GIFTS

The day started, like any other Sunday. A light breakfast of bagel cream cheese and a few olives, washed down with a steaming cup of hot chocolate. The powdered chocolate from cocoa grown in the rain forests of Ghana. Pure, refined and slightly bitter. It was creamy and had a sweet aroma. I glanced at… Continue reading

I am always amazed at what can be produced with the Window Frame Poetry organizer  when used with a photograph. A colleague shared one with us. When I use it in class I usually ask my students to choral read their poems. All students read a line from the same box and continue with each… Continue reading

I clearly remember P’s fifth grade presentation with a new girl. I took photos. Friendships formed. My daughter and her friend B impressed me, their History presentation was seamless, they had obviously worked well together. This was over a year ago, now middle schoolers their world seemed to have changed. P was invited for B’s… Continue reading

Walking towards the petting zoo, there were smells of dung. We knew we were almost there and had a choice of jumping down the short wall or walking on the man-made pavements to the many thatched roofed huts we could see ahead of us. That is where the tropical animals resided. Somewhere in the rainforest… Continue reading

“The clouds are moving,” my student announced. “I am sure the birds can see the clouds are moving faster today,” another student shared. “I rarely look up,” I admitted. You often learn something when you look at the world from a child’s point of view. I wrote a poem about the experience. CLOUDS  They drift… Continue reading

I have been thinking about patience and how it can aid achievement. Working on a piece of craft, I have pondered how it’s creation requires persistence and perseverance. I introduced weaving to my fourth graders, this school year and only found two students interested. I thought more hands would help complete it swiftly, but the… Continue reading

Our (fourth graders’) field trip to an NGO (Non-Governmental Organization) that provides parks for children and is an advocate for play, the arts and learning through play, today set me thinking deeply about giving back. We visited them on their extensive private park in the suburb of Accra, where nature is celebrated. Large trees, plants,… Continue reading

This month I have done a few things I have never done before. I have kept my small notebook with my paper mate flair to organize myself. As a welcome wagon for five new slicers, I have been able to record the dates of my comments in order to keep me on course. My word… Continue reading

After their student led conference, students in my class had a choice of activities to complete with their parents or present to them. As a non-participant of this event I was able to observe at the side. It was quite an assessment for me. I made myself busy marking Math papers, planning the next steps,… Continue reading

I turned around and saw the most beautiful image. A sight that spelt commitment, reliance and hard work. I observed the gentlemen clad in their blue overalls at a distance, always present, available to keep our school compound clean and presentable. They appear after the rains, when meals are over, after the lawn is freshly… Continue reading