Crêpes by Suzette

Lord knows I love me some children's books.  And oh, what fun it is to learn that a favorite title has taken on new life as an exciting, jaunty app.  This news has me cheering, "C'est magnifique!"

I first discovered Crêpes by Suzette - written and illustrated by Monica Wellington - a few years ago. My teaching partner, Michelle, and I were studying France with our kindergarten students and this literary slice of Parisian life had all the right ingredients.

Michelle fait des crêpes

* Historical Parisian landmarks to promote inquiry and discussion

* A map of Paris to provide visual support of Suzette's travels

* Targeted French words and phrases to introduce new vocabulary

* Engaging illustrations superimposed upon photographs of Paris to capture a child's imagination

* A delicious and easy crêpe recipe that we took full advantage of with just a hot plate and a pan.

The new app expands on all of this by providing a multimedia experience that adds new life to this treasured book.

This new incarnation contains scrumptious videos of a French marketplace, the pristine Luxembourg Gardens, Notre Dame Cathedral and the River Seine, the Louvre Museum, the Palais-Garnier, and the Eiffel Tower presented along with engaging music and art commentary.

There is even a Do-It-Yourself (DIY) crêpe making video tutorial!

The app is easy to navigate with clearly marked icons (see above) to take you where you want to go.

I am thrilled to rediscover this wonderful book and learn about this app just in time for my upcoming trip to Paris and Grasse.  How timely!

You can bet I will be enjoying a crêpe (or two) as I stroll through Montparnasse.

Bon Appetit!

Angel from Adelaide

There is a Bonnie Raitt song called Angel from Montgomery that we enjoy singing on these cool summer nights while mixing cocktails and playing with our Saint Bernard, Cal.

The title made me think about the angels in my life and how they appear at just the right time to make a difficult situation a little bit better.

I've written before about the current lack of joy in education;  the subjective teacher observation protocol with little to no accountability for administrators,  an evaluation method designed to promote failure and therefore putting into question the validity of the entire rating system, the fact that my worth as a teacher is partially determined by the standardized test scores of students I never taught, the onslaught of excessive paperwork that serves no pedagogical purpose and takes me away from educating my students, the lack of support, and the political vilification of teachers.

Although I continued to fight the good fight and tried to remain focused on the positive aspects (i.e., my students and their families) the constant barrage of disrespect had worn me down.

Then my angel appeared in the form of an educational consultant who literally wrote the book on listening.  Once upon a time, in happier days,  Lisa Burman was a guiding presence at our school. A great deal of respect and joy departed when she left us and returned to Adelaide, Australia.

Happily, she does return every so often to visit New York City. And when she does she finds a way to infuse the environment with hope and positive change.  Her last visit was no different.  I believe she helped heal and redirect some of the collateral damage of a broken bureaucracy.  All through the power of listening and responding in a calm, strong voice.

Change begins with adjusting attitudes and a willingness to continue the fight in the best interest of the children.

The angel from Adelaide planted the seed of hope and unwittingly directed us toward the words of the persistent Lorax...

UNLESS someone like you

cares a whole awful lot,

nothing is going to get better.

It's not.

Broadway Books First Class

It seems as though the next passionate endeavor, which I alluded to in my last post,  was patiently waiting in the wings the whole time. Who knew?

It is a new project I created called Broadway Books First Class. The program is set around the simple idea of inviting Broadway performers - past and present - into my classroom once a month to read a children's book to my deaf, hard of hearing, and hearing First Grade students. The readings will either be interpreted or read using American Sign Language.

I have always felt that New York City should serve as an extension of our school and have welcomed the cultural opportunities available to us through our incredible surroundings.  We visit museums, iconic landmarks, parks, theaters, and exhibits so why not bring a little of this magic through our doors? The Broadway Books First Class program is yet another way to take advantage of NYC's unique gifts to promote literacy and the arts for my students and the school community.

I first posted about the program via Facebook on July 3rd.  That night Tony Award Winner Gregory Jbara (Billy Elliott) responded to my post with "I'm interested".  His generous support gave the project immediate momentum and within days five other performers had committed to the project.  They include a two-time Tony Award nominated actress and a Tony Award nominated playwright!  There are also some heartwarming personal stories connected with the performers (I won't give those away just yet).

In less than two weeks this has developed into quite a promising enterprise.  I am creating a website and working with an artist to design a logo somewhat akin to the dancing book I mocked up last night using Photobucket (pictured above).  And a press release is scheduled for August.

I am excited to develop a literacy and arts curriculum around the visits that also includes a technology component and builds upon the experience in a fun, positive manner.

Now, if anyone can get the word out to Vanessa Williams or Stockard Channing...

Graduation

The anticipation of graduation glowed with gratitude.  It signaled a rite of passage, the finish line.  The ending of one challenging journey before picking up the gauntlet of yet another passionate endeavor. A time to stop, to celebrate, to look around and think, "Wow!  I did it!"

The anticipation of graduation did not include a particularly strong emotional component.  There was perhaps an intellectual representation of emotion but certainly not the raw emotion that overtakes your soul in an instant and colors everything that follows.

That moment came with the simple turn of my head as I proceeded up the center aisle towards the stage.  As pomp and circumstance played I looked to my right and caught a glimpse of my family wildly waving, arms stretched skyward.  Standing straight and tall their bodies radiated pride and happiness.  Whoosh! It hit me - this is a moment I will never forget, not ever.

As I took my seat my phone vibrated with the message, "We are so proud of you".  Simple enough but incredibly powerful.

These moments of bliss often build to a beautiful crescendo.  Mine took place when my name was called and I walked to the president of the university to receive my diploma.  As we shook hands he said, "Congratulations, Doctor".  The picture above captures the spirit of the moment.  I look at myself and see pure happiness.  How wonderful to have it documented so I can revisit that feeling in a tangible way and remember that moment filled with gratitude and emotion.

Graduation Anticipation

Doctoral Robe, Hood and Tam ready and waiting

Commencement ceremonies are the cherry on top of the getting-a-degree sundae.  Their existence signals a completion - a time to dig in and enjoy the sweet fruit of your labor.

This Graduation Day is a time for my family and friends to share in what has sometimes been a very solitary experience.  Writing my dissertation required many hours alone in my office with papers surrounding my feet and statistical analyses taped to the wall in front of my computer.  Although writing is a lonely experience, the process took a village.

Graduation is a time to reflect on all the folks who got me here and express gratitude.  Below is the acknowledgments page from my dissertation which seems very fitting to share on this blog whose title is inspired by the work of Joseph Campbell.

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

Follow your bliss…if you do follow your bliss, you put yourself on a kind of track that has been there all the while, waiting for you, and the life that you ought to be living is the one that you are living.  When you can see that, you begin to meet people who are in your field of bliss, and they open doors to you.  I say, follow your bliss and don’t be afraid, and doors will open where you didn’t know they were going to be. 

Joseph Campbell

I am eternally grateful to the teachers, district superintendents, school principals, academic directors, and generous researchers who have supported my work.  I would like to acknowledge the following people at Fordham University for opening doors at exactly the right time.  First, thank you to my mentor and friend Dr. Joanna Uhry who started me on this journey all those years ago and professors Dr. Rita Brause, Dr. Marshall George, Dr. Molly Ness, and Dr. Thanos Patelis. Thank you to Dr. Sara Schley for joining my dissertation committee and rescuing me time and time again.  I also could not have completed this Herculean task of tenacity without the support of Nancy Balbirer (Bird by Bird!), Ed Fagan, Mareta and Edward C. Fagan, Stephanie Feyne, Cynthia Gabel, Gretta Johnson, Dr. Cayne Letizia, Rebecca Marshall, Mike Nappi, Onudeah Nicolarakis, Lauren Ridloff, Joy Sienkiewicz, Laurie Speranzo, Adam Stone, and Sue Thomas.  You will forever remain in my field of bliss.

Saturday morning symbolizes my entrance into the academy when I receive my diploma from the president of the university and, upon completion of the ceremony, walk out with a member of the faculty.

Saturday afternoon is less formal.  It is champagne and hors d'oeuvres and the realization that for the rest of my life I will be Dr. Wellbrock.

How cool is that!?