The "Frankenstorm" Is Here

As the winds start whipping up, the "fiercest" of this very rainy, hurricane-y day, here's to squeaking out a quickie post before the power goes down. Seems like the right time for a follow up to yesterday's "I'm Not a Climatologist, but Frankenstorm Sandy's A-Coming" post.


It was a dark and stormy night...

Classic horror tale starter.  Yet, tonight as the rains hammer down, as the winds kick up, as "Frankenstorm Sandy" makes landfall here in the Northeast, it's the perfect description for tonight.  After a day off school, watching the rain come down, laying in wait for the power to go out, hoping the sump pump holds out and the backyard saturation doesn't funnel down the basement cellar door stairs, the pitter patter of the rain is now second nature.

I find it interesting that CNN apparently has banned from their commentary the use of the term "Frankenstorm."  Too scary.  Hearing the storm with it's whipping winds, intensifying here, I feel the looming doom.  I've watched the news a bulk of the day, seeing pictures of Ocean City, MD drowning away, and numerous other sites up and down the coast.  Heck ya, it's scary!

A great article that doubly agrees in the scariness of a not-so-scarily-named Hurricane Sandy, is an article from "Think Progress' Climate Progress" written by Joe Romm. The title isn't short and sweet, but it hits it to a 'T': "CNN Bans Term 'Frankenstorm,' But It's A Good Metaphor for Warming-Driven Monster: 'Largest Hurricane in Atlantic History."

Joe includes some "unprecedented" quotes about this unprecedented storm by some well-knowns from the climate/weather world. My personal favorite quotes are from Joe himself where he agrees with environmental author & educator Bill McKibben that "Frankenstorm" is indeed precisely the right name for Hurricane Sandy.

"Frankenstein — and his monster — have become a metaphor for the unintentional consequences of scientific and technological advances.... The name “Frankenstorm” fits. Ostro says this is “even more extreme” than the infamous Perfect Storm of 1991. The unique severity of the storm is the point! Manmade warming has consequences.... Manmade climate change is one monster we still have some control over. But here’s the final warning. We are already seeing Frankenstorms, and we’ve only warmed about 1.4°F over the past century. We are on track to see more than 5 times that warming this century. The monster storms that would spawn are beyond imagining." ~ Joe Romm

Ouch!  When are we all going to open our eyes and take heed?  In a state that currently has a hurricane warning for this side of the state, and a blizzard warning for Western Maryland, how many floods, forest fires, derecho storms, record snow falls, Frankenstorms, and other massive weather events is it going to take until we take heed??

To all who are in the path of destruction and doom of Frankenstorm Sandy, may safety, security, electricity, and a dry environment be yours, this dark and stormy night.


Snoopy pic from http://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pmwiki.php/Main/ItWasADarkAndStormyNight; Hurricane Sandy from Grease photo from http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/hurricane-sandy-grease-spongebob-squarepants-383988.

I'm Not A Climatologist, But Frankenstorm Sandy is A-Coming!

I am not a climatologist, nor do I play one on TV.  However, it doesn't take a climate scientist or a rocket scientist to know that we on the US East Coast have a doozy of a storm coming our way.  Hurricane Sandy, still a few days away, already holds hope and promise of being one for the books.

My history of hurricanes goes back, and (just like the winds and wetness of a hurricane) keeps swirling back:

₪  My wedding got rerouted 24 hours before "I do's" given 1999's Hurricane Floyd hitting Maryland, knocking out power of the venue where my husband and I had planned to get married/have the reception.

₪  I lived in Florida from 2001 to 2007, where we had a string of some nasty named storms, but we were lucky enough to escape all major hits. We put out sandbags, we boarded the house, we saw the water rise on the streets and the trees bend like twigs. We traveled to family on the other, drier Florida coast, and for one storm in 2005 I even bolted to my folks in Illinois--assured that it would be "3rd time's the charm!" that season.  Again we lucked out.

₪  This weekend, I have books on desks and everything "up" in my classroom, as do others in my Magothy River-edged school. Sandbags school-wide to follow. With my classroom being the closest to the shoreline, I'm not taking any chances. (Especially when I know that the storm surge of Hurricane Isabel in 2003 hit at high tide, putting the water level above the 5-foot dockside fence. Yes, I'm fearing the prediction that history may well be repeating itself here with Hurricane Sandy.)

I'm not a climatologist, but I read the news.  I know that this is predicted to be a "Frankenstorm" as it seems to have all the elements of multiple storm systems coming together simultaneously, with a cold front potentially stalling it, which will prolong the effects.

I'm not a climatologist, but I AM an environmental educator at a Maryland "Green" School who has read a number of books and articles on planetary climate change.  A great quote, especially on this storm is from Climate Science Watch's Jordan Nichols:

"To adapt a famous quote on another subject: you may not be interested in climate change, but climate change is interested in you. While both presidential candidates and moderators of the debates have taken criticism for avoiding the subject of climate change, it may not be that easy for residents on the U.S. East Coast to avoid the effects of the 'Frankenstorm' -- Hurricane Sandy.... It seems Mother Nature is sending us a message. It’s almost as if Mother Nature trying to tell us something, 'you can ignore climate change all you want, but its not going away.'”

 I find Nichols' commentary fascinating--if not humorous--here on the cusp of the election.  It's a good article--you need to read it!!

It led me to wondering, and conducting my own research.  I went to the NOAA site and found a list of the number of named storms since data recording started in 1851.  They have a nice chart, which I then adapted to the following chart, grouping the data by decades and averaging it out. (Click on it to enlarge it).

I then used my above "Storm Chart by Decade" data to make a graph with one of my favorite kid-friendly graph sites:  Create a Graph.  Like I said, I'm not a climatologist, but the trend between number of  named storms, number of hurricanes, and number of major hurricanes is clearly visible, with the last 20 years being the highest on the graph in 2 of the 3 categories.  Middle elementary and older students could do the same activity, and chart their own, same results!

I'm not a climatologist, but Nichols' article is consistent with much of the other climate change information out there:  the warmer our planet gets, the warmer our ocean waters get, which makes it ripe for more (and more severe) weather events such as hurricanes.  Another quote from Nichols' Climate Science Watch article:

"Using data from storm surges, the 'abnormal rise of water generated by a storm, over and above predicted astronomical tides,' Grinsted now had data from as far back as the 1920s. What did they find? 'Using surges as an indicator we see an increase in all magnitudes of storms when ocean temperatures are warmer,' according to Michael D. Lemonick of Climate Central."

As Nichols states in his closing:

"Our climate is changing; this is now more painfully obvious than ever. Recent studies suggest that the majority of the coasts in the United States are vulnerable to rising seas due to climate change. The signs and warnings are very clear, but there is no sense of urgency to prepare for our impending climate 50 years from now. The United States has fallen behind on this front, while other countries are planning for the future....The seas will rise, whether we believe in climate change or not, so we must adapt and prepare. What we need is political leadership to start talking about climate change again, no matter whether it’s an election year or not. Time is running out on preventive action, while the 'Frankenstorm' draws nearer."

View outside my classroom door.

It's been said before (many a-time)--I am not a climatologist. But my question is this:  Do I need to be when these are the reports that are out there?  Seems like all I need to be is an informed voter, an educated "educator," and a girl who needs to batten down the hatches, because (ready or not), Frankenstorm Sandy is going to rear her ugly head!


Hurricane Sandy projection map from http://www.nhc.noaa.gov/refresh/graphics_at3+shtml/115907.shtml?5-daynl; photos from my camera of hurricanes past and near present, Table data adapted from http://www.aoml.noaa.gov/hrd/tcfaq/E11.html, and graph created using the table data here and the Create A Graph website (http://nces.ed.gov/nceskids/index.asp).

Cut Your Trash Impact--There's an App For That

In today's world of smartphones, iPads, Kindle Fires and more, it seems like the latest joke is "There's an app for that."  Well, it's true when it comes to going green--at least it is over at Ocean Conservancy.

Just like a pebble thrown out in the water can make a vast, far-reaching impact, so can Rippl, the Ocean Concervancy's newest app. Using their free app, you can build in reminders, track your progress, and help you build habits.  Check out their mini-video:



From their website, Rippl's highlight's include: 

• Free green living tips to improve daily habits;
• Goal setting capability to track your anti-trash impact;
• Alerts you can customize to help you schedule reminders and build habits;
• Recommendations backed by science to help you work toward a healthier planet
• Online opportunities for you to build your green community & share personal sustainability successes!

So it seems like a quick visit the app store  might be in order to help your smartphone make YOU smarter and greener, living a more sustainable lifestyle!!


Image and video from http://www.oceanconservancy.org/.  

Blythe Danner, Juliane Moore, Jessica Capshaw, & More Moms About Climate Change This Election Year

Here as we face election day, a mere, 17 days away, it seemed natural that this should be the GTG post du jour. Especially from a mom, and to the moms out there in America and Beyond!!






From Their website:

Now there’s another powerful group supporting our right to clean air: Moms Clean Air Force.  Moms have passion and power — an unbeatable combination. We are harnessing the strength of mother love to fight back against polluters.  Moms are joining together, to come out in strength for our kids’ right to clean air — just as our parents fought for us, forty years ago, to get the Clean Air Act signed into law by President Richard Nixon. Moms Clean Air Force is nonpartisan–because clean air should be more important than politics.  On our website, we post everything for parents to understand what is at stake: nothing less than the health of our children, as well as future generations.

For More from these famous ladies and beyond, and from Moms in favor of Clean Air, check out http://www.momscleanairforce.org/climate

A Refreshing Sip of Online Lemonade

Some days there's nothing more refreshing than a tall, cool glass of lemonade. Other days, nothing makes your day like curling up with a good book. The best day ever... when you can so both!! Carrollwood Day School, an independent school in Tampa, Florida has figured out a way--with a little dash of technology--to do both!

Carrollwood Day School [CDS] teachers have a program they run annually called CDS Reads. It started out as a literacy program to capture the love of reading within their student population.  They began by giving every family in their school a copy of the same book to read for a school-wide, shared reading experience. Yet for this third season of this program, with a little help from the Internet and the ease these days of website creators, this school project was able to become global!! Which is perfectly suited for CDS given it is an International Baccalaureate School! Why limit yourself with just a school community of readers, when truly the sky is the limit?!

This season's read aloud is Jacqueline Davies' book "The Lemonade War" which is the first in her series by the same name. In the book, Davies pits brother against sister in a competition with entrepreneurial spirit. They each are working hard to beat the other out at the end of the summer by being the one who earns the most money selling lemonade.  My kids and I were snuggled nightly on the couch, waiting to see what triumphs, trials, and tribulations Jessie and Evan would face in the latest layer of "The Lemonade War." The story did not disappoint!

Nor did the concept. It was entertaining to hear each new chapter read by a new teacher--each adding in their own nuances, voices, and slant to the storytelling. What the world needs are more websites like this that promote the love of reading while also providing an enriching family experience!

As my son and daughter collectively wrote for their final celebration:

"We thought that the 'Lemonade War' was a cool, awesome, extremely amazing, "cash-tastic" book. It was a good story about money-making, friend-making, lemonade-making...and the importance of working hard, saying apologies, and caring for your family. Even if your brother or sister sometimes makes you crazy! ;-)"

I'm looking forward to continuing the story with my own students in my classroom, then concocting a fun iPad activity follow-up.  My plan: to forward our class creations to the webmaster at CDS Reads. I'll keep you posted...in the meantime, I think I might be having a hankering for a crisp, cool glass of lemonade...

I can't wait to settle in with the sequel "the Lemonade Crime."



Pictures from my camera!

EdCamp 4: Goodies Galore!

Ahhh!  Another delightful day spent yesterday, hanging out with like-minded, tech-minded educators at EdCamp Hagerstown.  This trip marks my 4th EdCamp.  When I look back at my past EdCamp history, it hits me that my very first one was approximately this same time last fall.  It also marks the 150th EdCamp since it's start in May 2010. Additionally, it marks the start of a pretty progressive EdCamp season for me.  EdCamp Harrisburg and EdCamp Baltimore are just around the corner in these next weeks ahead--marked in big letters on my calendar. 

Yes, it's safe to say, I might be a tad addicted.

One would argue perhaps you'd HAVE to be--sacrificing a Saturday (and weather-wise, a beautiful one at that!).  Add in a 1.5 hour drive.  But the time goes quickly when you bring along an "EdCamp Newbie" to her first EdCamp. Additionally, her enthusiasm brought about some bravery for me as we both facilitated a session (a first for me!).  We talked about our experience of iPad implementation--which was a great follow up to the iPad session we attended right before it. What a great way to let the conversation continue!! 

Once again, the wealth gained at EdCamp was enormous!  There's no place I would have rather been that soaking in the knowledge, networking, and news from other educators who want to bring EdTech, iPads, energy, and more into their classrooms.  As always, you walk away with so much!! You can't help it with the EdCamp philosophy of "The Rule of 2 Feet" (where you are urged to be on the move, to get yourself to the room that will do you the greatest amount of good based on what your interests are.)

The Hagerstown EdCamp Team started us out with this video, which served as an excellent framework to start of the day:

I framed my day largely around iPads, and got a chance to talk a lot with the other amazing educators who were also living along in iPadLandia!  Ideas and apps are now swimming around in my head. Kudos & congrats to the planning team for creating such a wonderful #edtech experience!!

To share the wealth, the EdCamp Hagerstown crew created the following Google Docs of Session Notes where they compiled all the goodies from all the sessions of the day.  Talk about comprehensive!!  Another great way to learn of the goodies galore is to check out the  #edcamphagerstown hashtag on Twitter.

Needless to say...if you haven't ever been to an EdCamp, you don't know what you are missing!!  You need to solve that problem--because it IS a problem!!  To find one near you, check out the EdCamp Wiki site, search the map, mark your calendar, and make your way to a great #EdTech day!! 


EdCamp Logo from http://edcamphagerstown.wordpress.com/ and the "A Serious Talk" video from http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v0pZE8WW_Ro .

A-Park Questing We Did Go

A-questing we will go!

These were the opening words for my first GTG post on MD Park Quest back on June 1, 2010.  It was then that I embarked on sharing some of the Park Quest adventures of "Team Dabrowka" (which during the next 2 seasons morphed into a better-named "Team Green Gators").  Season 3 was our first year of Park Questing. 

That was two years ago, and now yesterday Park Quest wrapped up it's fifth season, bigger and better than ever! Each year, the grand finale--the annual "Rendezvous"--is a special day o'quests for those families who completed at least 10 of the 24 quests. It is a day for the serious outdoorsy folks to shine. 

 

And boy oh boy, did we all shine, as bright and wonderfully as yesterday's sun!  Patapsco State Park hosted the day-long event of 20 mini-quests, including bike riding, fishing-rod casting, leaf rubbing, geo-caching, letter-boxing, tree-identifying, animal sighting, fact-finding, game playing, learning, and laughing.  All of us embracing the PQ motto:  "Where a family becomes a team!"
 

Maryland Park Superintendent Nita Settina, in her opening remarks, quoted the recent study about how "awe-inspiring moments in nature reduce stress."  Park Quest most certainly worked to weave in a multitude of those moments into this year's Rendezvous! Richard Louv, author of "The Last Child in the Woods" and "The Nature Principle" would delight in so many families taking aim against "Nature Deficit Disorder." 

In fact, during the ceremony, we learned some pretty fascinating facts as to just how many people were defying nature deficit disorder!

• Combined this summer, over 4,000 quests were completed;
• This year's Rendezvous was by far the largest of all five years;
• 235 teams qualified for the rendezvous;
• Over 1,100 people joined in the yesterday's fun;
• Of the 1000 teams, approximately 2 dozen qualified as "Super Questers," completing all 24 quests (making our Team Green Gator's 10 quests feel kind of meager!!) 

With the sponsors numerous and well-known (REI, Diamondback Bicycles, and Deep Creek's WISP Resort, just to name a few), everyone was waiting excitedly to see if their lucky raffle ticket would be drawn. The prizes were many--from adventure trips, bikes, camping gear, and more.  It was made even extra exciting as former Baltimore Sun Outdoors writer Candy Thomson was pulling out tickets.  Piped as Park Quest's unofficial sponsor, Candy has written many times in the past about the beauty and glory of Park Quest.  Some of her most-treasured writings occurred during Season 3 and 4 when she wrote about her 24/7 experiences of hitting all 24 quest parks in a 7 day experience!  Candy also has written in the past from various Olympics, but her 24/7 feat alone makes her a true Park Quest Olympian!!

We all got the opportunity to be Olympians in our own ways, both during this year's Park Quest season and yesterday's Park Quest Rendezvous.  We faced challenges.  We battled the great outdoors.  We sometimes roughed the elements, meaning it wasn't always pretty. But, it always left you with a sense of great accomplishment.  Families came together, tackling a common goal by way of riddling through the quest questions and grabbing hold of new experiences.  Yes indeed:  Park Quest is where a family becomes a team!  That, right there, makes champions of us all!

Squirrel-shaped word cloud from Tagxedo, using text from my GTG 6/1/2010 Park Quest post, pics from the sights and scenes at 9/29/2012's Park Quest Rendezvous.  Park Quest T-shirt from Team Bay Boughey's PQ shirt they designed for this season!

Oysters Ahoy!

Oysters are nature's bay-filters and water-cleaners.
Young PreK'ers to 5th graders carried oyster
Spat from truck to pier, to the edge of the Magothy River.
Totalling 2,600 lbs, these oysters found a temporary home in
Eagle Cove School's neighboring river on Sept. 7th, 2012.
Radical teamwork at it's finest! Working together to
Serve our community and help build a better Chesapeake Bay!

To learn more about Eagle Cove School's involvement with the Magothy Rivery Association and Marylanders Grow Oysters Program, check out the September 18th article in the Pasadena Voice Newspaper:  Eagle Cove School Students Place 2,600 Pounds Of Oysters In Magothy

 

 

 

Pictures from my Camera @ Eagle Cove School, Friday, Sept. 7th, 2012.

Wedded Bliss & Blissful Recovery à la Nature

In our clan, we are coming off a full-family, whirlwind wedding weekend of rehearsal parties, bridal party beautification, and a gorgeous ceremony of two people that literally shine of life and laughter. Two people who I am thrilled to call "family" (by way of in-laws,"outlaws," and upside-downs)! We followed up the wedding by hosting a late night after-hours at our house, and we followed that up with an all-day after-wedding pool party at friends so the family times and fun could continue.

It was a full weekend!!

So today, was our first day out, post-festivities; a non-event day of recovery before the reality hits us full-force tomorrow. Given that, I spent all day outside after an early morn at church followed by a fabulous brunch at a local Irish pub. With the average temp today somewhere in a the idyllic range of low to mid 70s, my lounge chair was a true and total nirvana. The rustling of leaves in the breeze, the squawking of birds arguing over the bird feeder, and the warmth of the sun on my face.  A snooze here and there, a phone chat with Mom, and the sounds of nature surrounding me--pure and utter bliss!!

I feel that the full nature of my own personal "festivity recovery" lies in "nature" itself. I have felt myself having a "What Would Richard Louv Do?" kind-of-day. Louv, author of The Nature Principle and creator of the concept "Nature Deficit Disorder" is a big proponent of finding your way outdoors in order to find yourself.  One of my favorite quotes from his book was on page 28, where Louv detailed a 9-year study (started in the 1970s) by environmental psychologists Rachel and Stephen Kaplan:

"Furthermore they have found that the natural world is a particularly effective place for the human brain to overcome mental fatigue, to be restored .... Nature simultaneously calms and focuses the mind."

That's what I needed today after a very full weekend, and I'm glad I made the time, outside, to find it.

With the lasting effects of the Irish pub brunch on my mind, and the vision of the groom's Celtic-style ring, it reminded me of two wonderful, and very fitting Irish blessing that are often used in weddings, and that seemed just made for the day, as a follow-up to my wedding weekend:

May the road rise to meet you,

May the wind be always at your back,

May the sun shine warm upon your face,

The rains fall soft upon your fields and,

Until we meet again,

May God hold you in the palm of His hand.

May the longtime sun shine upon you

All love surround you

And the pure light within you

Guide you on your way

Akal, Akal, infinity....

Akal, Akal, no end.

Photos from my camera, and Irish blessings from http://www.acelticwedding.com/.

Back in the Business of Being at School

We have been in school a whopping 9 days here in the post-Labor Day 2012 era. (Yes, I do consider myself luckier than most in that I know a number teaching-buddies nationwide who have had very early August start dates.)

At day #9, we are still newbies this year.  We have barely scratched the surface.  Yet, on behalf of seasoned-teachers, I know that in only 9 days, we know a lot.  We can see a lot of academic, social, and behavior strengths, and we already have the wheels a-turning on how to shape or polish anything we might see cropping up.

I look at my own personal 9 days, at my own li'l "green" school... and I'm a bit amazed at the items we've both tackled and accomplished here in this "4-day-week-topped-with-a-5-dayer."  In addition to getting into the groove, figuring out class routines and expectations, and building stamina (the teacher's!!), we're already hitting the academic regime with gusto!

I am proud to say, that in these first 9 days, I've already done a nice job of hitting both the #edtech and the #eco side of life.  My 3rd graders have learned the difference between asking if they can "play" on the iPads or "learn" on them. (There IS only ONE right answer!)  They've used the iPads for building their math facts, and building a motivational poster (using the Motivational Poster app--which I love) for our school-wide first quarter theme of "Kindness."  They've been busy on the computer taking the Scholastic Reading Inventory to discover their Lexile.  They've created both a "word tapestry" using Wordle and a personal Timeline using "Teach-nology." They've watched (and begged for more) the animated video of the Bayeux Tapestry on YouTube.  I've given learning style assessments and reading assessments.  We've counted classroom collections of Capri Suns as part of our weekly upcycling program with Terracycle. We've sent our class compost to the 5th graders who weigh and carry it to our campus compost heap.  We've gone outside more than just recess--we've gone on outdoor scavenger hunts (or "Campus Quests," similar to the many Maryland Park Quests my family has done throughout the years) to work on team-building.  And, we've taken part as a school for the 4th year in a row to haul oyster spat to our neighboring Magothy River as a future pick-up spot for the Marylanders Grow Oysters project. 

Not to mention, my daughter accompanied her 4th and 5th grade peers to Echo Hill Outdoor School for a 3-day outdoor education/community building annual field trip.  Tonight, she couldn't wait to show us how she had learned to build a fire, all on her own!!  Not a "fake fire" (as she called it, with lighter fluid), but a "real fire" (with "timber, kindling, and true fuel.") And what a "real fire" it was!!

Day 9?!  In some ways, it's hard to believe, when you look at all we've done. Yet, I think that is the beauty as a 21st Century Teacher.  Even more so, when you are given the autonomy to do what you need to do with your class of visual/hands-on learners, who are largely "Nature Smart" (as determined on a Multiple Intelligence inventory that I have the kids do during their first week of homework). 

As teachers, every year we are reminded that our students come to us from many different places, at many different levels, with many different sets of expertise, and many different needs.  It is up to us to take that ball and to run with it.  Teaching through the environment, and teaching through technology are two great ways to capture that momentum, and show our students what a true love of learning is all about!!

 

 

All photos from my camera.

Saving the Earth: One Step at a Time

On the flip side of a full week, the FIRST week of school, I've got that deep kind of tired that seems only applicable to teachers on the tail end of their first full week of school.  Given that, an infographic seemed to be just what the doctor ordered on a Friday night.  This is a great one to help yourself darken your own shade of green!



Infographic from http://www.neontommy.com/news/2011/04/make-earth-day-everyday

On the Cusp--A New School Year On the Horizon

It's funny the realizations that crop up at the mere posting of a Facebook Status.

I was writing about my back-to-school brood that is nestled safely in bed for the start of school tomorrow, the day after Labor Day.   My comment:

"We're on the cusp of 3 F's: First, Fifth, and my twentyFirst year of teaching."

It was then that it hit me... this would probably be the final year of all 3 of us being in the same school. Middle School next year for my daughter, which is then a short commute to High School, then College, and Beyond.  My last year of classroom "Spy Cam" for two (which is what I call it when I do a  classroom "drive by" solely to peek in one of their classrooms.  My last year of personally knowing both of my kids' teachers on an intimate professional level of being fellow teachers with them.  My girl will be doing all of those things you do when you "rule the school" at the top of the class: 5th grade class trips, taking out compost (never a 5th grade favorite), being the school leaders, and graduation speeches.

If I know anything about time after all of these years, it's that it goes faster every year...so no doubt, this one shall fly.  Ready or not, here it comes.  Moral of the story:  not sure I'm ready... but ready or not, here it comes.


I remember starting here at my "green" school, 6 years ago, with such a great pressure because it wasn't just for me, but it was to become the "home away from home" for my then-kindergartner and my then-2 year old who would follow in the backpack-path of his sister.   I chose right--for both myself and my peeps.  I have enjoyed seeing them embrace nature, science, friends, and academic-wonderland here at my "green" school.  I have found my personal teaching niche, and teacher friends I adore.  My kids--and my family--have done the same.

Yes, I am on the cusp.

On the cusp of a new school year, my last year of Spy Cam.

On the horizon of the Magothy River!

Insert big "kid hug" here!

Make It an Outdoor, Unplugged Kind of Labor Day!

As I was kicking my kids outside (and off the electronics) this morning, I was pondering how this is our last weekend of "freedom"--our last weekend before school starts.  Brought to mind this infographic!!  May you have an outdoor, active, and unplugged Labor Day!!

Infographic from http://www.swingsetmall.com/pages/Keeping-Kids-Active,-Outside,-%26-Unplugged-Infographic.html

The Principles of Nature ~ Balancing the Tech

I have always been a stream-of-concsiousness kind of thinker... where one thing mentally leads you from on thing to the next.

Here, on the cusp of my first day back to school tomorrow (for my 21st set of "back-to-school teacher meetings" tomorrow), I'm finding myself in that kind of wistful mode of "reflection." As I ponder
"Teaching" and "Education" in general, I'm also simultaneously landing on my regular themes; my roles beyond being "Third Grade Teacher." Namely, all things "Eco" and all things "EdTech." 

Which of course, in thinking of school, naturally it gets me thinking of books.

I feel firmly that there are a few books that everyone in life should read, for their value goes far beyond entertainment alone. A mandatory life reading list, if you will.

Kate diCamillo's "Tale of Despereaux" is one. (Although I must say her "Miraculous Journey of Edward Tulane" is equally exceptional with its own incredible message for life.)  Also in the category of amazing books and messages is Randy Pausch's "The Last Lecture."  Likewise, there "The Little Prince" which beautifully leads one to see clearly what is important in life--which is love.

I also adore anything by Dan Gutman (in particular his compilation "Recycle This Book").  Dan's books are always funny, sometimes irreverent, and certainly powerful in building book lovers out of reluctant readers.

Then there is the book I just finished tonight, which marries my two professional loves:  Eco and EdTech.  It, also belongs on the list of lifelong required reading as a road to enlightenment. Richard Louv's book "The Nature Principle:  Reconnecting With Life in a Virtual Age."  This is his follow-up to his equally incredible (and list-worthy book) "Last Child in the Woods: Saving Our Children From Nature Deficit Disorder."

 In "The Nature Principle" Louv poses that we are in the middle of an "info-blitzkrieg" [page 22].  We live in a world of electronics galore, which leads us to a state of "continuous partial attention" [p. 22] as we are distracted by texts, Facebook updates, and Smartphone interruptions. We need to combat our over-attention to the tech-world and balance the unbalance out by reconnecting with the natural world in order for "human health, well-being, spirit, and survival" [p. 3].  We need to load up on "Vitamin N: Nature" [p. 47].



One of my favorite quotes in the book is actually a hundred-year-old quote from environmentalist John Muir, which still holds true (perhaps more so) today:

"Thousands of tired, nerve shaken, over-civilized people are beginning to find out that going to the mountains is going home; that wilderness is a necessity; and that mountain parks and reservations are useful not only as fountains of timber and irrigating rivers, but as fountains of life."

Yes, we all need a little bit of nature therapy, and perhaps even a prescription like the one from Richard Louv's Children and Nature Network Website (where you can get your own downloadable copy):

 

So I come back 'round, in my reflective space, and I consider what needs to be on my prescription notepad. I ponder it as a teacher who plans activities for my students; as a parent of two children whose eyes gleam at the mention of electronics; as an educator who is promoting iPad use in the classroom; and as an individual who routinely gravitates to my own computer/iPhone/iPad.  I need to look to my own required reading list, and see how I can work to start "even-ing out the balance."

One final quote from "The Nature Principle:"

"There's no denying the benefits of the Internet.  But electronic immersion, without a force to balance it, creates the hole in the boat--draining our ability to pay attention, to think clearly, to be productive and creative.... The more high-tech we become, the more nature we need." [p.24]

Go out and get what you need this school year!


Richard Louv books from http://richardlouv.com; All other book images from GTG's Pinterest Page "Books Worth Reading" http://pinterest.com/dabrowka/books-worth-reading/; Prescription from http://www.childrenandnature.org/pediatricians/; "Nature Principle" book trailer from http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D1B8wkkmayc&list=UUdn29btS707Qivi92TkvKeQ&index=3&feature=plcp