schools out for summer.

Today is officially the first day of summer. The meetings have ended, all of the grades are turned in and most of the children (and teachers) are already at the beach. Alas, here I sit mulling over such beach reading as "The Students are Watching: Schools and the MOral Contract", "How People Learn: Brain, Mind, Experience, and School" and am writing profound things such as my philosophy of education and my critical friends group work. Oh and did I mention I have to move this weekend and have a tri on Sunday?

So yes, the day to day of school is out for summer, but I'm afraid that the lazy days are still yet to come. If you see me online or procrastinating say "STOP, go back to reading and writing". I may not love it, but in the long run, I will appreciate it.

Peace.

I am woman hear me....

roar is definitely not the end to that sentence. Over the last months I, like most Americans, have followed the Democratic race for President. When my initial first choice bowed out early, I weighed my options and listened and read and debated and argued, mostly with myself. It wasn't until sitting in the primary booth in the winter that I changed my vote twice, still not completely sure. Here on the eve of Senator Clinton's campaign suspension (let's face it...end) and acquiese to Senator Obama, I am a bit reflective.

I sit, a girl of almost 30 raised in the "girls can do anything" wave, a little sad. I'm not sad because I thought that Senator Clinton should inarguably win the Democratic nomination. I'm not really sad because I thought that her policies were best. And I'm not sad because I will miss the sound of her voice screaming into a microphone. I'm sad because this time around the girl lost. It is a realization that no matter how hard we tried, walking the tightrope between strong and B*&ch, feminine and weak, we have not broken the largest glass ceiling of all. Do I think Senator Clinton lost because she is a woman? No, not completely. I think the electoral college and superdelegates ignororance of the popular vote is out-dated and is stacked with old boys network, but....My sadness is not really about why she lost. It is about the fact that for the first time, us girls had a shot at having one of our "clique" leading our way as a nation. It seems so silly to me that we, the world's "great" power, are still so far behind in gender equity in government.

I will take up my proud Donkey tail and support Senator Obama in his quest. But I will mourn, for a brief time, the loss of my fellow XX'er and pray for her continued participation in the work of our great country.

Endoftheyearitis.

You know the end of the school year is nearing when first graders cannot possibly play a singing game without fighting, when third graders don't want to watch another movie, and people are pushing and shoving like crazy.

This my dear reader is called "endoftheyearitis". It happens every year at this time. Behavior issues spike, apathy is high, and brains are full to capacity. This is why we have summer break. We have summer break so that the children can decompress, play without structure, sleep, breathe, and be around people other than the children they have been locked in a room with all year. For teachers, it is a time to remember that we do really love our children, love our subjects, and have motivation to teach them. Thank God it is coming.

1.5 days.

Claggett Senses

You are here.
I can hear you in the birds and rain and thunder.

You are here.
I can smell you in the wet grass and the time-weathered wood.

You are here.
I can feel you in the breeze.

You are here.
I can see you in the misty mountaintop and smiles of people.

You are here.
I can taste you in the nourishment created by your loving servants.

You are here.
and for a brief piece of time,
I have peace.

winding down.

The school year is near its completion. The children and teachers are weary so we fill the days with field days, games, movies, and ceremonies to pass the time. The grades are in, the conferences are being held and we all long for that last bell that indicates that freedom has arrived. I don't think it would be different if school lasted longer or ended before Memorial Day, we will all still have this anticipation of the lazy days of summer.

I am excited for what this summer holds. I am looking forward to learning and growing in my program through the Klingenstein Center. Two weeks sequestered on a beautiful campus with 75 other young teachers who will challenge and support each other to be our best. I am excited to stretch myself and be a drama/reading coach in the late summer as kids prepare for their new year of learning. I am scared at the prospect of writing the entire schedule for the entire school where I will please no one but serve the kids well.

But I too, long for those lazy days. Swim meets and sunscreen. Walks in the park. Sandy toes and ice cream kisses. Walking through the National Mall and getting annoyed at tourists who don't know how to use the Metro. Crabs and beer. The Orioles. Afternoon naps. Really early morning track workouts before it gets really hot. Reading lots of books. Watching the summer blockbuster film. Indigo Girls at Wolf Trap (turning 30)...Ah how I am a true cancer-love my summer.

Six Days....

runs in the family

Yesterday I had the pleasure of enjoying the beautiful weather by starting the day with a 5k. After two days of watching runners pick up their packets while I was working, I decided to throw my hat into the ring. I also convinced my lovely mother to join me to "kick-off" her training for the Baltimore Half-Marathon.

I knew it would be a hilly course, knew the two fastest women in my age group were signed up, but thought it would be ok just the same. It was a good race. I didn't do the best time ever, almost a minute off my time two weeks ago, but I was happy with it.

What really struck me was the families at the race. As awards called out after the race, no fewer than four families had multiple award winners from their family. One family took five total awards! This made me so incredibly happy. I love that there were families running together. Families who chose to get up early on a holiday morning, do a nice 5k, support and cheer for each other. I was so blessed to have my great Mom with me on this day, so I felt supported too.

I don't really think that having a family of my own is in my future. I kind of think I will be the "crazy old aunt" for my sister's children. But I am grateful to have been amongst these families yesterday; it gave me a wistful desire for that kind of experience in my own life. These families are models. Just as my family has given me a model for humor, forgiveness, and love. These families have reminded me of the simple purity of doing "stuff" together. All the better if that "stuff" is running.

Peace.

excitement.

My fifth graders have an assignment where they will choose a song to match one of our school success traits such as responsibility, courage, or faith. I told them they would have to do work at home (for the first time ever in my class....) checking either their music collection or youtube. They are not allowed to use youtube at school, but I told them I would help them if the videos they found were appropriate. I came home this evening and had an email from a student with two absolutely perfect video choices for her project. Perhaps this is benign to most teachers, but given the fact that I have never assigned homework (as an elementary music teacher) and this is kind of an large project in the last two weeks of school, I am thrilled. This student totally made my day.