Irene Latham's blog name is my inspiration this week: Live Your Poem.
This week's poem began by planting seeds for my students' "If Kids Ran the World" projects in 2021. On Monday, our guest speaker was Imran Nuri, my former student who is the founder and CEO of the charity nonprofit The 52 Million Project. Then, on Tuesday, we heard from Dash Yeatts-Lonske, son of Tabatha/The Opposite of Indifference, and co-founder of the advocacy nonprofit Schools Not Jails.
On the home front, I was baking cookies and preparing boxes for delivery. On Wednesday, hubby and I delivered 25 boxes containing 2 big gingerbread cookies, a "pastry bag" of icing, and three little containers of decorations to my Remote Learning Academy students. The boxes were tied with red ribbon and labeled "Do not open until the 9:00 meeting on Thursday!" Yesterday, the boxes were opened and year 37 of my cookie decorating tradition took place through the screen.
Now I need to go iron my PJs and gather my pillows and blankets for my fort. Today we'll do all of our learning/teaching in our PJs inside our pillow forts (or, in my case, my under-the-standing-table fort).
This is my poem, and I'm living it to the fullest.
Happy Friday! Happy Poetry! Happy LIFE!
Michelle Kogan has the Poetry Friday Roundup, and it's dusted in stardust!
I love that you made all those cookies and delivered them. I marveled over the pics you shared on twitter and told my SIL teacher about the project. There is so much love and devotion in teaching...but you truly live it. Your students are blessed mightily by your love...which will be what they remember.
ReplyDeleteAnd, you give me ideas. I'm working on a goal-setting not-really-a-lesson inspiration for my NJHS kids after break. Thanks for the spark of inspiration!
I can hear your amazing perseverance in this post. There are traditions that should go on. Your students don't know how lucky they are to have you this year. You are living your poem to the fullest.
ReplyDeleteBeautiful, Mary Lee! I just made a donation to the 52 Million Project. You're inspiring in so many ways.
ReplyDeleteYour life is a poem indeed--a novel in verse, even! Cookies, yes, but I love hearing about how your yearning to bring democracy down I mean UP to their level has become "If Kids Ran the World." Excellent ambassadors you have chosen! May I suggest contacting climate activist Jerome Foster https://twitter.com/JeromeFosterII (buddy o' mine from DC)--and there are plenty of teen girls doing the work!
ReplyDelete"This is my poem, and I'm living it to the fullest." GO Mary Lee! How special each of those cookie decorators must have felt to receive such a gift from you... and with what tenderness you give and have given for 37 years. You inspire me! xo
ReplyDeleteMary Lee, it makes me cry happy tears that you found a way to keep this tradition going. How amazing! This is something not one of those kids will ever forget. What a role model you are for the rest of us teachers!
ReplyDeleteP.S. We have a pyjama day today too, since we were trying to make up for Spirit Week, which didn't happen this fall. I'm working from home today because we had a positive test in our high school this week, but I'm staying in PJs to honor the day!
ReplyDeleteYour kindness for your students certainly is a poem, Mary Lee. You deserve to be the happy story on nightly news! Enjoy your weekend rest after this pj day finale!
ReplyDeleteLove that you found a way to continue your cookie decorating tradition with your students!! I continue to be inspired and amazed by your dedication and ingenuity. You are the best!
ReplyDeleteYour students are so lucky! How fun to ice cookies together and go to school in pajamas and learn in a pillow fort! Enjoy living your poem!
ReplyDeleteYay for carrying on your tradition!!! You've given them love, knowledge, and perseverance, how fortunate they are, and wonderful tools you've offered–and… PJ's too!
ReplyDeleteYou are an inspiration, Mary Lee! I agree with Linda about you being the happy story on the news. Hope you have a lovely break with plenty of time to relax, read, and write!
ReplyDeleteYou are living a poem, Mary Lee, and what a vivid one it is! Thank you for sharing it with you, and happy holidays!
ReplyDeleteI shared your cookie story with many co-workers. You are an inspiration! Keep on living that poem and sharing it!
ReplyDeleteBest poem ever, Mary Lee. I was telling my husband about your driving around to deliver all those cookies. You make miracles.
ReplyDeleteIt sounds like you have a mission yourself, Mary Lee. Your students are part of your Living Your Poem. You are the guide on their journey and what a journey it is. I wish every classroom -virtual or F2F would have as much zest as yours. You are a fine example of a joyful and safe classroom that allows students to reach out and learn in interesting ways.
ReplyDeleteThose kids were probably beyond happy at even a tiny snippet of familiarity and normalcy. And yet - this new tradition is even more special, eliciting its own hallowed narrative of, Once Upon A Time, Teacher Came Over And Brought Cookies...
ReplyDelete