Helpful Hints for When Teacher Is Overwhelmed

Time Saving Tips for Teachers
http://www.educationoasis.com/resources/
Articles/time_saving_tips.htm 

Replacing Classroom Chaos with Control 
http://blogs.edweek.org/teachers/coach_gs_teaching_
tips/2010/10/going_from_classroom_chaos_to_control.html 

Understanding the Common Core 
http://www.centerforpubliceducation.org/commoncore

Understanding the Common Core

Dealing with Angry Parents 
 http://www.educationworld.com/a_admin/admin/admin474.shtml

The Teacher’s Guides To Technology And Learninghttp://www.edudemic.com/guides/  

How to Get Along With ANY Teaching Colleague

http://www.weareteachers.com/blogs/post/2012/06/15/how-to-get-along-with-any-colleague 

Classroom Management: 10 Ways to Deal with Difficult Students http://www.teachhub.com/10-ways-deal-difficult-students  

Solutions for Teachers Bullied by Colleagues

http://www.edutopia.org/blog/teachers-bullied-by-colleagues-2-todd-finley  

A Curriculum of Concerns

 http://www.edutopia.org/blog/a-curriculum-of-concerns-mark-phillips

National Poetry Month: Poem #12

Beware of darkness in the material world by Buffalo Fawn

George Harrison Beware of Darkness - Beatles Abbey Road"ish" Version

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sGvnJzaWUII 

"Beware Of Darkness"

Watch out now, take care
Beware of falling swingers
Dropping all around you
The pain that often mingles
In your fingertips
Beware of darkness

Watch out now, take care
Beware of the thoughts that linger
Winding up inside your head
The hopelessness around you
In the dead of night

Beware of sadness
It can hit you
It can hurt you
Make you sore and what is more
That is not what you are here for

Watch out now, take care
Beware of soft shoe shufflers
Dancing down the sidewalks
As each unconscious sufferer
Wanders aimlessly
Beware of Maya

Watch out now, take care
Beware of greedy leaders
They take you where you should not go
While Weeping Atlas Cedars
They just want to grow, grow and grow
Beware of darkness (beware of darkness)

National Poetry Month: Poem #11

Buffalo Bill http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Buffalo_Bill

[Buffalo Bill 's]

By E. E. Cummings

Buffalo Bill 's

defunct

                     who used to

                     ride a watersmooth-silver

                                                            stallion

and break onetwothreefourfive pigeonsjustlikethat

                                                                                                                        Jesus

he was a handsome man

                                                            and what i want to know is

how do you like your blueeyed boy

Mister Death 

E. E. Cummings

 e e cummings

http://www.poets.org/poet.php/prmPID/156 

Teaching Is Reflective

A Mid-Year Reflection for Teachers and Students 

http://www.edutopia.org/blog/mid-year-reflection-teachers-students-maurice-elias 

The Reflective Teacher: Taking a Long Look

http://www.edutopia.org/blog/reflective-teacher-taking-long-look-nicholas-provenzano 

Reflecting on Reflection: A Habit of Mind

http://www.edutopia.org/blog/reflecting-on-reflection-habit-of-mind-terry-heick 

Reflective Teaching: A 30-Day Blogging Challenge For Teachers

http://www.teachthought.com/teaching/reflective-teaching-30-day-blogging-challenge-teachers/ 

Are You A Reflective Teacher?

Are You A Reflective Teacher?

http://www.www.teachthought.com/teaching/reflectiveteacher/ 

10 Ways To Be A More Reflective Teacher

10 Ways To Be A More Relective Teacher

10 Ways To Be A More Reflective Teacher

 http://w.teachthought.com/teaching/reflective-teacher-reflective-teaching/

7 Great Resources for Reflective Teachers

http://www.edudemic.com/reflective-tips/ 

Reflection: What Makes Learning Stick

http://blogs.kqed.org/mindshift/2014/05/reflection-what-makes-learning-stick/ 

Teaching Is Reflective

Cheesy Jokes and Serious Thoughts About Easter

Confession is good for the soul, it is said. And I confess I do love the 'chocolate' holiday season from Halloween to Christmas to Valentine's Day to Easter. Cadbury has the queen of treats, the Creme Egg, appearing only at Easter. Absence makes the heart grow fonder.

I'm not alone. It is just too much fun decorating baskets with that eternal Easter grass (it never goes away, it's like glitter), and coloring the eggs the old fashioned way with vinegar, etc. The images of bunnies and chicks and ducklings are cute, even better than Santa who has a list and checks it twice. No unconditional love from him! And this is an outside sport, temps in the 70s, with light breezes, egg hunting, spring clothes and bonnets, blooming Easter Lilies. Well, at least here in SoCal.

Here's an article about how to dress your kid for Easter. The tradition began as  symbolic of a new spiritual start. Now what is it?

http://www.womanaroundtown.com/sections/shopping-around/what-the-well-dressed-child-wears-to-an-easter-egg-hunt

I did see a puddy tat!

Not one of Woodstock's, I'm guessing.

The secularization of this holiday makes it acceptable to everyone. Afterall, anthropologists say that all peoples celebrated the return of spring after the difficulties of winter.

http://www.timeanddate.com/calendar/march-equinox-traditions.html

Coaxing a smile from Eeyore.

Familiar pop-culture figures dominate all holidays now, and this is a word that used to mean 'holy-day.' Have we lost anything by this transformation?  Is the concept of the sacred now forbidden? Teachers carefully appreciate the separation of church and state in a public school. But everywhere?

Easter is the most secularized of the holidays in the USA, and ironically, the most important for Christians acknowledging the death and resurrection of Jesus. Question: how can we honor the rights of all and permit our students to express their beliefs in public and private?

This is not a student of mine. He is a model.

Here in SoCal this year it has become a fashion statement for middle school boys to wear rosaries as necklaces.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rosary

 And not only the latino kids. I've asked some of them what it means to them; sometimes they say it means they are Mexican, sometimes they tell me it is about their faith. Some say they just think it looks cool. So far, this practice has not been considered a dress code violation. In other places, it is dress code.

Amarillo ISD Student Wears Rosary Beads, Violates Dress Code, Arrested

http://www.everythinglubbock.com/story/d/story/-/2y_mYNc72ESSBDmVsYGvgA 

Can I wear clothing that communicates a political or religious message?

http://www.riaclu.org/know-your-rights/pamphlets/know-your-rights-school-dress-codes 

So why so serious, MzTeachuh, and where are the silly Garfield jokes? OK, here we go.

What do you need if your Cadbury Creme Eggs suddenly disappear?

You need an eggsplanation.

Where does the Easter Bunny get his eggs? From Eggplants.

How is the Easter Bunny like Kobe Bryant?

They're both famous for stuffing baskets.

Q: What does the Easter Bunny get for making a basket?

A: Two points, just like anyone else.

Q: How can you tell where the Easter Bunny has been?

A: Eggs mark the spot! 

Did you hear the one about the fifty-pound jelly bean?

It was pretty hard to swallow

The President and the Easter Egg

Why do we paint Easter eggs?

Because it is too hard to wallpaper them.

What does the White House do when there are too many undiscovered Easter eggs on the South Lawn?

Call an eggsterminator.

I am a huge fan of the Cadbury Creme Egg Bunny, and was charmed when I found one I could buy as an Easter Bunny. A stuffed one that cackles like a chicken, not a real one.

So, enjoy these animal actors. Why is there no Emmy or Oscar for animal actors?

Movie Review: Films About Jesus

Jesus is honored among all major religions as a teacher, ethicist, prophet, or mystic. This is Holy Week for those who believe in the orthodox principles of Christianity, in the deity of Jesus and remembering His passion and resurrection. There are also many groups of Christians who may not agree on all the details of this faith, and their kids might be in your classes. It takes a delicate touch to provide respect for all kids' beliefs during discussions of major religions.

We respect the rights of all people to have beliefs. I am not recommending showing films about Jesus or not showing them in your class; that is a decision for your school.

But beginning in Middle School, at least in the State of California, there are many passages from the Bible, and the New Testament in particular, that are considered worthy of literary consideration. The Book of Job, the Psalms, the Sermon on the Mount, parables. The King James version, which last year celebrated its 500th birthday, is considered a masterpiece itself. It is said Shakespeare made a contribution to it.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Authorized_King_James_Version 

And this is a pretty good time of year to show portions of the Jesus story if you're going to. Even the History Channel, liberal bastion of cable TV, frequently shows the television film of "Jesus of Nazareth" in entirety, Jesus being a central person of historical interest. That's why this is the year 2012.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Book_of_Job
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sermon_on_the_Mount
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Parables_of_Jesus
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Psalms

Mary, the mother of Jesus in "The Passion of the Christ."

Jesus, although He was Jewish,  is usually portrayed looking like a European, generally with a British accent, except for "The Passion of the Christ," which was in Aramaic (the Hebrew spoken at the time of Jesus) with subtitles. That's a pretty amazing idea and accomplishment, if you can find it in you heart to forgive Mel Gibson for being a flawed human and all after he produced that remarkable movie. The production has accuracy in costuming, music, and portrays basic Catholic theology, except possibly about Pontius Pilate, the Roman who deserved no sympathy for his decision.

"The Passion of the Christ" 2004

"The Passion of the Christ," is bone crushing in the accuracy of suffering. The perspective of Mary the mother of Jesus is unique in this movie version, and serves to present why many Christians have a special devotion to her. What age of child should see this? I can't say, but it is very intense, particularly when Mary flashes back to Jesus falling as a little boy as He carries the cross. Use your own judgement.

"The Kings of Kings" 1961

"The Greatest Story Ever Told" 1965

Several Bible-themed movies came out in the sixties with blue-eyed Jesus actors quoting the King James Bible. Jeffrey Hunter was in the "Kings of Kings," a remake from the Cecil B. DeMille's 1927 version.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/King_of_Kings_%281961_film%29 
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Greatest_Story_Ever_Told 
Max von Sydow played Jesus in 1965 in "The Greatest Story Ever Told." The films are sympathetically presented, especially toward poor little misunderstood Judas, who is frequently the most interesting character. These films have a respectful mood if not accuracy, and for the viewer who is looking to connect with the words of Jesus quoted in the Bible, these films are very effective. Children who are familiar with the story should be okay with the crucifixion scenes which are not too graphic, but kids have to be prepared.

As children watch a film about Jesus, it is very intense. Jesus is a lovable and sympathetic character whether He is considered in a religious sense or not. Kids really have to be prepared for the story to transpire. I was invited by a friend to a theatre full of viewers from her Baptist church to see "The Passion of the Christ." All adults, all in tears (both men and women) by the end. It is just a really tough and sad story for both believer and non-believer.

"Jesus of Nazareth" miniseries 1977

My preferred film about Jesus to view with children is the television miniseries, "Jesus of Nazareth." (1977). It is frequently on television at the Christmas and Easter seasons. Visually, there are lots of references to famous works of art, and the music is sort of mysterioso in a supernatural sense that a good something, maybe a miracle, is going to happen; that something supernatural isn't always sinister. Jesus is compassionate, powerful and somehow one-of-the-guys while being divine. Peter is great with his bumbling, yet strong and sincere personality. Mary was a little young being portrayed by Olivia Hussey. Judas was indecisive until he was creepy and betrayed his best friend. I personally don't think Judas was sorry after he did that. Laurence Olivier portrayed Nicodemus.

Nicodemus quoting Isaiah 53 as Jesus is on the cross.

 Being a miniseries, the important parts of the story are portrayed because there is time for them. The Sermon on the Mount is well worth sharing with kids, particularly since important modern leaders such as Ghandi and Martin Luther Kingreference this, and other portions of Jesus' statements. One of my very favorite scenes from any film is this portrayal of Jesus giving a parable (which are also part of the standards for literature.) Peter and Matthew the tax collector also have a moment.

Jesus hangin' with His homies, for which He was criticized severely.

http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Isaiah+53&version=NKJV





Here is the Prodigal Son, put up on youtube.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pgODzUMscZ8

 The person who put up this video also included a little music, not from the film.

I would like to share a song that I still find marvelous. This was written during the Jesus Movement of the early 1970s and presents the case for Christianity at its most basic and radical. Which pretty much describes the Jesus Movement, and how Jesus happened in my life then, too.  Enjoy.

"Jesus Is All That We Need."
 Gary Arthur
The Way http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Way_%28band%29



http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fDsH29I8vOQ

Good ole fashioned Jesus music from good ole fashioned Jesus People @1972

National Poetry Month: Poem #10

In Flanders Fields

by John McCrae

In Flanders fields the poppies blow Between the crosses, row on row,  That mark our place, and in the sky,  The larks, still bravely singing, fly, Scarce heard amid the guns below.    We are the dead; short days ago We lived, felt dawn, saw sunset glow, Loved and were loved, and now we lie In Flanders fields.    Take up our quarrel with the foe! To you from failing hands we throw The torch; be yours to hold it high! If ye break faith with us who die   We shall not sleep, though poppies grow In Flanders fields.   This poem is a rondeau, written by McCrae while a doctor in the trenches; he also died. Many Canadian soldiers volunteered for WWI after reading this. The poem was found in their pockets after they became casualites.