Educator Appreciation

"They like us, they really like us!"

Yesterday I went to Barnes & Noble to pick up the copies of KAPOW! I ordered last weekend and saw that it was the first day of Educator Appreciation Week.

Being very susceptible to enjoying the perks that come with teaching (there aren't many) I signed up for the Educator's Appreciation Afternoon Tea that was to be held the next day. They promised to raffle off over $500 worth of 'incredible prizes', provide a 'light lunch' and the clincher was that there would be guest authors and illustrators. Oh, AND they would kick up the educator's discount from its usual 20% to 25%! Therefore, if I bought $100 worth of books I would save like...$250! (Joy - that math is for you.)

Now those jaded readers may say that it is just an opportunity for B&N to rev up business and for authors to turn a quick buck. I must admit this was my initial feeling. However, that little devil was silenced by the thought of winning $500 worth of merchandise.

I went this afternoon and thoroughly enjoyed myself. As I walked from table to table I was greeted by employees with "Oh, you're the teacher from New York". I felt like a celebrity as there was obviously a little grapevine gossip playing out. They could not believe that I commute two hours to get to work everyday and I enjoyed playing my part in this scenario. I am a talker after all and once I begin to discuss education and children watch out.

The children's book authors and illustrators were Wendy Pfeffer, Gene Barretta, Joe Kulka, Stephen Heigh, Betty Tatham and John Sciullo. Once I saw their beautiful books my prior resolve to keep a closed wallet was melted and I scooped up five of them. I am a sucker for autographed books and could not help myself. I think my students will really enjoy them too.

Comedian and talk-show host Joy Behar has teamed up with illustrator Gene Barretta to create a feisty, lovable character in this cheerful, funny picture book. When Max the mixed-breed meets a pack of snobby purebred dogs in the dog run, he can’t understand why they don’t want to play with him and his mongrel friends. Determined to get everyone to play together, brainy Max—who is part poodle, after all—comes up with a way to break the ice between the mixed-breeds and the purebreds. America’s current obsession with designer dogs makes this book as timely as it is lively.

An authorial debut for illustrator Barretta, Now & Ben aims at the youngest readers, limiting its purview to Franklin as a slightly tubby, jolly inventor and innovator. Each left-hand page describes and illustrates one of Franklin's contributions as we know it ("Now . . . our newspapers are filled with illustrations"); the opposite page goes back in time to reveal the Franklin connection ("Ben . . . was the first to print a political cartoon in America"). Most young children won't grasp the play on the phrase now and then but will zero in instead on the well-chosen examples, which include bifocals and lightning rods as well as lesser-known notions (a rocking chair that churned butter!), all appealingly rendered in Barretta's relaxed, cartoonlike watercolors.

From Foreword Magazine’s 2004 Children’s Book of the Year Finalist Stephen Heigh comes the heartwarming story of The Snowman in the Moon. Beautifully illustrated, Snowman's panoramic outdoor scenes capture the interest and imagination of children of all ages and the inner child in all of us.The story center around a town that has longed for a big snowfall for years without seeing one. One night, as two children are gazing up at the moon wishing for it to snow, the Snowman in the Moon appears to them. They know at that moment something magical is about to happen. However, when they tell their friends and neighbors what they saw, no one believes them.But that evening the Snowman in the Moon visits Woodstream County and blankets the land with a beautiful soft snow. The town discovers the beauty and magic of this special snowfall."If you believe, all things are possible."

A distant howl echoes through the forest, and news quickly spreads that Wolf is coming! As the wolf gets closer and closer, animals run away as fast as they can. Soon the wolf's glowing eyes are peeking through the window, and then slowly, the front door opens...

But things are not as they seem in this suspenseful, clever story. It just might be the reader who's in for the biggest surprise of all!

From School Library Journal: Grade 1-3- This title focuses on one emperor penguin family's survival. The parents' care of their young is central, shown by deft yet perfunctory watercolors depicting a harsh, challenging habitat. The danger of the baby's starvation is emphasized; one adult must keep it protected from the elements and the other must fish for food and return in time to feed it before it dies. Trading places, the caregivers share these duties until the chick is old enough for both adult birds to hunt for food together. A summary of a penguin's life up to the laying of an egg is followed by a section that describes the egg laying and nesting patterns of kings, Ad lies, rockhoppers and little blues.

Barnes & Noble is not the only institution to provide educator discounts.

Borders Books has a 'Classroom Discount Card' that entitles the bearer to 20% off list price on books, music, and VHS for classroom use.

Staples has a 'Teacher Rewards' program and a teacher appreciation day late in the summer.

P.S. I did not win the raffle.

Making Tapestries

Before becoming a teacher I majored in Dramatic Arts: Theater at New York University’s Tisch School of the Arts. My love of theater began at a young age but I didn’t do much about it until I was in high school. Our high school had a rich theater program that found us thespians performing scenes from a plethora of classic works for English classes and other captive audiences – such as our parents on ‘scene night’.

It was at this time that I began my love affair with Greek Tragedies and Greek Mythology. I was given the role of Creon in the Jean Anouilh version of Antigone. My scene partner, the gorgeous and talented Margaret “Peggy” Iamunno, taught this fledgling actor about the story so I could begin to grasp the enormity and history of this amazing work. I have been hooked ever since and always credit Peggy with introducing me to a passion that has never subsided. I dove into a study that continues to this day and has grown to encompass comparative mythology and most notably the writings of Joseph Campbell.

I never imagined that this interest could be tapped in my teaching of young children, but I was wrong. It all began with a visit to The Metropolitan Museum of Art when our guide stopped the class in front of the tapestry (pictured above) depicting Diana (in literature the equivalent of the Greek goddess Artemis) bathing with her nymphs while Acteon looked on. Diana, none too pleased, changes him into a stag and he is subsequently devoured by his own dogs.

This story mesmerized the students and they kept referring back to it with such excitement. On this visit the museum generously provided us with a book entitled Pocket Dictionary Of Ancient Greek Heroes And Heroines by Richard Woff. I figured it was worth a shot to begin telling them some of these stories that I knew so well. I began with the story of Theseus, Ariadne, Phaedra and the Minotaur. High student interest led to descriptive explorations of...

*Odysseus (Cyclops, Circe, Helen, Paris, the Trojan War, the Sirens)

* Perseus (Medusa, Athena, Andromeda, Pegasus, the Harpies)

* Jason (Medea, Hercules, Talos, the seven headed Hydra, fighting skeletons) and many others.

This theme crept its way into all aspects of our learning and into the physical environment of the classroom. Students chose to label the tables or areas in the room by assigning the names of their favorite characters to each.

We created our own ‘tapestries’ using burlap and various art materials. Below are a few of the ‘tapestries’ that hang above each table. (Not pictured Cyclops and Pegasus)

"OOPS!" "OUCH!" "OOPS!" and another "OUCH!"

I am all for class trips that take advantage of what New York City has to offer, but sometimes it may just be better to stay in the classroom with the door locked and a large sign hanging on said door reading “DO NOT DISTURB”.

That day was today.

We were all very excited this morning because for the second day in a row we were “going on a trip”. Yesterday we went up to Columbia University to see a production from Little Theatre of the Deaf which went off without a hitch. So, today as we prepared for our trip to The Metropolitan Museum of Art we naively believed we would enjoy ourselves, learn something, bond as a community of learners and get back by 1:30.

“OOPS!”

First mishap…

Our tour guide got us lost in the American Wing as we tried to find our way to the New Greek and Roman Galleries.

I think she did this on purpose because although I assured her that my students were experts on the heroes and heroines of Greek Mythology, she expressed her opinion that it was too sophisticated for them. Well, we followed her through the maze of rooms and hallways, up the elevator and down the steps, back into African Art. By this time the children were getting restless and playing “don’t step on the cracks”. This meant that they were looking down rather than straight ahead of them. You know where this is going? Just as I was telling them to watch where they were headed I hear a loud “WHACK”

“OUCH!”

One of my beautiful little girls smacked her head right into the corner of a glass display case. I scooped her up and asked our guide where to find the first aid station. She suddenly knew exactly where she was and 'guided' us there. All the while we were followed by onlookers asking if the girl was okay in about four different languages.

I was afraid to look as we glided down the stairs and though the door to an unfortunate nurse, who, I am sure, was not following her bliss as a nurse at the Metropolitan Museum of Art. She gave us ice for the bump (no cuts or blood – Whew!) and we made our exit. The bus was waiting by now and we had to get back. As we departed our guide told me that she was glad we couldn’t make it to the New Greek and Roman Galleries anyway. Sweet.

I am not finished.

Second mishap...

We get on the bus. All is well. Until…

A woman in a Jaguar tries to squeeze past our school bus and does not quite make it.

“OOPS!”

We come to a standstill at a very busy intersection. Our sweet (really) bus driver gets out and starts yelling at this woman who was clearly in the wrong. She is wedged between the right side of the bus and a construction blockade. The driver’s side mirror on her beautiful Jag was hanging. No damage to the bus other than scrapes. The children were fine – slow speed, low impact – we actually didn’t even know it happened. The woman manages to get out of her car and is joined by the bus driver. I turn to my co-teacher and sign “It is pretty bad to smash into a school bus but when she finds out it is a bus full of deaf children she’ll probably feel even worse”.

The police come, EMS comes and reports are filed. However, one student tells EMS that she bumped her head when we stopped and she now has a headache.

“OUCH!”

Long story short…I spent the next three hours in the emergency room with her waiting for her mother to show up. All ended well. She is fine. I am back home.

Tomorrow we are NOT taking a trip.

"No, Thank You"

It was the night I was celebrating my commitment to teaching.

The closest that educators come to the Academy Awards is a graduation ceremony. Going up to collect the diploma is equivalent to walking the red carpet. Shaking hands with the dean of the university is an interview with Joan Rivers. It may not be glamorous but it is all we've got.

And we work hard for our few moments in the sun. Attending classes after a full day of teaching, spending the weekends writing papers, conducting ongoing research while our friends are out enjoying a late afternoon brunch, scooping up items or collecting 'garbage' because it has a purpose for that project the students are creating, it's all part of being a teacher/researcher. It is who we are, every minute of every day.

The lifestyle does not come with much respect from those with political power but it does carry a certain cache with some parents and students. Well, on the night of my certificate ceremony celebrating the completion of the Hello Friend/Ennis William Cosby scholarship program for Young Readers at Risk, at which may I add, I gave a speech detailing how teaching was my bliss, that I cherished how blessed I was to have found the perfect match, the supreme career -- on that night I was approached by a woman who offered me a scholarship to become a school principal.

Really!

Was she not paying attention?

She was taking the perspective that education is a business and who can blame her? When we have Boston-born Republican businessman-turned-political Mayor Michael R. Bloomberg espousing his agenda this comes as no surprise. In his world one works their way up the ranks to obtain wealth and power. The bottom line is the almighty dollar, what can I do for ME? This is NOT the way things operate in education.

Mr. Bloomberg has alienated many parents who feel excluded from influencing decisions about the system. “His problem all along has been a lack of buy-in with the stakeholders of the system: parents, teachers and principals,” said Tim Johnson, chairman of the Chancellor’s Parent Advisory Council, a parent group. Saying that an election every four years “is not enough to check and balance a mayor, especially a mayor with billions of dollars,” Mr. Johnson added that the parents “are more frustrated than ever,” especially given the several reorganizations undertaken by Mr. Bloomberg and Chancellor Joel I. Klein. (The New York Times, September 20, 2006)

It is all about perspective. Mayor Bloomberg or Chancellor Klein have outright disdain for teachers, absolutely no respect. I truly think this would change if they would honestly commit one week to planning, managing and teaching in a New York City Public School. How wonderful if these businessmen would allow themselves to open their minds to 'hear' what dedicated educators around the city have to tell them.

I am a teacher. I want to teach. I do not want to 'move up' to obtain more power and wealth if that takes me out of the classroom. I do not see my position as a stepping stone. I am happy to do what I do. If I wanted to be in business I would have done that. I assure you that with my education and dedication I could be raking in the bucks, but I would not be fulfilled doing that.

Therefore, on the night of my certificate ceremony I simply responded to this woman with --

"No, thank you!".

More Children's Books

Authors of good children’s books are like celebrities to me. Anyone who shows that much respect for children by pouring their creativity and gifts into these mini masterpieces deserves whatever accolades I can dole out. Over the years I have collected autographed copies of several books by amazing author/illustrators whose unique visions highlight the richness of the genre. A listing of some of my favorites (autographed, of course) are below.

Faith Ringgold – Tar Beach

A ‘Tar Beach’ is the rooftop of Cassie Louise Lightfoot’s Harlem apartment building. She has a dream that she is free to fly wherever she wants and we join her on a journey.

This is a Caldecott Honor Book, Winner of the Coretta Scott King Award, Winner of the Parents’ Choice Gold Award and a New York Times Best Illustrated Book.

Bryan Collier – Uptown

“A young boy provides a particularly inviting, personally guided tour of his uptown home, New York City’s Harlem…Looking from his window high above the sights and sound of the city, the young narrator concludes, ‘Uptown is Harlem…Uptown is home”.
-- School Library Journal

Nick Bruel – BOING and Bad Kitty



BOING is a near wordless picture book that details the struggles of a “very young kangaroo who is desperately trying to learn how to jump like her mama, but can’t quite make the leap”.

Bad Kitty is a very funny ABC book about a bad kitty who is not so bad after all.

"This hilarious picture book takes readers through the alphabet four times and will have kids begging for more!"

Nick Bruel has visited our school twice to do readings for the children. He is extremely entertaining and great fun to watch. This guy has a terrific sense of humor and seems to really know what kids find interesting.

Nina Crews – The Neighborhood Mother Goose

Ms. Crews (daughter of children's book author Donald Crews, winner of two Caldecott Honors) uses rich, lush photography to accompany the Mother Goose rhymes. My favorite is Humpty Dumpty.

If you get the opportunity stop by a library or book store and check them out.