marketing .... in class

I am loving the business class I have been taking. It is good for me on so many levels.

Yesterday's class was given by Kathy McAfee, The Marketing Motivator. She was so great, and yes, very motivating. Her presentation was fabulous and inspiring. I am looking forward to attending some of her workshops.

I really want to keep going with my community center and keep energy going with it even though it is not what I am doing for the class. I do feel that it is really what I need to be doing, and that so much of my last 10 years has been leading toward it. I need to hook up with more people, but so far so many people are interested. Just need to find the right partner. Will write more at some point about it, as it just draws me more and more. It really seems right in many ways.

For now, school is really good, and I think it will keep me on my path......
good energy.......

change for Eli

things have been a bit crazed around here lately- mostly due to the fact that we have had to pull Eli out of the magnet school and have him re-enrolled in the public school nearby. He was being verbally bullied at his old school, and not much was being done about it. He was hating school and suffering emotionally, and feeling as if he had no friends (which he really didn't).

So now he has finished his first week at the new school, and things are good. I am feeling really good about the change as is Eli. We are also now finding that he is academically behind, so I am glad we pulled him when we did! He has been in much better spirits, and seems back to being much more light-hearted and even funny, as he was at the end of the summer.

I have been incredibly busy just trying to get him steady on his feet there, his records transfered, meeting with his new teacher, trying to get the work he needs to get caught up, and fit in the regular ski lessons, grocery shopping, food cooked, laundry done, etc.
overall.... good decision.
we are all happy about it.

pre thanksgiving

Went to both kids schools today to pick the kids up. They each got out half day, and I was able to arrive early for each. I knew at emmett's school, I could sneak in to the assembly and hear/see what he was experiencing for the holiday. I was happy to see all the kids (several hundred) sitting on the floor in the auditorium, watching the 2nd and 3rd graders.


They were dressed as pilgims and indians, and had a whole presentation singing, and reciting all sorts of things that helped the kids understand the history of the holiday, and to show how the school does good deeds and gives back to the community to show how important it is to give.

When they were dismissed, I joined in the line just behind emmett and placed my hand on his head. He turned and saw me, smiled and hugged my arm. "How did you get here so fast mommy?" So cute.

We drove to Eli's school to pick him up, and I figured we were early enough to catch whatever assembly they would have too. We walked into the school 1/2 hour before dismissal to find nothing going on. strange. We waited in the entry, and picked him up as usual.

I must say, I was disappointed. Why wouldn't they do something to acknowledge this widespread non-denominational american holiday? what's up with that?

Emmett's school has each child write down what they are thankful for- participate in or attend the inclusive assembly, and bring in food items to donate to those less fortunate. The kindergarteners have a wonderful tradition of making sandwiches (usually around 800 of them) that they donate to a local shelter to distribute as the homeless are leaving from Thanksgiving dinner- so they have something for the next meal. Commendable and wonderful for the kids to participate in and learn from.

Wish more schools were like this. I guess it is wishful thinking to expect public schools to be ... hmmm.... a good and comprehensive learning environment. I guess it is "no child left behind" and teaching to the testing. And learning compassion and thoughtfulness is not in that agenda. What a disservice this country is doing to our society.

School Struggle

I struggle with schooling for my older child. He is alot like me. Okay, a ton like me. But not on the expressive side. I am fine in this area. He is really, really, really reserved. Unless you get him going on something he is really interested in. Then you can't get him to stop.

It makes me wonder if I can find somewhere else for his schooling that is a better fit. He does go to a school that is somewhat based on Howard Gardiner's Multiple Intelligence theories. But it seems to have gotten away from that due to red tape and obligatory testing (if they want state funding). But he is not happy, and not blossoming as well as he could. And he is miserable in many ways and so often sad. It breaks my heart. I know he is really bright and his teachers are aware too, but unable to really facilitate his learning because they have their 'curriculum' to follow.
I came across the following, which pretty much sums up some things about how I feel traditional schools work for many kids, as children need to learn many things that don't come from a book....

The Animal School

Once upon a time, the animals decided they must do something heroic to meet the problems of a "new world". They adopted an activity curriculum consisting of running, climbing, swimming and flying. To make it easier to administer the curriculum, all the animals took all the subjects.

The duck was excellent in swimming, in fact better than his instructor, but he made only passing grades in flying and was very poor in running. Since he was slow in running, he had to stay after school and also drop swimming in order to practice running. This was kept up until his webbed feet were badly worn and he was only average in swimming. But average was acceptable in school so nobody worried about that except the duck.

The rabbit started at the top of the class in running, but had a nervous breakdown because of so much make-up work in swimming.

The squirrel was excellent in climbing until he developed frustration in the flying class where his teacher made him start from the ground up instead of from the treetop down. He also developed a "Charlie horse" from overexertion and then got a C in climbing and a D in running.

The eagle was a problem child and was disciplined severely. In the climbing class he beat all the others to the top of the tree, but insisted on using his own way to get there.

At the end of the year, an abnormal eel that could swim exceedingly well, and also run, climb and fly a little, had the highest average and was valedictorian.

The prairie dog stayed out of school and fought the tax levy because the administration would not add digging and burrowing to the curriculum. They apprenticed their children to a badger and later joined the groundhogs and gophers to start a successful private school.

Author unknown

Things I think one should learn in school: not everyone can or should do everything. It is good to have some excel at some things and not others... this is not bad! It is reality. Sudbury Valley School has things right I think. I wish he could go there.

Reading this recent article in Psychology Today was really helpful for convincing Adam that SVS is great.

a place to be free and grow

free and confident to be himself

Emmett is lucky enough to go to school in a place that is wonderful. It is a large campus and was originally a private estate. It has been added on to over the years, but has maintained the integrity of the buildings. There is a wonderful feeling as one drives over the bridge that leads up the hill to the campus. The bridge goes over a stream which has a waterfall just to the right of the bridge. We always check it out to see and be aware of the changes through the days and the seasons. Sometimes it is barely a trickle, sometimes it is beautifully frozen in the winter, and sometimes gushing with muddy water after a heavy spring rain. It keeps us in touch with the environment and aware.

As you continue up the hill, it is almost Harry Potter-ish in that it is a large and beautiful structure looming ahead- somewhat magical. And magic is what happens in the preschool part of this school. It is warm, and nurturing and a heavenly learning environment that dwells on educating the WHOLE child, not just the academic attitude that many schools hold so dear. It is an environment that is rich in every facet, and where children gain confidence, and grow as individuals and responsible people in this world, and who appreciate all that there is to offer. It is the wonder of childhood that is celebrated.

With this fabulous campus, they truly take advantage of it all, and children of many ages are frequently seen out and about on the 75 acre campus, exploring, enjoying the pond, taking notes, doing art, experiments, skating on the large pond, watching the frogs in the tiny garden pond near the buildings, and generally being outdoors in every climate. There are fabulous sights all around, that are not stark like so much around us... they can have the beauty of this campus all around them...

these doors intrigue me

notice the roof of this walkway... love it!

I love this window and that it hasn't been changed


comfortable and free to run and explore

We are lucky. (me too as I was able to attend this school too as a child!)