Author Archives: majfoil

Be Brave and Kind

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Yesterday morning I was listening to Simon Sinek talk with French biochemist Jessie Inchauspé. They didn’t just talk about reducing our glucose spikes. They talked about passion, profound work, and caring a lot. I dug what she said about dietary hacks to help reduce glucose spikes, was amazed by the various benefits, and have already started using her hacks. But, I think the most incredible outcome was the stream of consciousness I had after listening, and then the clarity I found as my brain continued to mull over the ideas as I drove home this evening. Do you ever notice your brain working on things without your conscious help? It’s wild.

I was reminded of the way I end the yoga practice with my Kindergartners. We take each other’s hands (one at a time) make good eye contact and then express gratitude and acknowledgement of each other’s awesomeness. I love those moments with my Kindergartners. I’m not doing yoga as often as I’d like, hence we’re not doing as much thanking and affirming.

After listening to Simon and Jessie I knew I wanted to add it back in, but how? I decided to do it as my dismissal ritual. I tried it yesterday but stumbled on the words as I wasn’t sure what important thing I wanted to affirm. It was good, it was modeling, it was affirmation, but it wasn’t a great sound bite yet.

Then on my way home, my mind was wandering among many things and at some point I thought — Brave and kind! Bravery and kindness are my jam — or at least what I strive and hope for — and they encompass so many other marvelous things about which I am passionate.

Be brave and be kind! If we are brave step boldly in the world We are creative. We apologize when we are wrong. We ask for help when we need it and forge ahead even if we aren’t positive we can do it. We problem find and problem solve. We are curious and imaginative. We lead, and we follow. If we are kind we live and lead as our best selves. We see others, touch hearts, and change the world.

Today I posted this message under our white board, next to our meeting carpet. I say it all the time, now it’s written and there for all to see. At dismissal, I will take each of my Kindergartners hands in mine, look them in the eyes, and very intentionally speak the words I want them to hear after a long day of thinking, doing, learning, and being. “Thank you for being brave and kind. You are fantabulous!”

Carry Kindnes

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I had a new idea this week!

Typically I talk with my Kindergartners about being real life super heroes. This year, that didn’t seem to reach them, so, early on, I changed my teaching point to kindness. Our whiteboard declared “Kindness is Powerful!” We posted photographs of ways we are kind at home — helping with the dishes, playing cards with our sister, making dinner with our grandma. Then the Kinders drew images of ways they are kind in our school and classroom. Our kindness exploration, noticing, naming, and celebrated continued through the year in various moments of our day.

Since our focused moved from super heroes to kindness I needed to rethink our end of year art project. While it added a bit to my feelings of stress, it also gave me the opportunity to rethink, reimagine, and try new things. I wanted the project to include sewing, and give them something to wear or carry with them.

A friend had gifted me thick white felt at the beginning of the year. it sat on my top shelf waiting for me to figure out how to use it. For most of the year I wondered if there were any way for me to use it. Now, with the new opportunity and challenge, my eyes and mind returned to the felt. Might I use it to create a everyday kindness carrying bag?

I spent a few days thinking of the art materials I have, and the various ways we might use them — and other things — to create and decorate the bags. I wanted to find the simplest –and at the same time most beautiful and impactful — way for the Kindergartners to work with the material. It needed to be accessible to them, bring them joy, and include ideas and thoughts of kindness. After a good bit of time and some experimentation, I decided the Kindergarten artist could create a beautiful piece of art using acrylic paints and paint markers. We could then sew this into a purse/bag.

Yesterday, I taped the pieces of felt to their artists desks. Their curiosity was piqued and they did their best to wait patiently as I taped the last pieces of felt. As they grabbed their smocks out of the cubbies, I gathered paint brushes, acrylic paint tubes, and paper plates. Kindergartners surrounded me asking for my help with their smocks. Each request was answered the same way — “Find a friend who can help you.” Not only did I not have enough hands, I wanted to them to keep learning that they are capable and kind. If they asked for help, they would receive it. If they were asked for help they would give it. Finally we were ready.I

Joining them at our cluster of desks, I shared the project.

Me: Hey, Kindergarten artists!

K Artists: Hey, Miss James, artist!

Me: You all have been so patient! I love how curious you are. You’ve shared some great wondering and given some remarkable ideas of what we might be doing. Thanks! Do you want to know what we’re doing?

K Artists: YES!!

Me: We’re going to make a purse. (Insert gasps from the artists.) But not just any purse. We’re going to make a kindness carrying purse.

Their excitement warmed my heart. I continued with a few instructions and rules. One of the biggest change I shared was that they would be able to get more paint as they needed it. I shared my trust and knowledge that they could be careful and kind. I told them I knew they would only take a small amount paint at a time, and would be patient, kind, and helpful to their fellow artists. I’m happy to report they were all of those things.

I joined them in the process which meant I didn’t get photos of them making their pieces. But, I was able to reinforce the truth that we are all artists — I have practiced for far longer than they have but none-the-less we are all artists. We each worked with joy and purpose and completed our acrylic painted purse bases. They are spectacular. I’m excited to see and share the rest of the process and product with you as it happens and is created.

As I cut the pieces today — preparing them for the next step in the process — I was struck by the realization that the acrylic paint and felt combination felt very fabric-like. I have altered my conversation with my artists to include this fact. I talk, not about their art, but the fabric they have designed and created.

Sit, Sip, Move, Breathe, and Be

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Have I wrote about this before? Or do I only think I did because I’ve been in this space so often? I feel like I have written about this previously, but regardless, I need to tell it to myself again, so I am writing again. Hopefully, someone reading also needs to hear it, and will choose to join me in this method of managing the perturbations in our lives.

Lately it’s been feeling like work, responsibilities, the never ending to-do list, combined with significant angst, has been conspiring to crush me. Some days it seems I don’t have the time or energy to breathe, be, pause, engage with beauty, art, nature, God, or others. It’s a strong feeling. It’s a tough feeling.

I think perhaps I need to remind myself that, while it is true — I have a lot that demands my time, my thoughts, my brain, my prayers, and many of the demands feel rather stressful — a big impediment to my own peace and time for joyful refreshing things is the way I am interacting with the angst, busy-ness, and feelings of overwhelm. Often I reinforce the vexations with the way I speak to myself and others. Sometimes I fill time that could refresh me, with things that are mindless but not very refreshing.

Undeniably, sometimes the mindless activities are needed, but I know, for me, there are often other more reparative and nourishing things I might do and think. I might take a breath — or many breaths — and sit with my discomfort. Perhaps, I will return to an idea of Thich Nhat Hanh. I will invite my discomfort for a cup of tea, or some time on my yoga mat with prayer. Then, we two will sit, sip, move, breathe, and be.

Amazingly, as I write, my breaths deepens. As my breath deepens I’m reminded that my discomfort and I don’t sip tea or do yoga alone. We are surrounded by a cloud of saints and angels. I like the peaceful party vibe they bring.

Juicy Sentences

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Once you’re comfy, peel its gentle skin like you would a clementine … dig your thumb at the bottom of each juicy section and pop the piece out.

Kwame Alexander – How to Read a book

Kwame’s book is beautiful. The words are wonderful, and the images are stunning. This quote is one my Kindergartners and I come back to with great frequency. They have been thinking about scrumptious clementine pieces that are so juicy they burst when you bite them, sending clementine juice down your chin, and surrounding you with clementine fragrance.

The Kinders are crafting their own juicy sentences. They start with the driest of sentences, and tell only “Who, did what.” Then they use their imagination to say more about the who and the did what?

The juice, flavor, and fragrance of this one got me.

So much to love — her thinking, her writing, her ideas. We’re together, by the pizza store in our matching coats, gazing at the stars! It’s a great place to be.

You Don’t Need Much

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Boy I was tired today! Really tired. Thankfully, Not too tired to put some color on my journal images.

In a spare moment, mid yawn, before I washed some dishes, I pulled out a kitchen chair. I sat on the edge, and nestled my toes against the heater by the flour. I pushed aside a myriad of things on the island, and plopped my journal on top of a folder of recipes. I put my reheated tea on top of some notes and cards, next to a bag of heirloom flour. My pens filled the empty spaces between my journal and whatever was just outside the shot of this image.

At first, when I decided to share the adding of color, I thought “Yikes, I’ve got to clean up some of this mess.” But, while I wasn’t too tired to want to be creative, I was too tired to clean up so I could take a prettier picture. This is life. This is where I found a moment, a spot, and the inspiration to create. It really doesn’t take much. We don’t need a big studio, or even a large space. Just a space that can hold our work, and give us comfort.

As I write about what was surrounding me, I’m struck that what looks like mess surrounding me is really life and goodness, beauty and love. The notes are from people who love me. The tea is deliciously healthy green tea from Japan that my brother bought me. The bag of flour becomes many wonderful food items. The recipe folder has a plethora of ideas — some tried and loved, some waiting to be tried. As I look beyond the image in my minds eye, I see more mess. But, each messy, out of place, thing surrounding me, squeezing into my space — is tied to a blessing of some sort.

So, if I’m any example, and I think I am, you don’t need much. Carve out the space and the time. Push aside some of the mess. Perhaps as you touch it to make room for yourself and your work, you’ll discover your abundance.

Here’s to a 2024 of making space, taking time, creating, and living in the abundance of our lives.

 

You Love Us

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The day before winter break I was surrounded by students as we talked about our upcoming performance and I opened various cards and gifts. One of my Kindergartners looked at me and asked “Miss James, why does everyone say you’re the best?” All eyes turned to me as they awaited my response. Genuinely curious I responded “Hmmm … why do you think people say that?”

There was some chatter amongst themselves and then they turned to me and said “Because you love us.”

I responded “Yeah, I do love you. Do you think that makes me the best?”

They responded “Yes.” 

It’s an answer that gets to the heart of the matter. I do many things. I am always thinking, changing, making, trying new things, talking, explaining, laughing, teaching, learning, guiding, and being with them. But at the center of it all is love. I love them.

What the educator does in teaching is to make it possible for the students to become themselves.

Paolo Fiere (https://civiceducator.org/paulo-freire-quotes/)

I trust my love makes it possible for my students to become themselves — their best truest selves. Yes, of course my diligence, my fantabulousness, my work, my thought, makes it possible, but mostly it’s my love. All that other stuff grows in strength, brilliance, and awesomeness because of love.

Funny, I thought this would be a quick post about the power of love in the classroom. But, as I wrote I was reminded of a conversation I had years ago with someone in the educational field who discounted the idea of love. They declared it was only a word and would fail at some point. I was aghast. Love only a word??? Love would fail! Never. Might I fail, yes. Might I be less than loving? Of course. But when I say I love you, I mean it in all the power it can hold. Love isn’t a sentiment. It’s a way of being. It’s a choice.

Anyway, that recollection urged me to look for a way to put into words what I mean when I say I love my students.

Andrea Bonier PhD wrote about healthy relationships in Psychology Today. When I read her article, I thought about my students, my love for them, and theirs for me. Here are her 11 elements of a healthy relationship (and one of mine). Perhaps they don’t contain the fullness of what my love for my students is, but, they are a concrete way to see the love I have for my students.

  • Trust – I operate from a place of trust. I trust in their word and their abilities. I live in a way that enables them to trust me. I encourage them to trust themselves and each other.
  • Communication with openness and honesty – We communicate a lot — sharing our feelings, our ideas, our wondering, our apologies, our needs and wants. I do my best to model the best form of communication — honest, respectful, and powerful.
  • Patience – Phew. Every relationship requires patience. Relationships in a classroom often seem to require more. I do my best, but when I fail, I apologize and try to do better. My students do the same.
  • Empathy, healthy conflict resolution, and individual boundaries – I’m always trying to increase our Emotional Intelligence. Are we self aware? Are we socially aware? What are we feeling? What might they be feeling? Have we talked with each other? Have we really listened to what is being said? What did I hear? How might I behave because of what I’ve heard and know.
  • Affection and Interest – Love is action, but there is also feeling, emotion, and affection — even in the classroom. Learning to navigate that is a huge part of loving well. And interest — oh my yes, we all want to share about ourselves. We want others to be curious, interested, even amazed. I always operate from the position that nothing they do or are can be relegated to the “Oh that’s so cute.” category. There’s always more — it’s hard work, it’s imaginative, it’s creative, it’s fantabulous, it’s worthy of my time and attention.
  • Flexibility – Whenever it’s possible I am flexible and give choice and wiggle room. For me it goes back to trust, empathy, and affection.
  • Appreciation and if I might add valuing – I appreciate and value my students and let them know. I appreciate and value their hard work, their humor, their thoughts, their courage, their love, their willingness to try, and much more.
  • Room for Growth – Gosh yes, this is a huge part of love. We always have to give others the room to grow and change. We are not who we were yesterday, or for that matter even a moment ago. Allow for growth and when appropriate, communicate about it.
  • Reciprocity – There are many opportunities for reciprocity in our learning space. Learning from one another, doing for and with one another, supporting one another. These are not just roles that I fill. I encourage my students to teach me, to show me, and I let them know that I’ve been inspired or learned from them. I accept their help with grace and gratitude, even when I know I can do things faster and or better than they can. I check in with them often, and I relish the moments they check in on me.

Companions of Truth, Process, and Creativity

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I don’t know about you, but I’ve been feeling weighed down by the demands and difficulties of life and work. I’ve been feeling exhausted, worn out, and unsure. Stress, tiredness, and burdens, are annoyingly loud and obnoxious companions on our journey. They constantly speak. At times they slap us in the face with their loudness, at other times they whisper incessantly. Like all deceivers, they sound like they’re speaking the truth — but they’re not.

The truth is I am weighed down, I am tired, I am feeling a bit unsure — AND I am strong, brave, and deeply loved, with a big beautiful brain, and awesome heart, and some life-giving creativity. So, I’ve been choosing to make time these days to rest, to restore, and to be creative.

My affirmational art journaling continues this year. It’s helping me stay grounded in the truth. Each day I actively look for the story I want to tell myself. I search for the truths I want to save in my journal so I can read them now and in the future. And, I take time to create.

The entries look so different this year. I started in September with a compass, and a favorite pencil, eraser and fountain pen. I love using these tools, and the concentric circles are great canvases for ideas. It was interesting to watch as they developed individually and as a group. Each time I drew, constraints and possibilities greeted me. Sometimes I loved the results, other times not so much, but I always enjoyed the process. I’ve decided to keep the images black and white in order to emphasize design rather than color.

December I switched from concentric circles to ones that are separate or interlocked. My plan is to introduce color into the designs as well.

I did 66 different concentric circle designs. So far I have done 27 circle designs. Will I be able to think divergently — with fluency, flexibility, originality, and elaboration — and create many more circular designs? So far I see fluency, originality and elaboration. Now to allow myself to move from design elements I find pleasing, to discover other satisfying possibilities. No matter how many I make, or how divergently I am able to think, I continue the process and that is good.

I hope you too engage in a process that blesses you during these beautiful days of winter.

Creativity for the Win

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It’s the beginning of the school year, and as is always the case, there is a lot to learn — for my students and for me. This year, the load of learning was stressing me out. The stress I was feeling wasn’t fun, and it wasn’t helpful, so I decided to try another way. I embraced my creativity, my love of words, and my love of singing, and decided to craft some song lyrics and a chant to help with two of my current challenges.

My first challenge is cleaning up. Sometimes cleaning up in the classroom is a real struggle. A song would give me something to do, might lighten the mood on the tough days, would give my Kinders time to clean, and would hopefully be fun. Now to think of a song to use.

As I was driving to work one morning it hit me — the Hokey Pokey! We’ve been singing the Hokey Pokey song ( laughing at the various things we put in — winner for most laughs was our armpit) so the Kinders were already familiar with the melody. And, yahoo, I could alter the words to allow me to sing about what my Kinders are already cleaning up, or to give direction when needed.

It’s a good thing I commute alone, because it took several rounds of the Hokey Pokey before I was satisfied with my work.

We pick some _____ up, we pick some _____ up, we pick some ______ up, and we put them all away. We work together every day. We’re fantabulous in every way. That’s what it’s all about!

We’ve been singing it for the past week, and it has accomplished all I hoped for and more. The best part — other than the cleaning up — is when I hear them singing “We work together every day. We’re fantabulous in every way. That’s what it’s all about!” I think I need to sing that part to myself over and over again to remind myself that yes indeed, that is what it’s all about.

Next I set my mind to a chant to begin our various learning periods. How might I help my Kinders prepare to learn? I love the idea of affirmations — rewiring their brains to believe in their own fantabulousness — but I wanted something with a beat that they could learn and repeat without my help. Inspired by my awesome Kinders, I reworked our usual affirmations into our ready to learn chant.

I’ve got a big beautiful brain and an awesome heart.
I’ve brave. I’m kind. And, I’m mighty.
I can do hard things, and I’m ready to learn.
(whisper) Oh yeah, I’m ready to learn.
2 snaps, hands in our laps.

I’ll be testing our chant out in the weeks to come, and will report back with any observations. I’m going to let my Kinders know that the chant is to help me as well. I always appreciate the reminders. I’ll keep you posted.

Build On With My Parent Questionnaire

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Recently I posted about the postcards I sent to my Kindergartners. It was the first block I set to establish our classroom culture and community, and the first step in building relationships with the families and learners in my class. Wednesday, I set the next block.

To be fair, I’ve been thinking about, researching, and creating this block for quite some time. It’s my parent questionnaire. I considered what I wanted to know about my learners, their parents, and their families. I spent a considerable amount of time drafting the questions. I wanted to begin sharing our classroom culture and some of my pedagogy: the importance of relationships, communication, and positive, affirming language, as well as the power and primacy of the voice of the learner no matter how young.

I’m super grateful for the plethora of educators and educational institutions that posted their parent questionnaires online. They were each valuable to read. It was interesting to read, not only the words, but the tone, and the message that was implied, or perhaps that I inferred, from the way the questions were worded.

After several drafts, I finally had my parent questionnaire set for this school year. My families are connected to our school electronically, so I chose to use a google form rather than a hard copy form.

In a spirit of gratitude to the others who shared their questionnaires online, here is mine. My voice and style may not work for you. Your voice is the one you want to share with your learning community. None-the-less, I hope imy questionnaire helps you create your parent questionnaire in a way that establishes relationships, sets your classroom culture, and helps you have the best year possible with your new students and families.

Hello fantabuous parents! I have the pleasure of having your children in Kindergarten James this year. YAY!

I’m excited and honored to partner with you on your child’s amazing learning journey in Kindergarten. I know we have all year to get to know one another, but I’d love if you would take a few moments to answer the following questions. My hope is to get to know you, your child, and your family — just a bit — even before you step into our learning space.

When you have a moment, please fill out this parent questionnaire. Hopefully it will be painless, and perhaps even enjoyable! I’m looking forward to reading your answers, and learning a bit about you and yours, prior to the start of Kindergarten. I’d be grateful if you completed the form by August 31. Thanks in advance.

Have a wonderful day!

Getting to know you. You are an important part of our classroom community!

  1. Your email.
  2. Your name(s) as you prefer to be called.
  3. What are you looking forward to with your child in Kindergarten?
  4. Would you be interested in sharing skills, traditions, or customs with our class this year? If so, what might you like to share?
  5. What are your hopes and dreams for your daughter this school year?

Getting to know your child. Good relationships begin by getting to know each other. We’ll grow our relationship each day, and this will help us get started.

  1. What is your child’s full name (first, middle, last)?
  2. What does your child prefer to be called?
  3. What are your child’s strengths?
  4. What would you love your child to get better at?
  5. What fears does your child have? (big or small)
  6. What is the most important thing I should know about your child?
  7. Ask your child: What are you really excited by, or interested in?
  8. Ask your child: What do you want Miss James to know?

Getting to know your family. Our families are super important — at home and in the classroom.

  1. Who else lives with you (siblings, grandparents, pets, etc.)?
  2. What, if any, holidays or traditions are important to your family?
  3. In which language(s) are you and your child comfortable conversing?

Anything else? Here’s your chance. What else would you like to tell or ask me?

  1. What haven’t I asked, that you’d like to tell me?
  2. What questions do you have for me?
MAJames 8/2023

Let’s Take An “Oh, look!” Walk

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This morning I had the pleasure of watching a short film with artist Vicky Thomas about being fascinated by nature. At one point she laughs at how many times she says “Oh, look!” I laughed as she said it, because I hear myself saying “that “Oh, look!” over and over again as I hike.

I’m thinking about my Kindergartners as the new school year approaches, and thought — OH! An Oh, look! walk would be a great things to do with my Kindergartners. As I said it, I wondered what we might find as we wandered around our campus. I popped out on my patio for a mini Kindergartner-less trial run.

First, I noticed the many different colors of green in our fig tree sapling. As I looked more closely, I noticed the veins and some sort of white dots. Then I took a photo of some sprouts from an unknown bulb my brother found and planted in a small pot. When I looked at the photo, I noticed something that made me go back for another look and another photograph.

A tiny little water droplet that I missed when I looked the first time. If you look even more closely at the first image, you might see a reflection of me in the water droplet! WOW. The second photo gives you an idea of the size of the water droplet.

Inspired by the little things that I missed on my first scan, I began looking for small wonders. I love the swirls of the unopened marigold. Again, they are much smaller than the photo suggests.

Why would I want to take my Kindergartners on an Oh look! walk? Here are some of my first thoughts:

  • We practice and learn to look, and then look again, perhaps more closely.
  • We look for big things, and then little things. We come to notice the value the second look and the small wonders.
  • We are affirmed that our findings, thoughts, noticings, wonderings are valuable and worth sharing.
  • We discover we are brave enough to share them.
  • We practice living the fact that the things others share are valuable and worthy of being listened to.
  • We notice we are kind enough to take a breath and listen.
  • We learn the importance of patience.
  • We discover the importance of compromise — perhaps a butterfly that might fly away should be shared before a flower that will wait for us.
  • We begin to experience the okness of impermanence. If the butterfly flies away, you still experienced it’s beauty and can share what you saw.
  • We recognize the value of conversation. How and what do you share? How and what might we notice, comment on, or question about your sharing?
  • We get some fresh air, movement, and hopefully a nice dose of Vitamin N (nature).

All these things are essential components and habits of learning. I’m excited for our first Oh look! walk.

Oh, one more thought. Once we get comfortable with our Oh look walks, we can add elements of sketching, note taking, labeling, and documentation.