Little Things Matter

Once upon a time a little girl stood in her basement classroom teaching her heart out with old school books, a metal-framed chalkboard, a wooden school desk complete with carvings in the top, and her imaginary students.   She read books aloud, gave spelling tests to friends she could convince to play the student role, graded papers, lectured, and even redirected the ill-behaved and misguided imaginary souls.  Years went by, interests changed, and career opportunities were explored. However, once she caught that teaching bug, she never could shake it.  That little girl has now spent way more years of her life in a school as either a student or a teacher than she has out of a school. 

Every good teacher lives with constant questions in his or her mind. 

"Am I really doing the best job I can do?"

"Am I making any difference in this crazy school?"

"Do they even know that I'm trying to help?"

I could go on and on.  Reflection is constant in my business.  I'm always second guessing how I've handled a situation or the words that I've spoken, the choices I've made, the reponses I've given. 

As the school year gets closer toward its end, these question arise on a more frequent basis.  This week has been one of those weeks.  Friday was the icing on the cake and it wasn't even lunch time yet. But at 10:35, one of my sweet little second grade ESOL kiddos walked into the library for his media time and handed me the small note pictured above.  The size no more than 3 inches x 3 inches, but oh so much bigger!  Let's just say I am holding back tears as I now write and as I replay the exchange in my head.

Little things most definitely matter!

LOL #1

No, these guys are not prehistoric creatures of some kind.  They are bullfrog tadpoles and they made me absolutely laugh out loud today.  

Having received inspiration and the idea from another photography blog that I follow, The CoffeeShop Blog, I have decided to try and make a weekly post of photographs that make me laugh, smile, grin, giggle...  You get the idea.

This week's LOL photo subjects are four bullfrog tadpoles - recent additions to my Libraryland Farm (yes, I said "farm," that will have to wait for another post).  My second graders are researching frogs so what better way to research than to see them up close and personal! 

In the process of cleaning the frog tank today, I dumped the not-so-little lads into a bowl for safe keeping.  They were a hoot! (That's Southern for way-too-funny.) From looking at these photos one would never know that they were splashing like crazy in their little holding tank.  All of their shenanigans made me think I was going to be picking up the slimy guys off the carpet!  Thankfully, they behaved long enough for me the clean their domain and get them back into their home safe and sound.

Let's talk photography.  Since I don't typically carry my DSLR to work everyday, these shots were taken with my trusty pocket cam - AKA iPhone 4.  Not super high quality work, but also not too bad for a phone cam.  I love the reflection of the four froggy fellows in the above shot. 

Hmm... I just wonder what this guy is thinking??? 

 

All I Ever Needed to Know, I Learned from the Game

competition: 1. a competitive encounter between individuals or groups carried on for amusement, exercise, or in pursuit of a prize 2. an earnest effort for superiority or victory over another (compliments of Merriam-Webster)

Game, battle, rivalry, struggle, duel, combat, grapple, challenge, contest...  Regardless of the name, we all have a little bit in us - the desire to win.  Some, of course, are by nature more competitive than others.  Yours truly would fit into that category.  I must say that I do enjoy a good game or challenge.

If I were punching the mom time-clock in the area of sports, I would have accumulated around nine hours (not including travel time) this week just watching my three kiddos on the field.  While I'm not so crazy about all the time involved in the to and fro, I greatly enjoy watching them compete.  What I enjoy even more though is seeing them learn life lessons through the sports that they play.   Here's what I see them learning:

1. Commitment - signing up to play means signing up to finish.
2. Teamwork - it's not all about us, working together is better for the whole and as a result, better for the individual.
3. Life isn't always fair - can I get an AMEN! Regardless, fair play isn't optional.
4. Sportsmanship - it isn't always easy, but it is always expected.
5. Respect - the coach, the players, and even the refs.
6. Patience - with the coach, the players, and especially with the refs.
7. Self-control - even when circumstances encourage the opposite.
8. Give 100% - from whistle to whistle. 
9. Perseverance - stick to it, eventually good results will arrive.
10. Winning isn't everything - but boy, it sure does feel good, especially when numbers 1-9 have been tough lessons.  

Looking at my list, it puts me in mind of a list that came out years ago called "All I Ever Needed to Know, I Learned from Kindergarten."  I guess the same could be said for sports.  What life lesson listed above couldn't easily be applied to the workplace or the home?

Since I spend so much time on the fields, it has naturally become an area to work on my photography.  My equipment won't help me win any sports photography awards, but I do have fun capturing images of my kiddos in the game.