POWER

What does the word POWER mean to you?

Dear Readers,

It seems as though the concept of "power" is entering my world at every turn lately......discussions with students, curriculum writing, reading and interactions with others. 

Power....

• Is a theme rooted deep within our Language & Literature units. 
• Is something that people can use in a positive or negative way. 
• Can be obvious or subtle. 
• Can be used to make people feel empowered or dismissed.
• Is standing up for what you believe in.
• Is having a voice for those who are unable to.
• Is maintaining your identity when others try to take it away.
• Is having an open mind and being non-judgemental.
• Is forgiveness.
• Is living your life with grace.
• Is reading.
• Is writing.
• Is speaking.
• Is listening. 

I asked myself today........ 

Does power=control?

Some might think so.

For instance:

• People think if they have the last word, they have control over a situation. Power is the ability to have the second to last word.
• People think if they twist words around, they can manipulate and take advantage. Power is knowing what you believe to be true and believing in your words and actions.
• People think they can say whatever they want and call it being "transparent". Power is knowing the different between "transparency" and "bullying".

I am heading into a unit where POWER will surface as a main theme. 

Students will have to decide who has power and who doesn't, who seeks it and who resists it. (concept from TCRWP Dystopian Book Clubs Reading Units of Study Grades 6-8)

Students will have to decide what roles characters play in society such as upstander, bystander, perpetrator or victim. (vocabulary from Upstanders)

As humans we encounter POWER on a daily basis. How often do we reflect and look in the mirror. How often do we ask ourselves.....

What does POWER mean to me?

Warmly,

Teresa

Lightsaber Fight Scares Therapy Dog From Room

Lightsabers, Lucy, Yoda.....

Dear Readers,

It was an ordinary day in my Language & Literature Class ( as ordinary as my class can be). Monday morning, AP coming in for an observation and a live newscast ready to go! To add to the excitement, I even had Lucy the therapy dog. I was ready.

Prior to the observation, I had a brief moment where I thought to myself, "Perhaps I should put Lucy on her leash and have a student hold on to her so she doesn't run away."

That thought came and went.

Observation time.

My students came in and got settled. They discovered we had leveled up in GoNoodle so we printed out the certificate. I started to explain what would be happening. They were to take notes on the live news event that would be happening with Mrs. Alexander and Mr. Scoppa. I also told them I would record it so we could go back and watch it later.

My AP came in, got comfortable. I gave her my Chromebook so she could look on with the lesson in Schoology. Then the phone rang. (I should have known this was foreshadowing.)

I was handling the phone call, knowing a live newscast was about to happen and I was not finished explaining the note taking. 

All was going smoothly again. I saw my colleagues come to the door, a student was ready to open it, I started recording and yelled, "Let them in!"

Visualize the following events......

• Mrs. Alexander ran in the room carrying a very cute, plush Yoda while waving a red lightsaber.
• Lucy got up and looked like, "Oh! This seems interesting, maybe we're going to play."
• Mr. Scoppa then followed screaming that Mrs. Alexander stole his Yoda while waving a green lightsaber.
• Lucy decided, "I'm out!" and headed straight for the open door.
• I ran behind the science lab table yelling, "Get her, Lucy!" and chased her into the hall.
• I yelled to the kids in the hall, "Grab her, grab her!" Everyone just looked at me.
• Meanwhile, a lightsaber fight was happening in my room and all of this was being recorded.
• Mrs, Alexander and Mr. Scoppa finished their lightsaber fight, resolved their conflict over Yoda and I informed them Lucy took as as they were leaving.
• Mr. Scoppa very kindly went looking for her and found her in her owner's room.

Meanwhile, back in my room, we were laughing so hard and the kids did not know what to write about because so much had just happened. We brainstormed, shared and created an anchor chart.

All of a sudden, Mrs. Baehr knocked on my door and had Lucy with her. She asked if I wanted her back. I explained what had happened. Mrs. Baehr said Lucy ran into her room like someone was chasing her.

Now let's visualize......

• Mrs. Baehr's room is on the other side of the building, pretty much directly across from mine.
• Lucy barrelled out of my room.
• Flew down the stairs.
• Ran down the main hallway.
• Hit the stairs on the other end.
• Ended up in Mrs. Baehr's room.

She was a bit wiped out after all the excitement.

It was one of the BEST classes I have ever had.

It was the MOST memorable live newscast I have ever had.

I could NEVER have planned that.

It was a moment I HOPE my students will remember.

That's what it's all about. The unexpected. The laughter. The collaboration. The fun. The shared experiences.

May all your observations go well this year.

Warmly,

Teresa