Month: March 2013

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Leprechaun luck…or not?!

I had the privilege once again to be a special guest reader to a group of learning friends who invited me today.  They requested someone short with red hair who liked to share holiday stories, especially Irish ones.  🙂

While I enJOY sharing a wee bit of wisdom with all, this was a particularlyLeprechaun2 fun challenge today.  The book we chose was The Leprechaun in the Basement by Kathy Tucker and John Sandford.  A young boy, Michael McKeever, and his family are down on their luck in Chicago.  Michael’s dad lost his computer job and now his best baseball shoes are falling apart and it’s baseball season.  They “make do” with a roof over their head and food to eat when Michael accidentally discovers a leprechaun by the name of O’Leary in an old basement trunk (who’s been living there for years) with a pot of gold.  Of course, Michael thinks his luck will change, but he doesn’t expect to meet such a cantankerous leprechaun.  While all turns out well, the end is not exactly expected, but luck finds Michael on the ball field anyway (because it turns out O’Leary was the best cobbler in all of Ireland, thus the baseball shoes get “magically” transformed for action).

Wonderful conversation ensued among the group following the story since many of these learners also feel the pinch of hard times and anxiety in their daily lives.  Compassion and understanding for family hardships teach the lesson of how values transcend monetary gain…leprechaun luck…or not!  Here’s hoping you experience a little leprechaun luck in your life soon…  🙂

Note:  Please join us for 3M (Marvelous Miller Math) Day events tomorrow!

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Organized vs. Disorganized, Part Three

“So how do I discover my child’s real organizational style when the bedroom organizinglooks like cyclone central?  Why can’t my child just use my organizational style?”  Most likely we’ve all thought these comments (if not said them out loud) multiple times…it’s okay…take a deep breath!  🙂  As parents, we do our personal best to teach our child how to organize, usually in the way we organize.  The real problem is our way may not be his or her way and it simply doesn’t work.  Each brain organizes and recalls information in different ways.

In the book, Kutscher and Moran note that we organize with three basic styles:

  1. Visual Organizers:  need to have everything visible; have to see things in order to find them; respond to color, pictures, and other visual cues; remember where things are based on where they last saw the item.
  2. Spatial/Cozy Organizers:  need to have everything within reach when doing schoolwork; need a work space area to “feel good” before they can start work; like to move through dance, drama, music; when the work area is a mess, they are a mess; remember where things are based on where they last used the item.
  3. Chronological/Sequential Organizers:  access information in a set order; think with numbers; remember dates, times, order of things; keep stacks at their work space; look at details; feel messy when the work area is not in order; remember where things are based on the time they last used the item.

Some of us will recognize one strong style in ourselves and in our child; others will panic and see two styles…there is nothing wrong with having a combination!  A common combination we see in school is a visual-spatial style where children like puzzles, have a great imagination, are sensitive to their feelings, and have a poor sense of time.

So, how do we fine-tune organizational techniques?  In the next section, the authors share ways to choose and set up supplies to meet the child’s organizational style.  Here’s hoping once you recognize the organizational style, you can begin to embrace a new way of working successfully within your child’s world.  Just remember:  In raising a child, the days are long, but the years are short!  🙂

Note:  We will celebrate our annual 3M Day on Friday…Marvelous Miller Math!  We hope you join us for the mathematical festivities that morning!

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Let’s go fly a kite!

An enthusiastic group of learners were discussing and writing from FDR’s famous quote:  “When you get to the end of your rope, tie a knot and hang on…”

  • Child #1:  It’s not officially spring, but I think he was talking Kiteabout kites.
  • Child #2:  Kites?  I thought he meant ropes on a ship.
  • Child #3:  What about tying ropes on kites then?
  • Child #4:  That’s it! Tie knots in the rope on the kite and hang on ’cause you’re gonna fly!
  • Child #1:  I hope we get to fly kites again today at recess!
  • Child #3:  Do you think the president is talking about kites though?  He was president during the Great Depression when things were really tough.
  • Child #2:  They also had lots of shipping accidents with ropes too.
  • Child #4:  I still like the thought of tying lots of knots onto kite ropes and flying.

It’s fascinating to listen to learner conversations, how they process thoughts, and where their imaginations take them.  These learners obviously had much to share concerning the background knowledge of President Roosevelt’s upbeat saying.  Their conversation eventually steered them into a direction their classroom leader most likely expected…and just so you know, they did come to consensus about how to “keep on keeping on” when the going gets tough.  They also decided flying kites on this windy March day during recess would be a great way to relieve some stress, so here’s hoping you find time to go fly a kite with someone you treasure soon!  🙂

Note:  Try to hang on three more days…spring break IS coming!

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Rowdy Runners or Runny Rowders?

IMG_2563A crisp and cold March morn met us early for the first MISD Rowdy Run 5K. Six elementary princiPALs (who officially form the team known as No Child Left Behind during the race) took their place at the back of over 750 participants. Thankfully, we can report all made it safely back to the finish line in spite of enduring one of the windiest, coldest, hilliest courses to date! Proud of us, team! Yes, we are rowdy and we are runners (well, some of us at least)!

 

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Miller Style!

Yes, we have a definite Miller Style at LME and today was certainly no exception…what an exciting week (with a full moon and everything!).  🙂

Our Bluebonnet Book Bowl Team came in second in the district IMG_0007competition this morning and we enJOYed lunch out as a special treat.  BBB requires learners to read all the books on the Texas Bluebonnet Book List for 2013 (they also participate in voting to choose the TX Winner too).  MISD then holds a competition where each campus sends a BBB Team to compete and share their vast knowledge (like a Jeopardy Game in format).  Big BRAVOS go out to these outstanding reader leaders from LME:  Natalia, Bailey, Ella, Skyler (team captain), Hannah, Bryce, and staff sponDSC_1352sor, Mrs. Bolgiano (Library Media Specialist extraordinaire!).

Our second graders presented their fabulous program Miller Style to a packed house last night and again during Miller Rally this morning.  Our students especially enJOYed the song/dance number, “Miller Style,” with marvelous Miller moves, words, and actions.  The entire show, written by the exceptional Fine Arts Team @ IMG_0916LME, was truly a hit!

We also had several Kinder friends celebrating the work of Dr. Suess throughout the day–what a delightful way to learn about the wonderful Suessical genius of Theodore Geisel!

IMG_0906No, there is never a dull moment and this wonderful week is certainly no exception at LME!  EnJOY your weekend…only five days to go until everyone receives a much-needed spring break!  🙂

Note:  We hope to see you out at the Rowdy Runner 5K tomorrow morning!  Go, Rowdy Runners!