Great Toys!

A great toy celebrates a child's imagination.  Not Pixar's, not Disney's, not Mattel's.  I developed curriculum from the book "Simplicity Parenting" by Kim John Payne last year.  I highly recommend the book.  There is so much great information in it to guide parents, especially as they foster play.  I often use this story to illustrate the difference between playing with a scripted toy and a non-scripted toy.  Emma has been coming to ECFE for years.  Emma loves dolls and enjoys checking them out of our toy lending library.  If Emma plays with a "Dora, the Explorer" doll, you will see Emma play the show.  Dora comes with a script and kids recreate the last episode they saw.  Emma loves one doll in particular in our library.  She has named her Marissa and she "adopts" her whenever she gets the chance.  Emma has created Marissa's story, where she lives, how old she is and her whole family history. Emma is the director of her own play. When a child is in charge of the story, you will find quality play that develops their imagination....a wonderful thing! What makes Marissa special is the fact that she has no show, no clothing line, no accessories.  She is a plain, beautiful, generic doll and Emma loves her!

Great Toys?

We spend a lot of time this time of year talking about toys in my classroom.  We talk about what is new and popular.  We talk about how many toys kids get these days.  We talk about how hard it is to resist getting kids what they want, even when the toys they want are too old for them, too expensive for us or just more clutter to cope with for all of us. This is Frankie, one of several dolls in the "Monster High, Dead Tired" collection.  Frankie is a zombie who packed her sewing kit (for her own face apparently), her iCoffin docking station and her diary for the slumber party.

I feel a great responsibility to small children. They play with toys, they sort their world with toys, and when a toy is great, they connect with them in very real ways. We talk about the value of toys that allow children to create the script, rather than the character toy that automatically comes with one. Frankie is recommended for children ages six and up, most likely because her hands fall off and could become a choking hazard (she is a zombie after all) for smaller children. Frankie lives at my house only because I don't have children living here. I bring her to my classes to begin a discussion about toys.  I don't think Frankie belongs in a home with small children, choking hazard or not!

ECFE Alumni

I took in the Monarch Fair on my way home last night.  It is always great to visit ECFE alumni at their elementary schools.  I saw lots of them at Jefferson Elementary! Emma was so excited to show me her video of the four seasons. She was such a professional with her presentation and obviously proud of her work. Her presentation included an apple tree and I was struck by how much Emma reflects her parents.  It is indeed true that this little apple did not fall far from the tree. Way to go Emma!

Mattie is a kindergartner.  She has written and illustrated a beautiful book about a butterfly friendship. The story reminded me of the great friendship between Mattie and Maggie. They have been friends since they were very small. Friends are one thing I am grateful for this Thanksgiving. Thanks for sharing your story with me Mattie!

Political Conference

My youngest and I have matching moccasins in honor of her 22nd birthday.  She told me that really cool people wear moccasins, always without socks.  It's true.  I had the privilege of teaching a class at Education Minnesota's Political Conference with Emma Olson, a moccasin wearer. When I saw that Emma and I were both sporting mocs, I wasn't nearly as nervous about teaching 95 teachers about taking a lead role in politics. Thanks Emma, I hope our paths cross again too!

Senator Klobuchar was not wearing mocs (she paid attention to the weather forecast) to the conference but told a lovely story about her mom, a teacher. Her mom taught a metamorphosis unit every year.  After teaching the lesson at school, Amy's mom would head to the grocery store still wearing the cape and the antennae to visit an alumni who worked there. Amy tells the story with so much love and pride for her mom that many of us in the audience were misty eyed when she finished.  Sentaor Klobuchar is a fierce supporter of public schools. Every time I see her, I thank her for that.

Happy American Education Week

Here in Winona, we celebrate American Education Week in grand style!  Teachers, school administrators, school board members and community members all put on their nicest duds and head to Signatures for a wonderful reception.  We like to celebrate schools and the community that supports us. The Winona Education Association honored Heather Casper from the Marine Art Museum, Josh and Josi Severson from Severson-Sinclair and our very own Superintendent, Dr. Scott Hannon for their commitment and caring that they demonstrate in support of public schools. The WEA also introduced Kelly Allington to the community as the Teacher of the Year.  It is a fantastic event that makes me feel so proud to be a part of such a vibrant education community here in Winona.

Testing for Email!

Happy Birthday Matt!

When my dear husband loves something, he holds on tight to it and never, never lets go. Happy Birthday to Matt who loves me almost as much as he loves his Chiefs sweatshirt.  His relationship with that sweatshirt has lasted more than 30 years, our marriage....only 29. For my 50th birthday, he vowed to never wear it in public as a gift to me.  As you can see, his definition of public is very different than mine. I was thinking that I would never see it outside of our home. He wears it if he is pretty sure he isn't going to see anyone he knows. It is probably a good thing for me that his policy is to never throw anything away as long as it is still useful. That sweatshirt, and his wife....still useful.

Just for Kathy Jo

Every time I see my friend Kathy Jo, she tells me about not being able to follow my blog even though she has signed up to follow by email.  She is sure there is a gadget and I need to find it and click so she gets notification that I have posted.  Just for Kathy Jo, I think I have discovered the gadget and I think she will be happy!

A Whirlwind Weekend!

How cool is this? I was able to meet Joyce Epstein Ph.D. at North Community High School last Thursday night. Dr. Epstein is a rock star in the field of Parent Education. "Epstein's Framework of Six Types of Involvement" changed the way schools and teachers talked about the home and school connection. She presented a great workshop on the history of her work at Johns Hopkins University and got me excited about the National Network of Partnership Schools. I sat in the audience next to Todd Otis from Ready for K. All in all, a fantastic day to be me.

The week ended with a fun fund-raiser. I want to thank Patrick at the YMCA for all of his help with making "Pump and Party" a great success.  You know who your friends really are when you ask them to pay to lift weights to help send you to Washington, DC. I had so much fun working out with my pals! We continued the party at a local restaurant where we ate delicious hamburger sliders...yum!  I am hoping that you all can comfortably sit down today, nothin like a wicked set of squats to remind you where your muscles are!

I was asked to read at the annual "Flippin for Books" event on Saturday.  I love to read to kids! I ran into lots of friends and alumni of ECFE.  Savannah and Laney were as happy to see me as I was to see them. Savannah is an ECFE alum and has just been elected to her student council as the Kindergarten representative!  Congrats Savannah!

And the cherry on top of a great weekend was being asked to keynote the end of the fall conference for Learning Communities at UW-LaCrosse. I wasn't expecting to do anything except rake leaves on Sunday when Sarah Dixen, an ECFE alum and a coordinator for UW-L asked if I could fill in for the original keynoter who was unable to be there. It was a little nerve wracking until I walked into the Ballroom to  hoots from some of my fellow teachers from Winona. I always appreciate the opportunity to talk with teachers about the changing landscape of childhood. From one UW-L grad to the rest of the attendees; Good Luck Eagles as you pursue your master's degrees. When I got home, all of the leaves had been raked....I was more than OK with that!

Politics and Potatoes

It is always great to have a conversation with Congressman Tim Walz. He is a teacher, a really great one at that.  I have learned a lot about politics from him  I appreciate that he takes the time to visit with constituents in communities all across Southeastern Minnesota. I found him in the produce aisle near the potatoes at Midtown Foods. We chatted a bit about education, but mostly I wanted to thank him for the work he does on behalf of all Minnesotans.  Thanks Tim! 

 I ended my day with my friend Nicky. She is a freshman at SMU with dreams to become a teacher and she needed to interview someone about leadership.  I told her that my definition of a good leader is a bossy person with very good manners. We solved many of the world's problems while we baked cupcakes (Nicky would want me to mention that they were made from scratch...she had never seen cocoa powder before last night!) and frosted them.  I am sure the cupcakes didn't survive the night on campus and that Nicky has made some new friends. Frosting that includes a whole pound of butter is a great beginning to any relationship. World peace may be possible with just the right frosting recipe.

Happy Birthday Erin Claire!

One of my favorite weekends of the year is the weekend that my friend, Caer and I go to Duluth to celebrate our daughter's birthdays.  They are both in school at UMD.  Keiran, a writer, will be 21 on the 13th and Erin Claire, a planner is 22 today.  The girls have always loved to read and we often find ourselves in a bookstore. Erin has read "A Tree Grows in Brooklyn" every year since she was in middle school (I have tears in my eyes as I write that).  I am certain that "Hot Guys and Baby Animals" will not win any literary awards, it warms my heart to see lifelong friends laugh as hard as they do. Happy Birthday Girls, I love you!!

Yeah Mrs. Allington!!

It looked like I was at W-K Elementary School to give a talk about pride for the all school assembly but I was really there to announce the 2011 Winona Education Association's Teacher of the Year!  I was full of pride to pass the crown (although there is a lot of talk about crowns, there is none) to my colleague and friend, Kelly Allington. Mrs. Allington teaches second grade and is just as nice as nice can be. I love to hang around Kelly, she is passionate about education and the kids in her life. Best of all, she has a joyful spirit.  When Kelly laughs, she lights up a room. I am truly blessed to call her my friend and Winona is blessed to have her as a gifted teacher.  Now, if I could teach the girl to make gravy from scratch, THAT would be something!! Congratulations on this well deserved honor, Mrs. Allington!

Our Sister City, Misato

Matt and I were able to take in the Halloween party and potluck in honor of our friends from Misato, Japan. Winona and Misato have a Sister City relationship and both cities send student ambassadors to visit each year. Mr. Kamata has always been very involved with the trip and has visited Winona many, many times.  He is a dear friend of ours. This year, he shared his experience with the tsunami in his home country. We are so happy that he and his family are OK. We were so thrilled to see the pictures and movie of his new grandson. You are a great friend, Mr. Kamata. It was so good to see you!