her release?

6. How will he/she behave?

Why I like this book: This creative masterpiece serves as an excellent metaphor for freedom of self-expression, creativity, and individuality. Based on the adventures of three feisty-spirited children, this book details their youthful antics fueled by their unbridled freedom. Patty is a rebel in the classroom, Mickey upsets his neighborhood, and Liza frees the animals on the farm. Challenged by how to handle their energetic kids, the powers-that-be gather to figure it out. Instead of championing their innocence, celebrating their creativity, and fostering their voice and choice, their grown-ups diagnose the symptoms and treat the illness by forcing the kids to stay within the boxy confines of their orderly adult worlds. Oh, they mean well, but at what cost? 

I came from a home where we were repeatedly told that "children are to be seen and not heard." In schools and in homes, we can be authoritarian and operate under a "my way or the highway" regime or we can adopt a coaching model in which we listen to, mentor and guide. I know which one I would have preferred for my childhood; ask your students which one they think children would do better in. Set up a debate just for fun.

Check out this book; I think that it will generate a riveting discussion 

about creativity, freedom and individuality.

22