most days are roller coasters
days are roller coasters
days are
hard to handle;
filled with joy;
heavy with an aching
that leaves us numb.
take right now:
the house is dim
with low watt bulb light,
a chill glass of eggnog
and my first born
tickling her new keyboard.
her voice,
timidly working
its way through a song.
a set of songs.
most days are roller coasters
days are roller coasters
days are
hard to handle;
filled with joy;
heavy with an aching
that leaves us numb.
take earlier:
teaching
other people’s children:
“let the poem go where it needs to.
don’t be anchored by your first draft.
follow it down many alleyways.”
“never evaluate as you create.
everything feels like shit
until you revise,
even then it takes time
and you seldom get it right.
poetry is the fight.
never the poem.”
they wrote with earnest intensity.
the classroom filled with highs
and loops
and screams.
most days are roller coasters
days are roller coasters
days are
hard to handle;
filled with joy;
heavy with an aching
that leaves us numb.
take later:
the students are:
tired
stressed
anxious
looking
for strategies to cope:
cuts.
ideation.
safety plans.
she sings the songs.
we write the poems.
get back in line
and take another ride.
Showing posts with label singing. Show all posts
Showing posts with label singing. Show all posts
January 13, 2021
13/365
December 15, 2016
Moments
I just read an essay by Patti Smith about performing, watched a few poems by Billy Collins and an article about how teaching is like performing about Teller from Penn & Teller. All three were shared with me by friends. Thank you friends for knowing me and bringing valuable content to my heart and mind.
I walked a lot today. Didn’t take he crutches and made a few trips to the library and the canteen and now there are sharp shooting pains and swelling. I am ready to run now. Swim. Jump. Skate and be back to normal. But I still hobble and gimp.
We went to dinner at Etna’s and I had a Negroni and some wine. I am deep into my vegan cheating stage until the new year- my pasta had cream and we shared Tiramisu and a Cannoli. It was delicious and the guilt was faint due to the exhaustion of the day.
Some times when I talk to one six grader about anything, a small mob of 5 or 6 will also gather around and listen- eyes wide and expectant. As if I might have some of the secrets of the universe. They seem so grateful for an adult who will listen to them and take them seriously. I guess in a way the feeling is mutual.
Tomorrow is a half day and I am excited to be in a joyous celebratory mood. Community day. Food. Gifts. Goodbyes and at 3:40 Rogue One in Imax 3D. It is extra sweet because the Nazis are trying to #dumpstarwars, and I will revel in everything that angers them- strong female protagonist and people of color rebels fighting a white-supremacists patriarchy. I am especially excited about Forrest Whitaker’s performance.
We watched School of My Dreams during our Daraja meeting today and I was fighting back tears thinking of you all in Kenya. Can’t wait to be back on campus in a few short weeks. It feels like forever since I have been back “home.”
It is 9:23 and my warm, clean, safe bed for which I am eternally grateful is not too far away.
I walked a lot today. Didn’t take he crutches and made a few trips to the library and the canteen and now there are sharp shooting pains and swelling. I am ready to run now. Swim. Jump. Skate and be back to normal. But I still hobble and gimp.
We went to dinner at Etna’s and I had a Negroni and some wine. I am deep into my vegan cheating stage until the new year- my pasta had cream and we shared Tiramisu and a Cannoli. It was delicious and the guilt was faint due to the exhaustion of the day.
Some times when I talk to one six grader about anything, a small mob of 5 or 6 will also gather around and listen- eyes wide and expectant. As if I might have some of the secrets of the universe. They seem so grateful for an adult who will listen to them and take them seriously. I guess in a way the feeling is mutual.
Tomorrow is a half day and I am excited to be in a joyous celebratory mood. Community day. Food. Gifts. Goodbyes and at 3:40 Rogue One in Imax 3D. It is extra sweet because the Nazis are trying to #dumpstarwars, and I will revel in everything that angers them- strong female protagonist and people of color rebels fighting a white-supremacists patriarchy. I am especially excited about Forrest Whitaker’s performance.
We watched School of My Dreams during our Daraja meeting today and I was fighting back tears thinking of you all in Kenya. Can’t wait to be back on campus in a few short weeks. It feels like forever since I have been back “home.”
It is 9:23 and my warm, clean, safe bed for which I am eternally grateful is not too far away.
February 16, 2016
Huff and a Puff
Facebook gets a bum rap. Many people, myself included, complain about what a cesspool it can be, or what a time suck it is, but I have been having a fairly positive and healthy relationship with Facebook lately.
In case you haven’t noticed I like to share stuff: Ideas, thoughts, feelings, opinions, photos, news, reflections- anything really, and more importantly I like feedback, validation, and conversation. I also like to see you what you all are up to. I like seeing pics of your kids, your food, and yes, even your cats. I want to see photos of your latest mountain bike ride on Mr. Tam, or your thoughts on Bernie versus Hillary. I want to know what you thought about the Kendrick Lamar Grammy clip and also I want to read about your good news.
Sharing good news on Facebook feels pretty great. People from around the world want to jump in and make your day brighter by offering a congratulations or positive encouragement. So thanks for all the hi-fives and pats on the back. It always feels good to be valued and appreciated, and today, for me at least, Facebook allowed me to feel those things.
…
I was asked to perform at a grade twelve assembly this morning by Georgina’s mentor class. It was a bit of a disaster. I was stressed because I had to get some standardized testing ready in my mentor room and we were running late in the morning. So in a huff and puff, I ran to the Black Box theatre to sing Little Boxes by Malvina Reynolds- it felt appropriate for a group of kids heading off to university in a few months.
Problem was I kept missing a key chord change, so I hit the wrong note on every line. I had to start over a few times and felt like an idiot. I might have muttered an F-Bomb to which the kids clapped and laughed. They were generally supportive and I finally made my way through the simple three verses, but I was a neurotic sweaty mess by the end. I even changed one verse from:
And they all play on the golf course
And drink their martinis dry
And they all have pretty children
And the children go to school,
And the children go to summer camp
And then to the university
Where they are put in boxes
And they come out all the same.
to
And they all play on the golf course
And drink their martinis dry
And they all have pretty children
And the children go to UWC,
And the children go on service trips
And then to the university
Where they are put in boxes
And they come out all the same.
It was a last minute rash decision, but again they seemed to appreciate it. I am nothing if not an entertainer. Just having a little fun. Later Georgina told me that the kids told her that they appreciated the authenticity and honesty of me even being up there. That they are tired of the formal conversations and people who are always doing things perfectly. That I reminded them to have fun.
So anytime you need someone to not to do something perfectly or even well, I am your man.
In the spirit of full disclosure and transparency here is the questionable performance:
…
I was having lunch with Rebecca today and she says to me with the straightest face, after she congratulated me on my new job, “I am not being difficult, but why do you want to do this job?” I think I muttered something about change and freshness and learning, whatever I said I am sure it was barely coherent. Here are some more carefully crafted thoughts.
I have always been interested in the idea of leadership. I am not too keen on administration, but I want to learn how to effectively inspire and motivate teachers to be their best selves. A few years ago I was doing work as a DLC, and while working with adults was different than working with kids, there were elements that I really enjoyed. I want to hone those skills.
I also love the idea of being a kind of glue that binds the teachers, students, parents and the admin. I like leading meetings and talking to large groups of people. I love the idea of getting to know all the kids and working with the ELT to make policy and find ways to authentically implement it.
Sound crazy? I know. I swore I never had any aspirations for admin, that the world of an educator is in the classroom and the classroom only, maybe I want to try this job to prove myself wrong. I want to learn how to improve learning by working with all the stakeholders. I just want to see what it feels like and see if I am good at it.
In case you haven’t noticed I like to share stuff: Ideas, thoughts, feelings, opinions, photos, news, reflections- anything really, and more importantly I like feedback, validation, and conversation. I also like to see you what you all are up to. I like seeing pics of your kids, your food, and yes, even your cats. I want to see photos of your latest mountain bike ride on Mr. Tam, or your thoughts on Bernie versus Hillary. I want to know what you thought about the Kendrick Lamar Grammy clip and also I want to read about your good news.
Sharing good news on Facebook feels pretty great. People from around the world want to jump in and make your day brighter by offering a congratulations or positive encouragement. So thanks for all the hi-fives and pats on the back. It always feels good to be valued and appreciated, and today, for me at least, Facebook allowed me to feel those things.
…
I was asked to perform at a grade twelve assembly this morning by Georgina’s mentor class. It was a bit of a disaster. I was stressed because I had to get some standardized testing ready in my mentor room and we were running late in the morning. So in a huff and puff, I ran to the Black Box theatre to sing Little Boxes by Malvina Reynolds- it felt appropriate for a group of kids heading off to university in a few months.
Problem was I kept missing a key chord change, so I hit the wrong note on every line. I had to start over a few times and felt like an idiot. I might have muttered an F-Bomb to which the kids clapped and laughed. They were generally supportive and I finally made my way through the simple three verses, but I was a neurotic sweaty mess by the end. I even changed one verse from:
And they all play on the golf course
And drink their martinis dry
And they all have pretty children
And the children go to school,
And the children go to summer camp
And then to the university
Where they are put in boxes
And they come out all the same.
to
And they all play on the golf course
And drink their martinis dry
And they all have pretty children
And the children go to UWC,
And the children go on service trips
And then to the university
Where they are put in boxes
And they come out all the same.
It was a last minute rash decision, but again they seemed to appreciate it. I am nothing if not an entertainer. Just having a little fun. Later Georgina told me that the kids told her that they appreciated the authenticity and honesty of me even being up there. That they are tired of the formal conversations and people who are always doing things perfectly. That I reminded them to have fun.
So anytime you need someone to not to do something perfectly or even well, I am your man.
In the spirit of full disclosure and transparency here is the questionable performance:
…
I was having lunch with Rebecca today and she says to me with the straightest face, after she congratulated me on my new job, “I am not being difficult, but why do you want to do this job?” I think I muttered something about change and freshness and learning, whatever I said I am sure it was barely coherent. Here are some more carefully crafted thoughts.
I have always been interested in the idea of leadership. I am not too keen on administration, but I want to learn how to effectively inspire and motivate teachers to be their best selves. A few years ago I was doing work as a DLC, and while working with adults was different than working with kids, there were elements that I really enjoyed. I want to hone those skills.
I also love the idea of being a kind of glue that binds the teachers, students, parents and the admin. I like leading meetings and talking to large groups of people. I love the idea of getting to know all the kids and working with the ELT to make policy and find ways to authentically implement it.
Sound crazy? I know. I swore I never had any aspirations for admin, that the world of an educator is in the classroom and the classroom only, maybe I want to try this job to prove myself wrong. I want to learn how to improve learning by working with all the stakeholders. I just want to see what it feels like and see if I am good at it.
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