It's All About Love

This time of year our school is awash in student teachers.  I love seeing those bright, eager faces.  They're so excited about the adventure they're on and so blessedly devoid of cynicism.  Lately, there has been a lot of buzz discouraging new teachers from entering the profession.  I won't lie - teaching is definitely a different, more difficult and more stressful career than it was ten years ago.  Before you read any further, if you haven't read Randy Turner's excellent piece about the current political attack on teachers go read it -  I'll wait.

I agree almost 100% with his statements - except, maybe it's just the starry eyed optimist in me - but I would still tell young people to teach.

It's all about LOVE

When I first graduated from college I worked in outdoor camping ministry (as a program and environmental education director).  My boss at the time was fond of reminding us that for some kids we may be the only Jesus they see.  Now when I say Jesus - feel free to substitute your ultimate model of what it means to love (Budda, Ghandi, MLK, your Aunt Joyce, what have you).  When I interviewed for my current job, at some point the question was posed about test scores.  I responded that yes, of course I want my students to learn to read better, and yes of course I want them to improve their performance on the tests they need to graduate.  But mostly, I went into teaching so that I could love kids.

Some of my students come from wonderful homes with loving supportive parents who make sure that they have plenty to eat, have reasonable bed times and who make sure that they get lots of rich experiences to broaden their lives.  Those kids need me just like they need extended family members.  They need school as a place to feel additional love and support - an affirmation and extension of the loving world they already know.

But, unfortunately, I also have kids who have had (or are having) a very difficult time growing up.  In my fifteen years in the classroom I've had kids who have suffered from abuse and neglect, whose parents were drug dealers, gang members and drunks, who were teetering on the brink of being drug addicts or alcoholics themselves.  I've taught kids who didn't have enough to eat, who lived in their cars, or slept on a different person's floor every night.  I've taught kids who went home to an empty house because both parents had to work multiple jobs to make ends meet, and I've taught kids who were the primary care taker of their younger siblings.  I've taught kids whose parents have abandoned them, who were the pawn in the middle of a messy divorce, and who were grieving through the violent loss of a loved one.  These kids need loving teachers in their life so they can survive.  For some of these kids, school is the one place where they know they'll be loved, where they know they'll be warm, where they know they'll be fed, where they know someone cares enough to push them to do their best.  Even if my school became an onerous place to work - I don't think I could leave the kids.  The stakes are much higher than their test scores - the real risk is that they won't know that they're precious, and that their lives have potential.  Without school, and the teachers and administrators that populate the building, they might never know that they're loved.

Sometimes you'll hear veteran teachers joking that the three best reasons to teach are June, July and August.  Yes, summer is a hallowed time - a time to reconnect with my family and recharge for another year. But the benefits of a family friendly career go beyond summer. 

Teaching allows me to ensure that my own children have plenty of my time and attention.  I'm much more involved in my kid's lives because I teach.  I know what they're doing in school because I'm friends with their teachers.  Their school is directly across the road from mine.  Truth be told, I never really got over going back from maternity leave.  Sometimes, when they walk to their school while I head to mine I still get a deep stab of grief similar to the feelings I had when I left them the first day when they were infants (Sandy Hook also adds fear to the mix).  But, there is great comfort in knowing that they are physically close, and that their teachers are busy loving them just the way I'm busy loving my own students. 

My days are very busy - with very few (if any) breaks, so before I know it my blond haired beauties are showing up at my classroom door.  I get to hear news about their day while it's still fresh in their minds.  My kids are able to stay in my classroom when I have after school meetings or other responsibilities.  I don't have to worry about child care, or try to tackle homework when we get home.  As an added bonus, most days, if there are no meetings or practices, we're home by 4:30.  Getting a healthy meal on the table, and maintaining the house is usually a pretty simple task because I have plenty of time.  I can't imagine a career that is more compatible with raising your own family.  Sure, I sometimes have grading and paperwork to do in the evening, but I can generally manage to do that after the kids are in bed.  I've never had to miss a game or a performance because I had a meeting, or had to be out of town.  I get to be there for it all.

There are always trends in education - I'm an optimist, but I think - I hope - I see the pendulum swinging back to a time of more creative teaching, and less stress on testing.  I hope I'm right.  My dad was a teacher and a principal.  When I was interviewing for my first teaching job I was trying to decide between two schools - one that I thought I would like, but that was closer to home and in the same county where my husband taught; and one that was much further away in a different county, but with an administrator I loved.  When I talked to Dad and asked his advice he reminded me that administrators, school boards, policies and educational trends had a way of coming and going.  His advice - if I wasn't happy with something in education I should wait... it would change. So, I took the job closer to home, and he was right.  Some years have been harder than others - but ultimately, everything shifts and changes.  Teaching is a bit like an investment portfolio... I have to look at it in the long range.

I'm glad those bright, young, enthusiastic teachers are still writing their starry eyed plans.  I hope they come, and I hope they stay.  We need them, and the kids need their love.

Snowy Days

“Winter is the time for comfort, for good food and warmth, for the touch of a friendly hand and for a talk beside the fire: it is the time for home.”
― Edith Sitwell

 

“Every Autumn now my thoughts return to snow. Snow is something I identify myself with. Like my father, I am a snow person.”  
― Charlie English

“Summer is the time for squabbles. In winter, we must protect one another, keep each other warm, share our strengths.”
― George R.R. Martin, A Game of Thrones

"You can't get too much winter in the winter."
Robert Frost

"There is a privacy about it which no other season gives you.... In spring, summer and fall people sort of have an open season on each other; only in the winter, in the country, can you have longer, quiet stretches when you can savor belonging to yourself. "
~Ruth Stout

Two Soups for a Chilly January

Well, I got my wish.  We have about eight inches on the ground and it's cold so the snow isn't going anywhere soon.  The kids and I spent yesterday on the slopes, and today they're playing in the snow with The Woodsman while I catch up on my inside work. 

Even though I could have slept in this morning, I was up before dawn so I could enjoy the view of the sun hitting the snow covered mountain.  I love the peace and quiet of this season. 

Danny is a lot like me.  When he woke up early this morning he stood and just looked at the beautiful winter snow scape and said softly, with awe, and mostly to himself, "I love winter."  I'm a teacher, and no small part of my winter bliss is that I get to stay home on the snowiest days.  But, really I'd be happy even if school wasn't closed.  I just love snow. 

Snow days call for warm, easy meals.  If we're home during the winter it's likely that soup will be on the menu.  Here are two easy, kid friendly soup recipes.  As an extra bonus, you probably have all of the ingredients in your pantry and freezer so you don't have to fight your way through the lines at the grocery store to make them.

Taco Soup

There are lots of variations of this soup.  I've made it two ways recently (slightly different both times because of what I had on hand).
For a meat version:
 -  brown 1 lb. of ground beef in a Dutch oven and drain the fat
 - Then add taco seasoning mix (whatever amount you would use to make taco filling)
2 cans of beans (black and/or pinto work well)
2 quarts of tomatoes
1 small can of tomato paste
2 cups of frozen corn
1/2 c. of frozen chopped green peppers
hot chili peppers and salt to taste

Simmer until thickened to the consistency you'd like.  If you have it, serve topped with tortilla chips, shredded cheddar cheese and sour cream.

If you want to make a vegetarian version just pull out a big soup pot, add all of the ingredients and substitute vegi crumbles for the meat - no browning involved.

Chickenless Noodle Soup

This one came from a fellow teacher friend (Thanks Lisa!)

Sauté chopped half onion + 1 clove garlic + 2-3 stalks celery (leaves and yellow stalks are the BEST!) and then add 4 cups water + 3 bouillon cubes + bay leaf + dried parsley. Optional:  Add 1 c. of frozen corn.  Simmer. Turn heat off and add egg noodles. EAT when noodles are done! YUMMY!

Note:  I added a carrot, and I didn't have a onion so I added onion powder instead.  Still delicious and perfect after a day in the cold.

Side Note:  I got a pressure canner for Christmas.  Since then I've made three big batches (think stock pot size) of soup - pea, ten bean and ham barley respectively - and I've canned them all.  It took a little while to get used to how to use the pressure canner, but overall I've loved the experience.  What I really need are recipes.  If you have any tried and true pressure canner recipes please share.  The book that came with the canner came with many recipes, but most of them were for things my family just won't be eating.  Pigs feet or blood pudding anyone? 

 

Hope you can stay in, stay warm and enjoy cozy times with your family.

Farmer's Almanac

Every fall our neighbor tells us that according to the Farmer's Almanac it's going to be a terrible winter.  Every year, I hope his prediction is right. 

I'm a winter girl - if I was in Game of Thrones I'd be a Stark.  Lately, winter has been teasing me.  We've gotten a half inch here, a half inch there, some freezing rain, and even some really cold temps.  But, where I ask is the snow?

The winter that my eldest was born was a winter of record.  Two days before she was born we got 30 inches of snow.  Lately, I find myself dreaming of a winter just like that one.   Or, how about the winter when my son was three.  We had snow storm upon snow storm - we actually got tired of skiing and snow days.  That kind of winter would suit me just fine.


Now this is winter!

I think Winter must be one of those love it or hate it kinds of seasons.  I know some people who hate winter with vehemence.  The only reason those folks stay in the north during the winter season is for Christmas.  I don't dream about going South until spring - I dream about running North.  So, several times a year - I run home so I can get my fill of winter. 

Here's hoping the forecast calls for snow!

Holiday Happenings: Part I

Thanks to the past two snowstorms, two cancelled church services and two snow days I'm totally ready for Christmas.  This might be the only year on record that I don't pull any late nights!  Hooray!  Here's what we've been doing the past few weeks.  I'm really enjoying reconnecting with my crew.

Lighting the Lights

 Nutcracker with GeeGee

 Finally Old Enough to Put up Betty Will's 1930s Doll House

 Rosky and Sugar Cookies with Matka and family

Sister Selfie

 Snow!  A Miracle as far as we're concerned....

The Tree!

 Teacher Cookie Gifts - no help from Mom!

 Santa Lucia

 More Holiday Baking

The Season of Light

We do a lot of celebrating around here between the end of November and the beginning of January.  Most of the year we're busy running the kids to their activities - it's the kind of busy that keeps us apart.  But now, at this time of year, we're busy being busy together.  Here's a run down of the festivities we have planned for the next few weeks.

Hanukkah

We're not Jewish, but we like the idea of exposing our kids to faith traditions beyond our own.  It also feels right to celebrate the High Holy Days.  It grounds me to say the blessings and light the lights of Hanukkah.  It's  good to remember God's goodness in the days of the Old Testament as we move into celebrating his Son's birth. 

Advent

Every day during Advent we'll light the Advent wreath, read a special Advent devotional and add one more ornament to the Jesse tree.  This is a wonderful family ritual.  It reminds the kids that the reason for the season really has nothing to do with presents, but rather with the gift of the Christ Child.  We put up the nativity on the first Sunday in Advent, but Baby Jesus won't show up there until Christmas Eve.  He'll spend the next four weeks traveling closer to the nativity.  We'll also be preparing a bed of straw for the baby by writing down the kind acts we practice during Advent and adding them to his crib.

St. Nicholas Day

We break tradition around here and do St. Nick's day the first Saturday in December.  The kids will put out carrots and apples for his horses, and they'll receive a few small presents in exchange.  We'll also talk about the legend of how St. Nicholas cared for others.

Santa Lucia Day

Last year Lilly was very excited to do Santa Lucia Day all on her own.  She made the saffron buns and the glogg and had breakfast ready for everyone in the morning.  This year we'll be celebrating Santa Lucia on the second Saturday in December so we don't have to try to make Lutterkasse on a school morning.  Also, we'll be making an electric crown of candles - the girl still has her heart set on a real candle crown, but that will have to wait until she's much, much older.

Winter Solstice

Winter can be such a dark and cold time.  It's lovely to remind ourselves that long summer days will return again soon.  We'll gather some friends, light a big bonfire outside and all of the candles inside,  make a big pot of chili and mulled wine to warm ourselves from the inside and feast on the fruitcake we made on the first day of Advent.  We won't do any of the pagan rituals, but we will talk about how many ancient cultures celebrated the solstice.  It's a good time to review our mythology background (Roman, Egyptian, Greek, Norse and Hopi) and a great excuse to have a winter fire.

Christmas Eve and Christmas Day

For us Christmas Eve is about church, friends and family.  We'll gather for a meal with another transplanted family then head to church for the Candlelight service and kid's program.  We'll round out the evening with carols around our tree and home made eggnog.  Then, in the morning, presents and more food and family.  There's no paper flinging around here - we take our time and watch each person open a present one at a time.  Breakfast is simple - cinnamon buns and a breakfast casserole made the day before - I just pop both in the oven while I'm starting the coffee before presents. 

Kwanzaa

We're no more African American than we are Jewish - but this year we'll be celebrating Kwanzaa.  Last year Lilly requested that we learn more about this celebration so we got a good book about celebrating Kwanzaa and we're going to give it a whirl.  We'll check back in with you in January and tell you how it went.

Twelfth Night

Did you know that there are actually 12 days of Christmas?  Twelfth Night happens on January 5th (the night before Epiphany begins).  Twelfth Night has become one of my favorite celebrations.  We invite several musically minded families.  They bring their guitars and any remaining Christmas goodies.  Then we share food and fellowship around the tree.  We also invite the kids to come in their PJs and enjoy hot chocolate and a final viewing of their favorite Christmas movies.

Food

With the exception of those goodies that have to be made for the celebration (Pfeffernussen (St. Nick's) and Lutterkassen (Santa Lucia), we try to make as much in advance as we can.   We make a lot of cookies together, so starting on the first Saturday after Thanksgiving the kids and I will make two or three batches of cookies and then store them in the freezer.  It's a great way to spread out the holiday baking.  I'll also start making a dish or two at a time for our other celebrations while I'm busy in the kitchen anyhow.

For recipes and pics from last year click here, here, here,  here and here.

Want ideas for your own family celebrations? 

What do you do to make the holidays a special time for you and your family?

Tradition! Tradition!

At the beginning of the school year, we asked our 6th graders to write poems based on the George Ellen Lyon's poem "Where I'm From".  As part of the process students were asked to reflect on the things that were important to them and their families:  traditions, stories, special family foods, events, etc.  I'm a reading specialist - so I'm used to having kids balk at writing because of the difficulty of transferring thoughts into the written word.  But this year my students struggled for a different reason - many of them have no family traditions.

 

Even though I'm about to enter my 40s there are times when I find myself to be woefully naïve.  I grew up in a family steeped in tradition - some that existed before my birth, and some that were added when my sister and I were girls.  We're raising our kids in the same kind of environment.  As I watched my students struggle to complete the prewriting questions - I wondered if the way I was raised, and the way our family lives is not the norm.  Doesn't everyone live this way? 

 

Tradition has always been important to me.  I think that's one of the reasons I cook seasonally - it's another one of my own mini traditions.  I love comparing this year's events to the ones that have come before them, and now I hear my own children making the same comparisons.  There's a lot of "Remember when..." and "I think..." kinds of conversations happening.

 

My 90 year old grandmother called yesterday to remind me to set my clocks back an hour.  When I answered the phone she didn't say hello, she said... "It's tradition...".  Another one of her favorite phrases - which is now more of a family motto is... "You're building memories".  It's these shared experiences and traditions which hold us together.  They help us learn who we are, they ground us in the love of our families.  They give us shared memories that hold us solidly together.  When the kids leave for college and beyond we'll still be together through our traditions.

 

Halloween:  Carving and Making Our Own Costumes



Old enough to use the knife herself this year!

The annual make my face look just like my Jack O Lantern picture.



Rollers for Glinda hair

The Headless Horseman and Glinda on her way to the Emerald City (from Wicked) - Love that they both chose literary costumes this year!

Grandma's new friend 

Making Apple Dumplings

 Fall Campout and Hike to Tibet Knob

Over 75 friends joined us for our fall campout weekend to celebrate our friendships and our beautiful fall weather.

Farmer Dan demonstrates his bottle opener cap holder contraption.

Girls on the rocks

Overlook with WV in full color

Crafty Girl is a hobbit

Caramel Apples with the Thy Hand Crew

Actually, I think the adults enjoy this tradition as much as the kids.

What are your favorite family traditions? How do you bond your family together?  Hope you build some memories today.