Restless sleep

Good morning!

Kelly and I are heading out the door for the airport.

I woke up every 30 minutes or so...I didn't want to miss my 6:00am alarm!

Have a beautiful day!

Lyrics I'm Humming:

Bebo Norman's Step Into the Sun (not sure if this is the title)

M'ap Vini

Kelly and I leave tomorrow for Haiti! I am SO excited! My students brought in toys, books, clothes, and stuffed animals for the kids in Haiti. I was so proud of them. They are such wonderful students. I am so happy to be their teacher.

Please have me and Kelly in your thoughts from 12:00pm - 4:00pm as we will be traveling from the airport to Leogane.

I've been practicing my Kreyol and am looking forward to seeing how conversational I will be! I am most looking forward to...

*seeing the conch shells on the beach
*riding a moto
*seeing Makendy and Kinston
*playing soccer with the kids at the school I taught at!
*playing soccer in Destra
*singing and dancing to music at night with Emilio and his wife
*eating mambaa (Haitian peanut butter)
*drinking Haitian coffee with sugar cane
*walking through the market seeing the chickens, goats, and interesting animals!
*visiting Monsieur Duroiseau, the doctor next door

So, Haiti, m'ap vini! (I'm coming!)

Lyrics I'm Humming:

Kote Ti Talona

Beeautiful

Today in class we watched Akeelah and the Bee.

I'm starting a Spelling Bee at my school, so my class watched the movie as a motivator to get involved with the school bee.

My students watched the movie and wrote down every spelling word they heard. Some of my students ended the movie with 100 words written down! Oh my goodness.

I am SO proud of my students. While watching the movie, I got kind of teary eyed while thinking about the potential all of my students carry. Akeelah's story is their story. Akeelah's story could be their story.

I am excited for our school's bee. I think it will be a great way to promote academic excellence in the school. I also think it will be great to have a representative from my school at the district/county bee! I am proud of my students and want them to shine everywhere they can!

Lyrics I'm Humming

I Know I Can...Be What I Wanna Be

Viv Glorya Viv

Alicia and I went to Prince of Peace, a Haitian Mennonite Church, this morning. It reminded me so much of Haiti.

Kelly (my little brother) and I are leaving for Haiti this Wednesday. We're going to be there until Sunday...I wish it was longer. I am SO looking forward to seeing my beautiful friends down there!

Tonight I talked with Makendy and John on the phone. Makendy has learned so much English. I am so proud of him! It was so great talking with them. They are excited to see me.

I am especially excited to show Kelly Haiti. However, I am trying not to put much pressure on myself to show him the Haiti I love. I just want him to experience Haiti for what it is. I want him to come up with his own thoughts and views of the people and the country. I do worry that 5 days is too short of a time to understand a people, but I think it will give him a glimpse.

So, Haiti. I am close! Two more days!!!!! : )

Viv!

Lyrics I'm Humming:

India Arie's Strength, Courage, Wisdom

Our History

Tonight, a bunch of wonderful people and I went to see The Boy in Striped Pajamas. Wow. What a powerful movie. It's a movie about a little German boy's relationship with a little Jewish boy through the fence that separates the concentration camp from the outside world. The innocence of the children created a haunting plot where the audience knew what was going on. It was sickening to watch some of the characters' thoughts and motives.

The Father: The family moved out to the German countryside so the father, who was a prominent soldier, could be close to the concentration camp. He was strong willed in doing his rightful duty to "make the world a better place."

The Mother: She didn't know what was going on in the camp until after they moved from Berlin to the country. The mother was sick when she found out the happenings to the Jewish people. However, she was terrified to take real action...fearful of what her husband and her country would think of her.

The Daughter: Perhaps the most haunting character...We watched her become brainwashed by her Nazi school tutor. Her personality drastically changed. How incredible that people can be manipulated so.

The story was innocent and incredibly mature at the same time. The end of the story is one that left a sick feeling in my stomach.

On Friday night, a friend of mine went to a shabbat service (the Jewish sabbath service and meal). She said that they did a special prayer for holocaust victims and survivors. It's incredible that this history is not that much history...it is in our time. It is our history.

I can't help but think what will movies show about out time in 20 years. What disgusting, inhumane things are going on right now. I hope to be someone who takes action.

Lyrics I'm Humming:

Bebo Norman's "To Find My Way To You"

Ordinary Radicals

Sunday night, Mosaic was showing a movie. Christy and I have been going to Mosaic. It's a great community of people, and I've really enjoyed hearing about everyone's work and passions. The church consists of people living in the city doing justice or Kingdom related work.

Well, we met Sunday night to watch Ordinary Radicals, a movie following the lives of Christians exploring Jesus. The movie documents Shaine Claiborne and his friends as they travel across the US explaining their views and interpretations of the Gospels and Christ's mission on this planet. Their travels explain for Jesus for President might be an excellent campaign!

I would highly recommend this movie to anyone wanting a challenge. It is the kind of Christianity that gets my blood pumping and makes me excited to live! The movie shows a refreshing view of Christianity that I am longing for.

I feel like I am learning every day what it means to me to be a Christ follower. There is not one specific way to follow Christ. The beauty of Jesus is that He is full of grace, mercy, justice, and love. What places in our world do those four words converge? A graceful dancer? Is she full or mercy or justice? The justice system? Is it full of love and grace?

How these characteristics of God play out in my life shapes for me what Christianityis/should be about.

I have seen many examples of how my America, Westernized, Capitalistic, Materialistic, Individualistic culture has shaped and even altered my view of Christ. For example, people in my childhood Christian circles might ask, "Do you HAVE Jesus in your heart?" Do we HAVE him? As if he is a possession that we can own? Is that Biblical language or is that materialism seeping into my view of God?

Every day, I am trying to simplify my faith into a Biblical faith, void of my culture's warping.

I think culture is inevitable to anyone's interpretation of a religious text; but, I think it is wise to see how culture plays into our views and opinions.
Culture even plays a part into our views, opinions, and judgements of other people. And, in Christianity, is there an "other." What is Jesus' view of the "other?" I try to be open and love because it is how Jesus treats me.

Lyrics I'm Humming:

Derek Webb's The Ringing Bell

Eiks! Yuck! Sprack!

Oh my! Oh my! Oh my!

I'm in my classroom and I just feel nasty!!!!!!! I was getting books out for my 1-2 graders to read and the books were kinda sticky...but, I just thought, "maybe they're sticky because of the hot weather..." I dunno! Then, I started to see lots of dead maggots....then... hair. AHHHHHH!!!!! I wanted to scream! I didn't because I didn't want to freak my kids out. YUCK!!!! I then (don't ask me why) kept looking...and there it was. A nasty, dead rat, covered in maggots and nastiness. The hair was all over my books. AHHHHH!!!! I sanitized my hands and am counting down until 10:30 when I can get the custodian to get it out of my room! YUCK!!!

Well, I guess the rat has been found. Mystery solved.

ERGHIKESIJRYYY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Get it out of my room!

Lyrics I'm Humming:

There's a Rat in My Room by Megan Rapp

Look at the Books

Wow! Christy and I spent the afternoon at the Miami Book Fair. So great! We wandered around enjoying hundreds of book vendors. I got a great Haitian Kreyol dictionary and some Kreyol books to help me practice my language! I also got a African-American Tales book for children. It will be nice to use that in my classroom.

The fair was huge! There were food vendors, musicians, live performances, art, author signings, readings, and, of course, books!

I love books. I love the possibility that a book might change you. I just kept thinking while walking around surrounded by thousands of books that it is so beautiful that the written word is so powerful. I love reading a good writer's views on a subject I'd taken for granted. I love reading a good writer's views on a new subject!

Well, needless to say, I would highly recommend the Miami International Book Fair to any books lover or person curious about being a book lover!

Lyrics I'm Humming:

Ooh La by The Kooks

On and Odyssey

Well, today I had a coaches training for Odyssey of the Mind. It was super exciting!



Odyssey of the mind is a competition for students to stretch their critical and creative thinking skills.



So, I'm going to get together a team from LBS of 6 students to begin the adventure of training to compete academically! I'm really excited about this competition. I think it's going to be really good for my students to gain pride in their intelligence and in their thinking skills.



It's going to be a challenge and huge commitment though! We will have to practice at least 2 hours a week, and the students are going to have to expand their mighty minds to places they've never been before. I hope it will be a great experience for all of us!



The competition is divided into two parts: a long-term problem and a spontaneous problem. We have until February 7 to solve a long-term problem creatively and will peform our solution in front of the judges. The second part of the competition is a spontaneous problem that the judges will give each team the day of the competition. The team must then solve the problem creatively on the spot.



Whew! It's going to be a lot of work, but I am definitely up for the adventure!

Lyrics I'm Humming:

Band of Horses "Is There a Ghost"

Wi Nou Kapab!

Yes We Can!

Tonight I went to a great event at Coral Gables Congregational Church. It was a fundraising event for 3 Miami organizations that help development in Haiti. The night was very well done! I was so impressed.

There were hundreds of people packed into the church. In the middle of the room was a silent auction with loads of wonderful treats: Haitian artwork, Miami Heat tickets, surfing lessons, signed sports paraphernalia, books, and lots more! The outside of the room was beautiful lined with tables of Haitian food, wine, and crafts for sale. The night was classy and Haitian.

After people mingled and enjoyed the beautiful essence of Haitian art and culture we heard different speakers. I was just elated to hear other people's hearts for Haiti.

One man, a local newscaster, went to Haiti on an assignment to cover the events taking place last year commented by saying something I find so true. He said, "You do not find Haiti. Haiti finds you." And, I feel that. Haiti is like a beautiful virus...it gets inside of you and just takes over your core.

I just could not stop smiling while listening to the various stories about people who love Jesus and who love Haiti. Another man said, "The two best things my parents instilled in me are a love for Jesus and a love for Haiti." He grew up with missionary parents who raised him to Haiti during his childhood.

I am leaving for Haiti one week from this Wednesday.

I cannot wait to see my friends and family in Haiti.

I cannot wait for the wonderful mambaa (Haitian peanut butter).

I am anxious for the Haitian pop music that blares from the local dance club.

I am anticipating the stench of burnt garbage that you smell in the afternoon.

Tonight reminded me once again of this deep connection I feel to Haiti. I told someone a few weeks ago that I loved Haiti. He did not believe that was possible. He thought that you could love the people, or you could love the culture of Haiti, but that loving Haiti was impossible. He said the country has so much pollution and strife and corruption. And, I thought about his question for a moment. I thought, "I do love the people, and I do love the culture, but I also love the country."

And, I do think there is hope in Haiti. Tonight, we were saying "Wi Nou Kapab!" This means, "Yes we can!" If we take dedication, intelligence, patience, and a lot of faith, I do think Christians can make a difference in Haiti. And, I hope to be a part of that difference.

Lyrics I'm Humming:

Songs of Freedom by Bob Marley

After School Growing

(The "easy button." I let my students press it after they finished something really hard! After you press it, a funny voice comes on that says, "That was easy!" They love it.)

So, after school my classroom has been full of students.

I tutor 4th graders from other teacher's classrooms with reading, writing, and homework help.

I also have my gifted students in my classroom working on projects on the computer.

I've been working on typing skills with them and basic Microsoft Office knowledge.

My classroom is often graced by some of my former 3rd graders as well! Whew!

It's a pretty lively room until 5:00 every day. : )

Well, today we were all in my classroom. One of my students came in and asked me if he could just stay in my room for a while and read. Oh my. Yes! Of course you can read in my room!

So, there I stood. 6 students experiencing Powerpoint for the first time, one little girl practicing her reading skills, and a little boy snuggled in my comfty chair reading Matilda. I stood there and started to cry. I don't know what it was about the moment, but I was just so moved by all of the learning and exploring happening in my room.

I was witnessing actual growth, and it was beautiful.

My students and I were both growing together. : )

I am so glad that my room is a safe place where students WANT to be.

I think if that is all I accomplish this year,

I will be satisfied.

My students have found a place

to learn and grow and take healthy risks!

I love it.

Lyrics I'm Humming:
Bright Eyes "The First Day of My Life"

A Quick Tour

I thought I would give you a tour of my new gifted classroom. I really like how I set the class up. We do a lot of small group work. The students work in "learning communitites" that are composed of 3-4 students. They work on spelling, vocabulary, reading comprehension, writing, and skill-based projects.

It is so fun to challenge these students. They are a breath of fresh air in my school. I truly believe in these young students. I am working hard this year to instil skills and knowledge in them that I know will benefit them in the long-run.


I want my classroom to be saturated with student work. Everything on my walls was either created by my students, put up by my students, or made because of my students! I want them to feel ownership of this room.



Yeah! There is part of my desk up at the front. : ) I roll around the room on my chair though...so I'm pretty much everywhere.



This is my classroom library. I set it up more in the middle of the room, because I believe reading should be central.

Hope you enjoyed a glimpse into my classroom!

Lyrics I'm Humming:

That dang freecreditreport.com song

Veteran's Day

I had such a delightful day! There was no school because of Veteran's Day.

So, I used the day to study for my GRE test and long-term plan for my gifted class.

I met a good friend at Jamba Juice for a nice work-day break. Alicia's working at a school in Little Haiti as an administrative assistant. We just hung out and chatted about life, family, Miami, work...

I am really enjoying living in Miami. It was such a beautiful day today! A nice breeze, afternoon rain, warm evening. This city has such an interesting vibe to it. Driving in Miami, you can pass though Cuban, Haitian, Brazilian, celebrity, European, Jewish, African-American, Bahamian, hipster, and Peruvian neighborhoods, schools, restaurants, shops... I love the diversity and the unique feelings of each community. I think it is one of my favorite aspects of this city.

I find all of the juxtopositions in Miami fascinating. You can be in a million $$ neighborhood, cross water, and enter a housing-project. I have really enjoyed being exposed to a new city and a new group of people.

The more I'm in Miami, the more comfortable I get. And, the more comfortable I get, the more I realize just how interconnected this city is. While driving today, I found lots of "shortcuts." Now, I'm sure these aren't shortcuts to people who know Miami, but for me, I loved seeing just how close these seemingly different neighborhoods are!

Just getting to know my city!

Lyrics I'm Humming:

It's A Small World

Religion Post

Religion. Religion is a word that carries a weight with it.

Some people hear the word and think of positive words: love, peace, compassion, generosity, freedom, unity.

Some people hear the word and think of negative words: judgemental, close-minded, war, tension, rigid, rules.

Either way, it is a minority that hears the word religion and doesn't have any immediate reaction.

Now, I think that is interesting. Even the word carries a reaction.

I've studied and been around people from many different religions and methods of life. Not everyone subsrcribes to a religion; some people claim a method of life like reason or individualism or personal growth.

I like to think that God is bigger than religion. If God is truth, then God can be found in many religions. Yes, I said that. I've been reading a very engaging book that has got me thinking even more about who claims truth. Is truth something that a certain people-group, or cultural religious group can claim?

Christianity of the West's claim of truth is not the same as Christianity of the East or Christianity of Ancient Times. We so often think that our version of Christianity is the only way one could find God or find Truth. I believe that if God is Truth then anywhere we find Truth we find God.

I think this expands our views of other people and our world. I think it makes us less rigid and more willing to enter conversations...to jump on trampolines.

Please leave your thoughts on Western Christianity's claim of the True God. I would LOVE to hear what you think!

Lyrics I'm Humming:

Viv Glorya Viv

Sick Days...

Oh my...I already failed the November blogging challenge. I wonder if there are exceptions for being sick... erg.

Since Friday, I've been feeling awful. My throat is just raw again. I slept almost all day Saturday and am still resting today.

I am feeling better now and can talk without being super sore.

Hopefully I'll feel better for school tomorrow.

I started a GRE class yesterday. I was kind of out of it during the class, but I think it is going to be way helpful. I'm going to learn 5 new words a day for the test, so here are my first 5!

Aberrant: deviated from what is normal or expected (abnormal, divergent, anomalous, errant, deviant, irregular)

Alacrity: speed or quickness (celerity, haste, dispatch, swiftness)

Abate: to reduce in amount, degree or severity (ebb, moderate, subside, lapse, relent, let up, slacken, wane)

Abscond: to leave secretly (flee, decamp, escape)

Anachronism: something out of place in time (archaism, incongruity)

Lyrics I'm Humming:

This Too Shall Be Made Right by Derek Webb

Don't Be A Lummox!

Beautiful Day!

Today was a wonderful day with my students. My students were super fun today. We were all working together, they were working hard, and they were making mistakes and fixing them! It's so great to see students taking academic risks in the classroom and pushing past their challenges. I also met with 3 parents and loved hearing their stories!

My students have a big day tomorrow...the have a spelling/vocabulary test with SAT words like lummox, amenable, and tumultuous. I've been really trying to push them past their limits! They also must recite a poem called "Do It Now!" It's my mother's anthem. : ) The poem tells us not to put things up and to do whatever you plan to do NOW! It's great for my kids to have the repetition of working with a sense of urgency.

The animal stills resides in my AC unit...urg...The smell is going away though because I haven't been using my AC at all. This means that my students are complaining of a stuffy, hot classroom. Sorry students! It's better than a dead animal stentch. Hopefully by Monday the smell won't be as bad. I don't even want to think about what that animal must look like inside the vent.

It's exciting how much I enjoy my students right now. I look forward to seeing them, and I look forward to trying new ways to challenge them.

If you have any great ideas for

creative reading in the classroom,

please let me know!

And, look up "lummox" if you don't know what it means. Fun word!

Lyrics I'm Humming:

Regina Spektor

God is Big

Tonight, I met with my wonderful Miami friends for a Bible/book study. It is so refreshing to be in a conversation with Christians who are real, who are vulnerable, who are intentional. I adore these people.

I have been really struggling with specific relationships in my life. I am trying to reconcile so many things right now, and it is so amazing to know that God is BIG.

No really, God is bigger than me....

bigger than my dreams and goals...

bigger than our language...

bigger than he/she....

bigger than the Bible.

God is not the Bible.

God is bigger than words.

I've been very convicted lately to move from "worshiping" the Bible, prayer, writing, and meditation to worshiping God. Focusing on God in the midst of life, instead of focusing on the Bible. Now, the Bible expresses God and the Bible is an anthology of narratives revealing God. However, God is bigger than I can even imagine. And, I am finding comfort and peace resting in the magnitude of Elohim (the creator).

So often I focus on the details and the small aspects of God that I forgot to see the big picture. Now, I believe that God resides in the details and that God is God of the small things. But, I have been longing for a fresh perspective of my creator.

At a workshop last week, we took Proscrope (a digital microscope) pictures of objects. See if you can guess what the below objects are!

Can you guess what I am?

Can you see the bigger picture??

--

Without stepping back to see God, sometimes I get caught up in the bricks.

I get caught up in the bricks that hold my stubborn view of God.

--

Rob Bell in Velvet Elvis talks of a trampoline instead of a brick wall. I want to be a trampoline that invites people into the conversation of God. I do not want to be a rigid brick wall, where if one brick comes out of place the entire wall falls. The trampoline represents a relationship and a journey of jumping and exploring the God-life.

--

I am striving this week to look at God with new eyes.

To look at him/her with humility and reverence.

God of the flowers and God of the nations and God of the heavens loves me.

Beautiful.

Lyrics I'm Humming:

The Air I Breathe

First Picture: Dunkin Donuts Cup

Second Picture: My dark jeans

Living in Historical Times

Wow! I cannot believe that our country just elected the first African-American president to office. What an incredible time to be alive. It is fascinating how far our country has come within the past 100 years. When I think of a 90 year black woman and what she has seen in her life, it's inspirational. Our country and world are full of institutional, systematic sins, and I wonder what injustice done today will be undone in 90 years?

Christy and I had lots of friends over for an Election Party. We watched the countdown and had some delicious food! That's what I like about this year's election...it is drawing people together. People who wouldn't normally be cheering for the same time are coming together. I hope that Obama inspires a country of service and giving as he enters office.

What are your thoughts on the election?? Let me know!

Lyrics I'm Humming:

Every Move I Make

Election Eve

As Election Day approaches with rapid fire, I can't help but anticipate who will lead our country next. I always feel anxious before Election Day, so I cannot imagine how the candidates themselves feel right now!

My school had a mock election. We voted for the president and we also voted for our own school government! One of my wonderful students won president. I am SO proud of her! I'm excited to see what ideas she has for our school.

Tomorrow night, some friends are coming over to our apartment to watch the results. If you're in Miami, you are definitely welcome to come by! It's from 7:00pm until the results all come in!

It is so exciting to see how many people are involved with this year's election. I love seeing people engaged with their government. I hope that this participation carries on past tomorrow night. Wouldn't it be inspirational if our entire country rallied together in service and generosity. Here's hoping!

Lyrics I'm Humming:

This Land is Your Land

Dead Animal Update

Well...my guess is that the dead animal in my classroom will still be there tomorrow.

Tomorrow will mark Day 10 of having a dead rat/possum inside my classroom. The stentch is awful, and I've had to have class in the Media Center, outside, and in the computer lab. I have to say that it is sad that the animal was not immediately removed and my entire room disinfected. I hope to be optimistic, thinking that tomorrow morning I will walk into a clean classroom. However, I have a bad feeling that it will still be stank. Well, I'll let you know what the outcome is!

Great weekend though! Went dancing last night with lots of funny friends, which always proves to lead to an entertaining evening! : )

Lyrics I'm Humming:

Light of the World

Day 1 of the BLOGOFF

So, I'm taking my dear friend, Brandon, up on blogging every day in November.

So, here goes Day 1.

Quoted from http://www.brandonbarker.org/


"Blogging is something that is gaining popularity every day. People across the world are posting their thoughts, feelings, ideas, pictures, and videos for the planet to view. However, starting a blog and maintaining it with current posts are two separate things entirely. Most poeple have the best of intentions when they register their first blog post, yet for many reasons don’t keep it up to date. That is the reason for BLOGOFF: No “No Post” November.


In order to get back into blogging we feel that some blog owners need a jump start to their site. With that in mind we are setting up a challenge to all bloggers: write a post every day for the month of November. We think that this will get people to dust the cobwebs off of their blog and make it more of a discipline.


Here are the rules:
*You must post a blog entry every day of November (including weekends).


*You may not just reference a photo or a video, there must be a minimum of one paragraph written.

*You may not blog about blogging.


*Getting others to take part in the BLOGOFF gives you 10,000 points/person (points don’t really mean anything, though)

*You may write about whatever you want, however one post a week must meet the following theme schedule:
Week One: Politics
Week Two: Religion
Week Three: Sexuality
Week Four: Money


*If you decide to meet this challenge, let us know and we will post (and repost) your site on our BLOGOFF list so others will read your blog (which will give you more inspiration to write). We hope this is a great time of inspiration, thought, and revelation.
- The BLOGOFF Committee"



Yesterday, I had my gifted students post on my blog. Super funny! I want to give them a sense of technology that our school does not offer our students. My students are so eager to learn and try new things! Please respond to their post. I'm hoping to have them more involved in my blog.



Yesterday was also Halloween and my school was abounding with scary, funny, and bizarre costumes. I was an Indian (as in from India...) One of my favorite little students was a Chinese lady. So precious!



My school infuses literature with Halloween, so I went around to different classrooms reading the students an Indian Tale. It was wonderful! I taught them how to say "Namaste," which is what Indians say to greet one another. It was hilarious to see a bunch of Hannah Montanas and scary masks saying "Namaste" throughout the day!

Lyrics I'm Humming:

God of the City by Foster