Happy 83rd Birthday Whit!!

I have been scrounging around in my closet for two days looking for one of my favorite pictures in my collection of thousands.  It is a picture taken in 1978 of me and my dear coach, Jim Whitney at the Track Banquet.  I would have loved to post it here next to this lovely shot of the two of us taken earlier this month. You would see that we haven't changed a bit. When I find it, I will post it.  I also wanted to find it because it shows just how long Whit and I have been friends. I honestly don't know what my life would be like today had it not been for this very special man in my life. Whit saw an athlete in me that I didn't know existed and insisted that I work through some of the toughest times in my life in the healthiest way possible.  He made me run and run I did for three years on the varsity track team.  Whit taught me how to dig deep and fight through struggles on and off the track. Whit and his wife, Bev have always been there for me. Whit saw the best in me and so many other young women and expected us to be champions. Whenever I am faced with struggles, I hear his words of encouragement as my own. Whit is in a long race of his own with Parkinsons Disease.  I admire his tenacity, his sense of humor and his insistence on winning. Happy Birthday dear friend.  I love you!

Lunch with the Governor!!

Yep, here we are!  It was such a great experience for me and Matt to have lunch in the Governor's Mansion with Governor Dayton.  The home was beautifully decorated for the holidays with Christmas trees in every room. The Governor was as warm and welcoming as he could be and we felt right at home in his home. Governor Dayton was very interested in our lives as teachers and extended invitations to committees that would be thrilling for me to be a part of.  He graciously answered every question from the seventh graders in Matt's classroom and took in all of the well wishes from our districts students and staff. What moved me most was connecting with him as parents. We shared our joys in parenting young adults and reminisced about a childhood they grew up in that, as parents, we still feel responsible to give to the children of Minnesota today. We will always remember our day as guests of the Governor.  Thanks, Mark!

Self Regulation, A Gift for Children

5 Holiday Activities that Foster Self Regulation

• Paper Chains
• Advent Calendars
• Waiting for Snow
• Not Interrupting Grown Up Conversation (oh! so! hard!)
• Waiting for Santa

One of the greatest predictors of academic success is self regulation. Very simply, it is the ability to control your emotions, your hands and your impulses.  I am a lifelong student of self regulation and appreciate how difficult it is at times to wait my turn or to hold a thought, especially when I am excited. This time of year, there are plenty of opportunities to practice.  I like to think of self regulation as a muscle that needs to work to build strength. It will undoubtedly be easier to give kids what they want when they want it in the short haul but parents will do better to keep the long range goal of self regulation in mind, even when it is hard. Self regulation often looks like patience and it is well worth the effort!

Teachers Teaching Teachers

On Tuesday, our state representative and fellow teacher, Gene Pelowski taught a class for the faculty representatives in our local Winona Education Association about effective lobbying this upcoming legislative session. I am always interested in ideas to get teachers more involved in the political process.  I would like to think that education begins in the classroom but I know that many of the decisions about what is taught in the classroom are crafted by policy makers in St. Paul.  My thanks to Representative Pelowski for a great class.

I am so proud of my brother!

It is always great to hang out with my brother without the pressure of eating oyster stew at Christmas time. Meet my brother, Bob.  He is really cool.  This year he was the lucky recipient of the baby Barb and Bob buttons in honor of the letter "B".  I have been enjoying nearly 100 songs that Bob burned in exchange. It's beginning to feel a lot like Christmas!

Thank you, California Casualty!

I was happy to finally meet Christine, the Marketing Manager for California Casualty at the Education Minnesota office in St. Paul last week.  She had a California Casualty award for teaching excellence to give to me. It is a gift given to my school and I hope to find just the right staff development opportunity to put it to good use. My sincere thanks to California Casualty for this generous  award! This is the first picture of Paul Mueller on my blog.  Paul is the Vice President of Education Minnesota and a really great guy.  Typically, Paul is behind the camera.  He has sent me many photos of my exciting year to me. It was super cold on Friday when we took this picture.  We had to hold our breaths so it didn't look like we were all outside having a smoke!

Santa dropped by to say hello as well.  He had a few questions about some of the boys and girls in Winona. He was making a list and checking it twice.  I wonder if the kids know that I am a Chief Advisor to Santa Claus. He consults with me often as we get closer to the 24th. I earn a commission every time I edit the list for him. Thanks Santa!

MCFR Conference

My co-worker and fellow Parent Educator, Ann and I had a rare opportunity to attend a conference in the cities. It is tough for both of us to get away at the same time.  We were really excited to head up to the conservatory at Como Zoo for the annual Minnesota Council on Family Relations conference.  We are both big fans of the keynoter, Ted Bowman.  Unfortunately I cannot post the picture of me with Mr. Bowman.  In my constant struggle to control my enthusiasm, I bounded up to the front of the room to get a picture of Ted and me.  I was worried that I might miss the chance given that he announced that he would need to rush out right after his talk to teach a class at the University.  My adrenaline fired up at the possibility of missing my chance!  Oh, I got a picture alright....I snuck up on dear Mr. Bowman from behind as he was shutting down his computer and asked him to "quick, look at the camera" which he did.  The end result is a photo of me looking like I am waiting for a piggy back ride from a shocked Ted.  Ann took the picture and I will find a hundred ways to send it to her for years to come because it makes us laugh so hard we get tears in our eyes!

When faced with an emergency ( Ann's car was broken into) there is no better person to travel with than Ann Riebel. That gal kicks into high gear and gets down to the business of problem solving before I have even have a chance to channel my inner drama queen. A broken window is just another bump in the road for this master coordinator of scheduling, keeper of goats and eggs, low maintenance, highly efficient friend Ann. Whew! We were on the road within an hour having filed a police report, contacting the insurance guy, while sporting a brand new window. 

Thumbs Up for Books!

OK, I'll admit that I just might have taken the picture when Kendal had her thumb up anyway but I will take the thumb up as an endorsement for reading. It happens over and over again in my work that I see really little people grab a book and hand it to an adult to read.  It warms my heart every time! I know that when I see a pre-verbal toddler roaming a room looking for a lap that that child lives in a house where big people read. Toddlers must believe that books are magical when they are capable of interrupting a busy adult. They walk with books confident that someone will stop, drop, and read. I was reminiscing with some parents of grade schoolers yesterday about how quickly children grow and how wonderful the years were when they fit nicely in our laps and fit under our chins. If you happen to be so lucky to live with a tiny person, grab a book and enjoy the magic!

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!

Homage to Mr. Rogers

Morro and Tansy stopped by today! It is always great to see what creative project Morro has been working on. This week it was Tansy's Statue of Liberty costume....soooo cool! They almost didn't recognize me as Mr. Rogers. I have made lots of people look twice today and yes, it is a beautiful day in the neighborhood!

Happy Halloween

I just wanted to make a plug for trick or treating in your own neighborhood.  Here in Winona, there are about a dozen opportunities to dress up and gather candy thanks to many amazing community organizations and two universities.  I hope that if a neighbor has a light on that parents make sure to visit them. Halloween is a great opportunity for kids to have a conversation with friendly adults and to practice manners. Your neighbors, especially those without kids are looking forward to seeing your little ghosts and goblins tonight.  Have fun and be safe!!

Say Cheese!

If you know me, you know that I hate to have my picture taken. I want to thank Tammy Hoeger for taking one picture of me that I actually like. Tammy is my neighbor and an ECFE mom. Almost a year ago, neither of us had any idea that this picture would have a life outside of the back of my state portfolio. Now it greets you as you come into Winona on a billboard! I will absolutely draw the line on bathroom advertising! It really is touching how supportive my school district, my fellow union members and my community have been. Never in a million years would I have imagined my mug on a billboard! 

Thanks St. Kates!

Even after mid-terms this was a fantastic, high energy group of athletes and coaches to work with.  Thanks St. Kate's!

The Hand Off!

It's done. It's been written, proofed, proofed again, and proofed one last time for good measure and just to be sure, it was proofed again! My National Teacher of the Year portfolio is finished.  Doug Dooher from Education Minnesota met me last night and St. Kate's and I handed it off to him.  He is in charge of getting it to Washington DC by next week. I am happy, happy, happy to be done with it.  Lots of people over the years have suggested that I write a book. NOPE, no thanks, I think I will pass.  I can tell a great story but writing it all down does me in. I couldn't have done it without my dear Glenda, she has the patience of a saint and can make making bullets and margins look easy.  I had a team of proofers, including Lisa and Anne.  Thanks for your help everyone! I am off now to read a book or sweep the front step or throw a load of laundry in.....anything but write!

Professional Conference Highlights

I am so sad that I didn't get a picture with three of my fellow top 10 finalists, Mark, Scot and Joyce.  We had fun participating on a panel for brand new teachers.  It was great to see my friends again! I heard some great stories (one about a crate to behind ratio) and we shared some fantastic tips for surviving that first year of teaching.  We were whisked away to the main ballroom where I was seated on the stage with friends from Education Minnesota and Donna Brazile.  The empty seat on the stage was reserved for Governor Dayton. I was nervous about my speech being too long so I started by asking if I could have the Governors minutes when a shout came from across the room that he was there!  I invited him to join me at the podium and presented him with some talking points and an invitation to lunch.....

He said YES!! He was such a good sport and more than gracious.  I look forward to our lunch and the opportunity to share my big ideas with him.  Donna Brazile asked me to let her know when the lunch date happens so she could Tweet about it nationally, that gal can TWEET!!  She was the perfect keynote speaker for the event.  She loves politics almost as much as she loves educators.  She told some wonderful stories and inspired us all.  I look forward to reading her book!

There was plenty of time to mix and mingle as well. The folks at McDonalds were so happy to see me and Matt.  Matt's cousin is a Ronald McDonald so we were treated like rock stars. I can't tell you who the cousin is, there is a code to uphold!

I can't say enough about Doug Dooher.  He has been such a great mentor to me throughout this whole adventure. He has been through this process many times before.  He is patient and kind and he knows where all the goodies are and no one appreciates that more than Matt! Thanks Doug! 

Lunch with the Governor!

Many more details and pictures to come but for now......

http://Minnesota.publicradio.org/collections/special/columns/polinaut/

Think Good Thoughts!

If you are a blog follower of mine (hey, sign on and commit!) I am hoping that you can take a minute tomorrow and send good thoughts my way.  I will be delivering a speech to all assembled at the Education Minnesota Professional Conference....a crowd that will likely be bigger than any I see here in my little corner of the state!  I am on sometime between 11:30 and 12:00 and will be sharing the stage with Governor Dayton.  Go Big or Go Home, right?

Grow a Cow?!

Not one of my proudest moments to be sure.  I was asked to speak to the 4H volunteers at their recognition banquet last night. I teach a class on Monday night and the banquet is scheduled for later in the evening so it seemed like a good fit. I am not all that sure this morning. I was hoping to make a point about how 4H teaches kids patience when I think I actually asked the crowd "How long does it take to grow a cow?". Yep, go ahead and read that again. The look on the Winona County Commissioners face was priceless.  Most of what I know about farm life I soak up by osmosis from my co-worker, Ann.  I should have run my speech by her.  We did get past the obvious fact that I am a city girl and had a great time talking about all of the life skills kids learn in 4H.  I shared my big idea about rescuing childhood and they were all gracious enough to let me take a picture of them to share on my city slicker blog. Grow a cow? I may never live that down. I salute the amazing volunteers I met last night in 4H! Thank You!!

PAC Board

Without a doubt, one of my favorite associations in Education Minnesota is my membership on the Political Action Committee.  I represent the southeastern corner of the state in all things political.  I enjoy getting to know candidates as they campaign for office and I enjoy building relationships with legislators. The PAC board met this past weekend.  We were given a map of Minnesota highlighting all of the school districts who will be asking voters to approve a referendum.  There are more than 130 of them! This is a hard working group and I appreciate the thoughtful deliberation and great commitment to B-20 education represented here.

Out Visiting!

You never know how people feel about drop ins unless you just put it out there.  I really was in the neighborhood when I called top 10 finalist Laura Sharp to see if she was as excited to see me as I was to see her.  I think she was. As it happens, Laura was gearing up for a birthday party the next day.  I got to meet her three adorable sons and her parents.  Always equipped with smelly markers, the kids and I did some drawing while Laura and I visited as much as one can visit with four kids under six in the room (the neighbor girl was over to play). The best part of my visit was jumping with the kids in the bounce house that was set up for the party the next day. It was great to bounce and laugh with kids, what a day brightener.  Aaron, her almost six year old invited me to stay for the party, how cute is that? I think the invite came after the kids realized how much higher they launched having a grown up in the bounce house. It was great to see you , Laura and so nice to meet your family.  Happy Birthday Aaron!

So You Think You Can Teach!

My friend and fellow teacher, Mrs. Yess, invited me to visit with her second graders here at Goodview School.  I told them all about my new role as Minnesota Teacher of the Year.  Mrs. Yess had an idea based on a TV show she had watched called "So You Think You Can Dance".  The second graders are wondering about the teacher of the year. "So You Think You Can Teach" combines teaching and a challenge.  After much discussion about my new role, the second graders came up with a list of things they would expect a teacher of the year to be able to teach them.  Some of them are right up my alley!  I will be happy to sculpt kitties out of clay and make a whistle sound with an acorn.  I will have to do some homework too. Building a 3-D elephant will be a challenge and explaining to a group of second graders about how the middle school house system works will be interesting for sure. We read "Wag" and very much enjoyed making wagging motions with our fingers. Thanks for the invitation Mrs. Yess, I will do my best to earn my stripes!!

Dr. David Walsh

This is me with Dr. David Walsh.  When I told the parents in my classes that I was meeting with him, my excitement was obvious.  I got some pretty interesting feedback from them..."Try not to gush" and "Just don't cry when you see him" were two of my favorites.  Everyone in my classes graduates with a knowledge of Dr. Dave and the work that he has done on behalf of children and parents.  Without a doubt, his work at the National Institute on Media and Family shaped my practice as a parent educator.  In his work, I found the legs to stand on when teaching parents about the REAL effects of media on their child's brain, their child's behavior and the tone in their homes.  So much of the curriculum I deliver to parents about media and video games belongs to Dr, Walsh. I can't count the number of times I have watched "Meet CJ" all over the state.  I owe him a debt of gratitude.  With all sincerity, I told him that I believe that his work has changed the way parents set boundaries around media in Winona and beyond.  I read his latest book this summer called "Smart Parenting, Smarter Kids".  It is another great source of information and sure to be on the class list here in Winona. His website is one I have bookmarked and one I highly recommend.  drdavewalsh.com

I wanted to meet with Dave (I think I can call him that now) to bounce some ideas off of him.  I have been busy speaking to lots of Minnesotans with a big idea.  I believe the culture of childhood has changed and that children need champions to help families take it back.  I think it is doable but I was looking for some head nodding and fist bumping from Dave, a source of wisdom and a powerhouse of research, to confirm what I believe.  I got it!  The boost of confidence is just what I needed as I tackle my national portfolio. Thanks Dr. David Walsh, my mentor and my friend!

Hmmm, it wasn't until after I uploaded the picture that I noticed the Gandhi quote on the window....coincidence?  I don't think so.



Big Ideas in Dodge County

For six years,I have been having a conversation with parents in Dodge County at their annual Parent Resource Fair.  Every year, I go and every year they invite me back.  I love these people! Dodge Center, Kasson, and Mantorville are like so many towns in Greater Minnesota, connected, caring and Mayberryish....my kind of places.  They are with me in my belief that childhood needs to be rescued by the grown ups who have the best interest of children at heart.  We had a great time talking about the importance of free play and the role (or non role) that parents play in fostering a child's imagination.  We took a look at some of the hot toys likely to be on the shelves this holiday season with a "what's best for kids" filter. Most parents are concerned with how many toys their kids have.  After last night, I expect some serious decluttering in Dodge County. It's a big idea.....

Award Winning Byron

I was asked to speak to the teachers and administrators in Byron yesterday.  I was given 20-30 minutes (torture, pure torture!) to share my experience as Minnesota Teacher of the Year and give them a snippet of  my message to Minnesotans.  I felt like I was in an aerobics class after I was done.  Clearly, condensing my message will be something I need to work on!  It's really hard to inspire people to rescue childhood in just a few minutes.  I was so impressed with Byron.  The school is beautiful, the staff is warm and welcoming and they are wonderfully supportive of one another. They are celebrating their recent 2011 Intel School of Distinction Award.  Congrats Byron!!

The Winona Education Association hosted a meeting last night for members who are curious or already committed to the work we do as a union.  It was a great evening at our beautiful Winona History Center.  I serve as an Executive Board member and the Government Relations Chairperson.  After the meeting, a few of us were chatting about how much we do in our community.  We all know that you don't have to know everything to get involved.  We all teach different subjects in different buildings but agree that we are better teachers because of our connections. Thanks to Janet Luttmers, our WEA President, for a fun and informative meeting!

Grand Marshall!

I was asked to be the Grand Marshall of our Homecoming parade last Friday.  Armed with "Teacher of the Year" pencils and a beautiful convertible, I was ready to go.  Only I can't throw with any accuracy at all.  You would think that after all these years of living with a baseball guy I might have acquired some skill, nope. I apologize to all those Winonan's I accidentally hit with a pencil. I did have the good sense not to sharpen them before the parade. My friend and ECFE alumni, Charlotte was participating in the parade with her school, W-K.  Charlotte is a kindergartner and really lights up a room, just like her mom. Thanks Jan for the ride!  I had a blast.

The Big City

I had the opportunity to meet the Governing Board of Education Minnesota on Saturday.  I was given ten minutes to talk which is like being asked to run a mile in under eight minutes.....impossible for me!!  I gave them an outline about what I have been talking about with Minnesotans for years.  I am worried that we, all of us grown ups, have retooled childhood in ways that are not in the best interest of children.  It is a bold idea, I know but in my heart of hearts, I know it to be true.  Much more on that later, for now.....Thank you Governing Board for your warm reception and for your encouragement.

Gratitude



I live in a beautiful place.......

with my best friend.  How cool
is that?

Pumpkin Patch Fun in Farmington

I had the pleasure of spending a morning, a whole morning with the Community Education Staff in Farmington.  The theme was pumpkins.  It was a great morning for me as I picked their brains about childhood and the role that adults and schools play in defining it. I am learning so much on my journey about how passionately people feel about children and how disconnected we have become from some of the core values that support childhood.  We worked on supporting each other in our very complex roles as Community Education employees and had a pretty good time doing so.  I heard some great stories about mullets, bass fishing and psychics. Thanks for a great day, Farmington.  I hope our paths cross again. 

My Youngest

I asked my youngest daughter why she doesn't follow my blog after a wild shopping day that moved her wardrobe from "College Chic" to "Grown Up With Car Payments".  She said she doesn't follow my blog because I never mention her.  Allow me to mention my adorable, fiesty, opinionated youngest daughter, Erin Claire.  Oh what a mother will do for a bit of attention from her children!  Happy Monday, Sweet Pea!

ASCD at SMU

ASCD (formerly the Association for Supervision and Curriculum Development) was one of the first punches on my dance card.  They ask the Minnesota Teacher of the Year to come to speak to students every year.  For me, it was a short commute!  They were so nice to work with my schedule and meet after my night class at ECFE.  A late night meeting is not a problem for college students.  I had a blast sharing my experiences as a teacher with them and they asked some great questions.  I let them in on my little secret.....I plan to engage Minnesotans in the task of saving childhood.  Kids need all sorts of champions in their families, their schools and in their communities.  I am out to recruit them!  Thanks SMU students and advisors, Karen and Scott Sorvaag for the invitation and for your enthusiasm.  I hope to see you all again. 

Central Lutheran Church Forum

On Sunday I got to hang out with Blake.  Blake just missed the chocolate covered doughnuts and wasn't too happy about it.  I was at Central Lutheran Church to facilitate a forum for adults about transitions.  One of the questions driving the forum was "How can we, as a church community, support families as they transition to school?".  I love challenging questions, great dialog and Lutheran coffee!  Thanks for inviting me to the conversation.  It is wonderful to know that folks, even those without kids in schools, care about the connection between great schools and a caring community.  The next time I see Blake will be over pizza!  I teach a parenting class at the child care center there with a fantastic group of parents.  See you all soon! 

Reading is FUN!!

I was asked to visit Mrs. Gilliland's first grade classroom with one of my favorite books. I love reading to kids and I think kids benefit from seeing a variety of adults who love to read.  The first graders were great listeners and so much fun. It was nice to see so many ECFE graduates in Mrs. Gillilands classroom. I hope they invite me back!