ressurection

Now that I have some time on my hands, I'd like to start up this blog again. Blogging is a funny thing. Narcissistic, no doubt. I could write in my journal, which is awfully tempting because nothing beats that paper and pencil satisfaction (especially at this moment as I write fom my phone while in the train). But there's something about "publishing" that is strangely appealing and irresistible. Plus it's more green, right? So here goes. July 31, 2010. New thoughts, new dreams, and possibly a new era of
Vi.

a tribute to amelie

(tandom bikes = too much fun)

whip share: one thing you find interesting

A whip share is an opportunity for each kid go share what's on their mind, either prompted by a topic or left open-ended.

This morning's topic: One thing you find interesting. (Very open-ended)

My favorite response: "I think it's interesting that my cat looks younger than me even though I'm older. And we have the same birthday."

you can vote however you like

Lyrics:

Obama on the left
McCain on the right
We can talk politics all night
And you can vote however you like
You can vote however you like, yeah

Democratic left
Republican right
November 4th we decide
And you can vote however you like
You can vote however you like, yeah

(McCain supporters)
McCain's the best candidate
With Palin as his running mate
They'll fight for gun rights, pro life,
The conservative right
Our future is bright
Better economy in site
And all the world will feel our military might

(Obama supporters)
But McCain and Bush are real close right
They vote alike and keep it tight
Obama's new, he's younger too
The Middle Class he will help you
He'll bring a change, he's got the brains
McCain and Bush are just the same
You are to blame, Iraq's a shame
Four more years would be insane

Lower your Taxes - you know Obama Won't
PROTECT THE LOWER CLASS - You know McCain won't!
Have enough experience - you know that they don't
STOP GLOBAL WARMING - you know that you won't

I want Obama
FORGET OBAMA
Stick with McCain and you're going to have some drama
We need it
HE'LL BRING IT
He'll be it
YOU'LL SEE IT
We'll do it
GET TO IT
Let's move it
DO IT!

Obama on the left
McCain on the right
We can talk politics all night
And you can vote however you like
You can vote however you like, yeah

Democratic left
Republican right
November 4th we decide
And you can vote however you like, I said
You can vote however you like, yeah

I'm talking big pipe lines, and low gas prices
Below $2.00 that would be nice

But to do it right we gotta start today
Finding renewable ways that are here to stay

I want Obama
FORGET OBAMA,
Stick wit McCain you gone have some drama
MORE WAR IN IRAQ
Iran he will attack
CAN'T BRING OUR TROOPS BACK
We gotta vote Barack!

Obama on the left
McCain on the right
We can talk politics all night
And you can vote however you like, I said
You can vote however you like, yeah

Democratic left
Republican right
November 4th we decide
And you can vote however you like, I said
You can vote however you like, yeah

from mayflower to blue angel

VROOOOOOM

This week my classroom was disrupted by an ear-splitting rumble. The Blue Angels are in town. I've never been, but every year the Blue Angels come to San Francisco to put on an air show. A few things bother me about this.

Cost. This is all hearsay, but word on the street is that to put on a Blue Angels show costs a pretty penny, especially during an oil crisis. I tried to research how the event actually cost, but couldn't find anything. No surprise there, really.

Association. When the jets flew overhead, my students ran to the windows with their eyes shining and with big smiles on their faces. When a fighter jet passes by there is no ignoring it - you hear it, see it, and feel it in your bones. To all the people who gathered to watch the air show today, it's entertainment. But around the world that deep to-the-core sensation is what comes right before bombs are dropped, humans suffer, and lives are lost.

I suppose one might argue that this is to honor our troops. Maybe that's why I barely see any protesting about this. But I can think of a number of ways we can honor the troops without that Big-Brother-is-watching sensation that is very misleading.

Maybe it's coincidental, but how fitting that the Blue Angels should come to town the weekend of Columbus Day. Berkeley and the Bay Area celebrate Indigenous People's Day to recognize the affect of Columbus's "savage injustice".

But around the U.S. people will be celebrating this nation's "great" founder (it's hard to express sarcasm using just quotation marks) Christopher Columbus. And what better way to kick off this ignorant celebration than with a big, costly hurray for war and pain.

say no to prop 8

One student brought in a button to share during our morning meeting:

My brother and I went to our first political meeting. I got this button. It says "VOTE NO on proposition 8."

Proposition 8 is currently on the ballot in California. If it passes, it will "eliminate the right for same-sex couples to marry." This share led to a discussion about how there are people who don't believe in gay marriage (we have three families with gay parents in our class) and what a proposition is.

This student has her button proudly pinned to her pink leopard print backpack, along with its button friend: Barack Obama 2008, World Peace, another Human Rights Campaign, Junior Rangers, and MusicMaker.org.

I love it! Can't get enough of it! It was such a special share...that young people are exposed to and thinking about issues like this is truly inspiring!

i heart playgrounds

One hard part of being a teacher is having to watch your kids playing and not get to join. Between having to be a responsible adult ensuring safety on the yard and being a young educator that doesn't want to come across too young, I've only ventured onto the swings (slowly and tamely rocking back and forth...snoozer!) while in the presence of my class. Most of the time though, I stand there green-eyed and envious.

And to make things worse, look what I've just recently discovered at a hidden park right in the Mission:



Watching this makes me so happy. I love my kids. Even though they get to go on the twirly, teacup-of-the-future ride and I don't.