Practice Laughter and Love

I came across these pictures while looking for some to include with the "Winners Learn to Like Themselves Through Practice" post I was doing on my students' web page.

All three of these girls are among the best in the nation, and perhaps the world, in at least one area. After seeing the pictures of this "Dream Team", Three Musketeers, Tres Amigos, etc.......three words began to sound off in my head as to how they got this way:

"Practice", "Laughter" and "Love."

While pouring a cup of coffee with this chanting still in my head, I realized this was the reason for their remarkable success. As I drank to this epiphany, the words began changing order. They went from:





PRACTICE











LAUGHTER







LOVE








to






LOVE PRACTICE











PRACTICE LOVE






LOVE LAUGHTER




and when things don't work out




PRACTICE LAUGHTER






LAUGH LOVINGLY








LOVINGLY PRACTICE


*and just rinse and repeat as necessary, UNTIL the desired results are reached. This simple formula works whether you're a child or adult, between children and adults, children, and adults.


And most importantly, it works with ourselves. We are humans "being". This takes practice. Nature has evolved through 4.6 billion years of practice. It must have laughed at some of the things it's created. And it certainly must have loved so many of the beautiful things it's loved and laughed into existence through practice.

We, "(wo)man", are universal babies, barely 3.6 million years old. We owe it to ourselves to never give up on who we are, and who we are capable of becoming.

We are all so much more than we give ourselves credit for. What race, sex, religion, nationality we are and income we have has nothing to do with our capabilities. I've personally seen this (or maybe personally seen to it) happen in every type of classroom among every type of student.

So let's practice laughter and love with each other, and most importantly, with ourselves. Our evolution requires it. We don't evolve through hate or victimization. We grow through practice, or struggle. And there's no better way to do this than with the water of laughter and the sunshine of love.

Impossible growth IS possible, miraculous results ARE achievable, and the human species making the world a better place IS attainable.

WE CAN DO IT!
WE ARE DOING IT!

"...You are here....Life exists...Let the powerful play go on that you may contribute a verse. What will your verse be?"
- from Dead Poets Society (you can see Robin Williams' photo in the LAUGHTER and PRACTICE pictures, which he signed, "To Mr. Stuart's class, DREAM BIG!", using a photo from the movie. I'd say he is contributing a GREAT verse to our play. Thank you, Robin!

Winners Learn to Like Themselves Through Practice

It was good meeting you new students and it was great seeing some of the "old" (LOL). Thank you for stopping by Amanda, Jessica, and Bridget.

Here's a note I found written in one of my notebooks from last year. It applies to all of us and is perfect for the start of a new year.

"Winners learn to like themselves through practice."

More Student Bllopers, Ooops, Bloopers

This is especially for all of us intensely passionate creatures, who need to just stop and laugh sometimes (thanks Jessica). I'm dedicating the guest book on MySpace as a show of strength and support for Baby Kaleb, who isn't doing as well as first thought. Please sign if you're so inclined.

Alone we tire. Together WE INSPIRE!

So to help us renew our inner spirits through laughter, here is an excerpt from Richard Lederer's hilarious book, "Anguished English".

"It is truly astounding what havoc students can wreak upon the chronicles of the human race. I have pasted together the following "history of the world from genuine student bloopers....from eighth grade through college level. Read carefully, and you will learn a lot:

Ancient Egypt was inhabited by mummies. They lived in the Sarah Dessert and traveled by Camelot. The climate of the Sarah is such that the inhabitants have to live elsewhere.

The pyramids are a range of mountains between France and Spain. The Egyptians built the pyramids in the shape of a huge triangular cube.

In the first book of the Bible, Guinessis, Adam and Eve were created from an apple tree. One of their children, Cain, asked, "Am I my brother's son?" Jacob stole his brother's birthmark.

Pharaoh forced the Hebrew slaves to make bread without straw. Moses led them to the Red Sea, where they made unleavened, which is bread made without any ingredients. Afterwards, Moses went up on Mount Cyanide to get the ten commandments. He died before he ever reached Canada.

David was a Hebrew king ...who fought with the Finkelsteins, a race of people who lived in Biblical times. Solomon, one of David's sons, had 300 wives and 700 porcupines. Later came Job, who had one trouble after another."

....That's it for now. The Geeks and Rowmens are next.

Technology in the Classroom

I have a theory: If you help others, others will help you. I help Zack improve his learning by analyzing his data.....
















and Zack helps me steal Jessica's chips :)












Desks are still useful for focusing attention....
















And Jessica appreciates the help I can give her.







Analyzing Mahrukh's PowerPoint presentation....










And "helping" Sandeep with his project.

YOU Are Not A Failure!

My job has been done. I can't remember exactly how the conversation went but I do remember being so happy it felt as if my heart filled my entire chest.

Jessica had failed to get the homework assignment correct yesterday before leaving. Even though she came to me, we failed in communicating with each other, and she failed to look at the board where the homework was clearly written.

I took my part in this failure to communicate but saw an opportunity for greatness in Jessica. "In the end" I told her, "you are responsible for your own responsibilities. No one else is." I took a chance she was strong enough to focus on what SHE could do better, which empowers her. When we put the blame on someone or something outside ourselves we give our power away.

Just to be sure, on our way to specials I walked up beside her and asked how she felt about our conversation. She said she was fine. I reminded her she wasn't a failure for failing to do something. She turned to me and gave me one of the most confident looks I've ever seen in a student and said "I know I'm not a failure."

My heart filled with happiness. You are truly in control of your own destiny Jessica. I am happy for you and so look forward to all the greatness you'll achieve in life with that attitude. You will go after your dreams in a big way because you are not afraid to fail. You are not afraid to fail because you don't see your failures as you being a failure, and you are ahead of so many adults who haven't yet learned this.

I am proud of you Jess!

*P.S. For those of you who don't know Jessica, she scored in the top 1% of the entire country on a nationwide reading test. She is truly the Best of our Best!