Month: April 2014

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Our Vital Volunteers

You’ve likely heard the saying:  Kind hearts are the garden; kind thoughts are the roots; kind words are the blossoms; kind deeds are the fruit.  We are abundantly showered in daily volunteer blessings at LME with the BEST Volunteers in the MISD Garden!

volunteers1We celebrated our All-Star Volunteers today with a huge Miller Rally, presentation, and special breakfast.  Under the direction of music teacher, Amber Grant, the Miller Singers performed a delightful piece for all to enJOY.  Special grade level “speakers” shared various heartwarming words of thanks while the entire student body cheered on them on during the Rally. Everyone enJOYed the scrumptious breakfast provided our entire LME staff.

Team Miller was on their top game today.  Special thanks to volunteers2our Volunteer Committee who orchestrated this big event…Ms. Cole and team, you truly blossomed today!

There is something profoundly majestic in young learners gathering as an entire student body to show their appreciation to our daily volunteers.  THANK YOU seems so small compared to all they do for and with us…we are so grateful for the dedicated time, talents, gifts, and service our All-Star volunteers and MVPs provide each day at LME!  Here’s hoping you find a way to volunteer soon.  🙂

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TREEmendous advice…

A writer shared this with me today: DSC00396

Advice From A Tree

Stand tall and proud.
Go out on a limb.
Remember your roots.
Drink plenty of water.
Be happy with your natural beauty.
Enjoy the view everyday.

Extraordinarily grand advice from a tree AND a young writer.  🙂

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Spreading positive vibes…

In place of Morning Message each Tuesday, our learners and classroom leaders participate in R Time.  While I expanded on the ideas and activities associated with this interactive campus initiative in a previous blog, during morning walkabout today, I observed a class in R Time action.

First of all, they were excited it was R Time today!  🙂  One of the powerful aspects of their R Time work is not knowing WHO will be their working partner during the actual activity; the surprise element is always fun.  The other significant aspect is knowing their work together will be a positive experience.

As we all know, positive interactions are essential to daily healthy relationships—at home, school, work, church, community, and in life.  positivesThe actual activity involved the pairs greeting one another appropriately, sharing a pleasant thought, and then talking about the ways they share positive interactions with others.  The pairs agreed to a word to then shared with the remaining pairs to help cultivate more positive interactions in the classroom everyday.  Each pair added their chosen word to a class wordle to post for everyone to use.  The conversations and closing discussion simply warmed my heart…it encouraged me to stop several times today just to spread (as one learner said it), “positive vibes.”  Here’s hoping you spread your own positive vibes today…and everyday!  🙂

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Perception and Reality

It’s true; I’m known for saying:  “Your perception is your reality.”  Think about it; as adults we know this to be true!  It was true today when I said it too!  🙂

So…the question was asked by a classroom leader this morning:  “Who do you serve?”  You can imagine the answers shared:  “you, me, each other, our parents, the office ladies (they wish!)”…and the list grew.question-mark2

As these learners pondered the possibilities for who they serve, you could visibly see the connections being made between how they view their role as a learner AND as a classroom leader or teacher.  They realized they truly serve multiple roles in their classroom, thus serving in many capacities (depending on the situation) changes who they serve when.  The real heart and soul of this reality today though was each child’s eagerness and willingness to SERVE!  🙂

In his powerful book, One Word, Jon Gordon writes about finding that one word each year to live by fully each day.  As back in August, my word this year is SERVE.  I do my personal best to SERVE.  Some days I’m highly successful; some days I need to do better.  The word came to me in a whisper last summer…one of those moments where chills and a calling literally walk along the path with you unexpectedly.

It’s truly remarkable to listen to learner perspective on any given topic because you never know the angle each child brings to the processing table.  Learners engage in the experience based on multiple factors, the least of which is their own understanding or unique perception of a given situation.  It is their personal experience helping to create their own personal reality, thus, their perception is their reality.

This particular class has chosen the word SERVE this spring as a special focus for the next few weeks.  I’m excited to see and hear about their progress…their perception and their reality!  🙂

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Weeds and Wildflowers

Perhaps you’ve heard the saying:  “May all your weeds be wildflowers.”  After testing was complete, I managed to make the rounds this afternoon to visit with some young readers talking and studying seeds.  bluebonnetsThey were commenting about finding “several weeds on the playground and our fields out back, Mrs. Van!”  Someone mentioned allergies and “how hard it is to keep my nose from running right now with blooms!”  Another friend talked about sharing “a flower necklace I made during recess.”  One child discussed the need to “help others learn to see the weeds of life as wildflowers everyday.”  🙂  Obviously, this got my attention!

As we talked on, it became obvious these observers were sharing ideas gleaned from recent classroom conversations and discussions about turning challenging situations into opportunities.  This life lesson at a young age can certainly impact the future for these learners.  Looking at things optimistically (the glass is half full) goes a long way in bringing JOY to daily challenges, no matter the situation.  So…here’s hoping you find a batch of wildflowers along your journey today and choose to help others turn their “weeds into wildflowers” too!

PS – I’m told we “DID NOT pick the bluebonnets out back either!”  🙂

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STAAR Light, STAAR Bright…

staarDay One…state assessment…done!  As we continue this week, we encourage you to rest, eat well, and do those calming techniques that allow you to focus, concentrate, and do your personal best no matter what!  Thanks to all our learners (testers and non-testers), all our LME staff members, and especially Mrs. Bass, our campus testing coordinator, for giving your personal BEST everyday!  Day Two is next…  🙂