Catch up

Enjoyed a quick but joy filled visit with my daughter, my son, my nephew and their families.  The babies are growing so fast these days and I am blessed to get to see them frequently to watch the changes that are taking place.  There is no bigger changes than the first few months after "regular" or "real" school  starts and they are exposed to the magic of learning and the meeting of new people.  The exposure to the way others live and learn is a great part of the learning process. 

Our small town enjoyed an annual festival this weekend of which I chose not to attend.  It is still a little on the warm side for me to be out with thousands of pushing and shoving people all trying to avoid the heat and still the wonderful creations that might be new to this years event.  Once in a while a new vendor will show up with something new and different and really cause a stir, but over the years we see the return of those we have seen many times before.  I do miss the basket weavers that create their wares as we stand and watch.  I could watch them for hours. 

This week, and yes I know I am behind, I will dig up the hostas and divide them and hope I get enough crowns to have a beautiful grouping next spring.  I have to move 9 crowns that are getting way too much sun and place them in a shaded area.  The sun blistered most of them until they looked horrible  in mid summer, but I should have known better than to expose them to full sun.  They will have more shade next year and hopefully be as full and beautiful all summer as they were this spring.

Until next time . . .

Happy reading!
Belle

Back to School

God Bless All Teachers!

I have a lot of children that I consider mine - not just my grandchildren, but nieces and nephews and children of friends.  Here is a run down of the first week of school.

Nephew, year two - Teacher is mean and he hates school
Nephew, year seven (First year teen) - Girls, girls, girls
Niece, first year - Loves teacher but hates school and isn't going back - doesn't want to take naps (maybe she only sleeps well at home and I can't argue with that)
Granddaughter, first year - Hates teacher she is mean and makes me do what she tells me to and I have to sit at the table and do my work
Granddaughter, second year - Loves the teacher, loves school, loves friends (one out of 6 ain't bad)
Granddaughter, home schooled - Oh well!
Grandson, home schooled (pre-teen) - I'm not ready!

Well, there you have it!  It is a good thing that children are flexible. 

Going to school is a big adjustment for little ones.  Not only do they encounter teachers and friends with different personalities, backgrounds and cultures, they are expected to change their daily routines to fit the pattern of school.  Taking instruction from a stranger is a big change in a little ones life, but if they don't learn to take instruction from others, as adults they will run into one roadblock after another.

It is hard to teach a child that already thinks they know everything, but when you encounter the child that is ea
eager to learn and enjoys the process you have hit pay dirt.  Teachers have the job of encouraging a child to want to learn.  Theirs is the most important job in a child's education.  To be able to instill this desire is a great gift to be spread throughout the classroom. 

There are so many people struggling to survive in today's world simply because they were never instilled with the wonders of learning. 

Thank you teachers and God Bless each and everyone of you.  Until next time . . .

Happy reading!
Belle

Early Learning

Is it because spring came so early or because school started earlier? Either way, it feels like it should be late spring or early fall and it is only mid summer. The long lazy hot days of summer are not yet past. Children have been robbed of the last 4 weeks of summer only to get longer breaks in the coolness of fall and winter and the early spring. Those wonderful lethargic days, too hot to play hard, just made for lazing around and letting the body rest before reasserting the mind on it search for more nourishing fodder of which to grow. Teachers have had their vacation cut short also. Are they rested enough to tackle another year of training and educating?

Do they really feed the mind nourishing fodder in school these days or are they just teaching what is needed to pass state tests? Do teachers really enjoy teaching or is it just a way to make money? Who decides what needs to be taught in order to pass those infernal tests and who makes up those same tests? Is the creativity of the teaching professional limited by having to follow so closely the lesson plans devised by the higher ups that are focused on passing the state tests?

Elementary schools of the fifties taught first the letters, including their sounds; then the writing; then the math; then the reading. Writing over and over again, flash cards, more writing - a child would think their hands were going to fall off. Teachers came up with innovative games to help us learn and it worked. We had repetitive writing exercises and worked in groups with flash cards while the teacher worked one on one with those that were having problems. We learned and it stayed with us. We read to the class, the teacher read to the class and we learned that reading was important. The written word was important and that correct grammar mattered.

My teachers knew they were teaching the future of this great nation and what they taught governed how these future leaders would perform. They took their time and did it right. They focused on the learning not on the tests.

Today is the first day of school for a multitude of students. These children are our tomorrow. Parents, help them to understand the importance of learning and how much fun it can be. Teachers please take the time to teach and instill the joy of learning in these children. It can make all the difference in the rest of your school year(s) and theirs.

A nourished mind stays inquisitive and eager to learn.

Memories of Old Friends

This has been a great weekend and early week for me. I reconnected to two important people that have been very important to me and I have carried in my heart but had lost contact.

My cousin has always been special to me even though our relationship has always been over a great distance. I lost her email and have just reconnected. I am so happy.

The other is one of my best friends from high school. My school years were full of inner turmoil. Not my friend - she was full of life, always happy. She came from a large happy family filled with love. I am so glad to have reconnected and hope we can reforge the bonds that made our friendship so special to me even if it is just an email relationship as I don't even know where she lives yet! I look at our pictures and see we have both changed with time - I miss her beautiful red hair, but she still has that wonderful smile. My black locks have long given over to the silver and gray. I look in the mirror and wonder where that girl went; knowing she is still inside and I wouldn't go back for anything. Friend, we have a lot of catching up to do!

I have been able to stay connected to many people that have passed through my life via this wonderful Internet. It has sparked memories, reconnected me with friends and provided possibilities for the future. I love email - I have always liked writing over talking. I can go back to those words and read and re-read them. They don't disappear into thin air or get jumbled in my mind. I can keep in touch with those near and far. I even like the junk stuff. It let's me know someone had to think of me for just a second even if it was to only click on my name. That feels good.

I have much to look forward to and eagerly await my next message. To all you bloggers, keep writing - you may just brighten someone's day.