To help encourage conversations and dialogue about active listening and its impact, our topic/question of the week is: What can you do to be a better listener? Be specific. Time for Listening (Week of 3/10/19) (This is an anonymous Google Form)
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The warm sun and bright light on Saturday morning was a welcome sight for sure this past weekend. After a very quiet Friday evening with the kids as Katie was out with friends, we spent the day on Saturday with my side of the family celebrating and remembering my uncle who passed away a couple of weeks ago. It was a day full of emotions and feelings and a centering reminder/assurance of the importance of being present.
- Listening to Josee Vachon perform for our sixth graders
- Reflecting and listening to progress made with the SEL task force and initiatives across the district
- Dr. Martha Murray sharing the work in the field of medicine, following her passion/interests, and the path she has taken with our 8th graders
- Listening to parents at our incoming parent night share their concerns and feedback about potential schedule changes and implications
- Attending the Blake STEAMers showcase and listening to the students share their ideas, pose questions, and convey lessons learned
- Listening to author Matt de la Pena share his story with students and staff, conveying messages about diversity, literacy, family, and inspiration
In that spirit of sharing and listening, I am re-sharing or ‘re-highlighting’ some clips and posts that have become some of my go-tos for centering and inspiration - we have seen these as a staff together and I shared them at our incoming parent nights over the last couple of weeks...
Dave Grohl's Mom Virginia Talks About Raising A Rockstar Child
(8:39)
Won't You Be My Neighbor? Trailer (2018) - Mr. Fred Rogers Documentary (2:45)
Fred Rogers inducted into the TV Hall of Fame
(6:00)
The Imperfect Pursuit of High Ideals
(15:44)
This is the speech given by James Ryan, President of University of Virginia, on the one-year anniversary of the march on UVA and Charlottesville.
Transcript of President James E. Ryan's Address: “The Imperfect Pursuit of High Ideals”
...we can, with generosity of spirit, recognize, as Professor Gordon-Reed put it, “that the pursuit of high ideals—even if carried out imperfectly—offers the only real chance of bringing forth good in the world.”
Taking time each week to ask questions and listen to the answers will help us in this path towards growth...
Topic/Question of the Week (Week of 3/4/19): What is it about your favorite subject or favorite activity that you enjoy or like? Be specific.
- Making and creating ideas in visual art forms. I like individual sport activities like skiing and swimming.
- It is hard to explain, but everything seems to click with it. It is not that it is easy or hard, it is often quite challenging, but it is a challenge that I want to take on. It's as if the activity would not be as enjoyable if the challenge was not present. In a lot of ways it simply feels as if it is what I am meant to be doing.
- My favorite subject is Math because I’m challenged. My favorite activity is to play sports. My favorite sport is soccer.
- I like the people I work with, they make it fun. Like coaches, teammates, friends, teachers, peers.
- I like to play basketball.
- My teachers because if my teachers r good I like the class 10x more
- Acting In Theater
- Acting in theater, since everyone supports you
- I love to play the flute and teach my 17 year old cousin on how to play it. I also love to sketch, and I LOVE going to the beach 🏝! I am a proud Egyptian, and I am really looking forward on going to my home country (Egypt)! There are definitely more but those are the tops.
- I enjoy going to museums and historical sites to learn more about American history. I specifically enjoy visiting presidential libraries, art museums, and homes of famous Americans.
- Creative liberty
- I like baking and rollerblading.
- Hockey or video games
- Hanging out with friends
- I like music because I can express myself and have fun.
- I like soccer and soccer is very fun because of my teammates and I love to play.
- Math and science
- Quantum physics and theoretical physics because they’re really important and are really easy.
- I really like art and when I draw, I feel most like who I am. It makes me feel like myself. Through all the things we do to make ourselves something we’re not, it’s nice to do something that just makes you feel good.
- I like the beach.
- I really enjoy playing the piano. It brings me peace and helps me think about the patterns of life.
Each opportunity for listening presents an opportunity for learning. I always process and grow from dialogue, but it is in the listening that I know I grow. These two ‘ideas’ help me to remember the importance of listening…
- James McCauley from the Riverside Trauma Center shared the acronym W.A.IT. - Why am I talking?
- Adolescent psychologist Madeline Levine’s words at Challenge Success: ‘I’ve never had a patient say my parents listen too much.’
Throughout the month of March I am continuing to share words in honor of Women’s History Month - this week’s are from Marie Curie and Louisa May Alcott...
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Enjoy the week and take care.
Nat