A is for Xbox

To Own a Dragon ~ Donald Miller

I liked Miller's conversational style of writing. I have also read Blue Like Jazz, which is written much the same, and is a memoir of his relationship with religion. This book explores his relationship with himself, God, and his lack of a father. Don put deep spiritual ideas in a fresh voice that allowed me to hear them again and think about them in a new way.

I have often wondered how people without a father relate to God as father. Miller is honest in his exploration of his own life and his search for validation. Even as a woman who grew up with a father, I learned more about who God is as a father, and that he's fathering me. My relationship with my earthly father is, as Miller puts it, just a "grunt" at the deep, permanent, unconditional relationship my Heavenly Father wants to have with me. Miller tells as story of a temper tantrum his mentor John's daughter threw one night at dinner. She didn't want to eat what John's wife had prepared, and chose to roll on the floor, cry, and ask, "Dad, how could you do this to me?" It's funny when a child doesn't understand that her parents aren't torturing her; they truly want what is best for her (in this case broccoli). Miller compares this to me, when I demand the same question of God. I forget that God isn't torturing me over this job, car, relationship; he truly wants what is best for me. Even if I can't see it; God wants what is best for me. Even better, he knows what is best for me. To quote, "If God was withholding something from me, it meant I could trust him rather than cry out, 'How could you do this to me?'" (Easier said than done.)

As a teacher, I appreciated his chapter on education. It reminded me that I am a missionary in public schools and can show students hope and validation. This is a relationship that again can only "grunt" at the relationship God wants with them, but if I can even give a "grunt" it might get them closer to that perfect relationship. I can show them that someone believes in them and thinks they're capable of success.

______
And yes, I did notice that the last two books I read were both written by D. Miller. Here are links to their websites:
Donald Miller Don Miller Is
Donalyn Miller The Book Whisperer

"How I Spent My Seventieth Birthday" by Daddy Towers (ghost written by his daughter)

Awoke at 6 a.m.
Ran two miles.
Milked the cow.
Fed the 18 calves and loaded them to take to the sale (even "Old Skinny").
Weeded garden.
Picked zucchini.
Ate breakfast (That's right, folks; all of that was before breakfast!) of brown rice, skimmed milk, blackberries and wheat germ.
Washed dishes.
Unloaded elm logs from back of trailer.
Broke up concrete from base of pole and filled in hole on way to back garden.
Weeded in back garden.
Picked squash.
Put hat on scarecrow.
Unloaded 1/2 load of grass from tailer.
Went to cattle auction.
Sold nine steers, nine heifers. "Old Skinny" went for $0.46/lb.
Lunch at sale barn: grease burgers (talk about fresh!).
Deposited cattle check @ bank in South Coffeyville.
Home for birthday pie and ice cream dessert.
Talked to 'dozer man' about hold in pond dam.
Took nap
Finished unloading trailer.
Fed and counted remaining 20 heifers, 69 steers, 16 cows and 2 bulls.
Loaded wood for daughter to take home.
Messed with the blind steer.
Dinner of fresh veggies from the garden.
Tomorrow it's back to work. You can't treat every day like it's your birthday.

The Book Whisperer

Reading is the inhale; writing the exhale.

I knew that forcing my students to read the same word on the same page of the same book at the same time was wrong, but I didn't know a different way to do it. Just the idea of allowing student to choose their own books excites me for next year. I'm going to need help letting go of the control (I have strict rules about how I think books should be treated), but if I'm half as successful as Mrs. Miller, it will be worth it. Can I teach with the common themes of literary elements or figurative language instead of the same book? Will all my students "get it?" What will I do if they choose not to read? I don't know all the answers, but I can't wait to try.

Thanks for the advice, Donalyn,
and for reminding me that if I do what has always been done,
I'll get what has always been gotten.
I can teach differently than I was taught.
I can teach differntly than the teachers around me.

I was definitely and underground reader, what Miller describes as an avid reader who finishes the reading assignment/worksheet quickly so she can get back to reading the book she really wants to read. I hated that in school, and try to be more patient with those readers in my classroom; however, I always feel forced to make them conform.

I think I had some practice letting go this year with J.D., and A.S. (twice). As long as A finished his homework, I left him alone and let him read. The other A.S. stayed in my classroom every day at lunch and read. He would get lost so much in books that I'd have to tap him on the shoulder when the bell rang at the end of the hour. How I would have loved to have him stay and read. He soothed my ego by reading every book I suggested to him, but didn't write a single one on his reading log.
J.D. told me on more than one occasion, "You're going to kill my love of reading." I wish I'd listened to him sooner and left him alone to let him read. He's already a life long reader, and there wasn't much I knew to do to challenge or teach him. He probably read two 500 page books a week. I tried to get him to read The Odyssey while we were studying mythology in an effort to have him conform to what we were learning as a class. He wasn't interested. Now I now know that I s/could have challenged J.D. to read different genres, or given him more choices when it came to studying mythology. I now know of dozens of novels in the vein of Percy Jackson and the Olympians that he might have chosen from. He knows there is hope for me in the future becasue I was willing to share with him I was reading Readicide. He couldn't believe a book like that had been written, much less that a teacher would READ it (sad, I know...). He'd flip to know how much it and The Book Whisperer have changed my attitudes about teaching reading; he'll wish he was in my class next year (I hope; if I can do this).

I will have this type of success next year with ALL students. I won't just let the "good" readers read and choose their own books. I won't just let students read after they've completed all their other work. I won't force developing readers to struggle to keep up with the class. I won't force underground readers to hide their books in their desks and read while they're supposed to be doing "something more important." I will wake up dormant readers and show them that reading is exciting, engaging, rewarding, and social. I will validate all student's choices when it comes to reading. I will share my love of reading with my students.

I will re-read this blog post to remind myself of these ideals as the school year progresses.

Kiwi Love

Both my baby-sister and my sister-in-law are, as the King James puts it, "great with child." (Even though neither one is really very big). In order to keep from calling the baby and "it" my sister nicknamed the fetus "Kiwi." I think it's adorable, and know he'll be called "Kiwi" at least until he starts school and probably longer by his mother and grandmother. I don't know the style of the baby room. There was some Winnie the Pooh discussion, and something about "Vader" was mentioned, but I just ignored all that and painted this:

I'm kinda proud of it. Plus, I feel the need to earn the right to have him wear the "My Auntie is the BEST" onesie I purchased.

Is Google Making Us Stoopid?

"Is Google Making Us Stupid"

~Matt Carr

I’m glad my brain runs counter to Mr. Carr’s assertion that the Internet is making humans stupider, causing a lack of focus & deep reading. He should be glad too, since I read all of his article, didn’t click on any links, remember what I read and care to comment on it. You can read the article here. I cut/paste quotes that rang loudly in my mind with my own comments below.

When we read online, we tend to become “mere decoders of information.” Our ability to interpret text, to make the rich mental connections that form when we read deeply and without distraction, remains largely disengaged.

~ Maryanne Wolf, a developmental psychologist at Tufts University

I think I agree. My anecdotal evidence is conversations with my husband. He is a voracious reader of the ‘Net, & he remembers everything he reads. He imparts to me the articles he’s read, the information he’s gathered. However, quite often there is no connection made or conclusion drawn. We often get in arguments, because I’m asking him, “What’s the point?” and he’s frustrated because “There isn’t one.” He’s just repeating information. Don’t get me wrong; my husband is one of the most intelligent people I know; he remembers everything he reads. I know he applies the knowledge in several situations, but at first he’s just a gatherer/dispenser of information, not a deep reader.

even the adult mind “is very plastic.” Nerve cells routinely break old connections and form new ones. “The brain,” according to Olds, “has the ability to reprogram itself on the fly, altering the way it functions.”

~ James Olds, a professor of neuroscience who directs the Krasnow Institute for Advanced Study at George Mason University

So, you can teach can old dog new tricks. I'm looking forward to continuous learning.

Deep reading, as Maryanne Wolf argues, is indistinguishable from deep thinking.

I again agree with Mr. Carr that the loss of deep thinking would be a tragedy. This is a lot coming from me. I’m an indecisive person who often gets caught up in too much deep thinking. I also value efficiency above most other things. Efficiency is the key to this new thinking & new technology. But think of the tragedy the loss of deep thinking would create. Yes, we’d do our tasks with greater efficiency, but who would invent to tasks? Would they be lost to the goal of efficiency? Learning something new is not always efficient. Thinking for many hours (days, years) about a concept, philosophy, ideal, may not be efficiency, but it can lead to increased understanding & quality of life.

As we are drained of our “inner repertory of dense cultural inheritance,” Foreman concluded, we risk turning into “‘pancake people’—spread wide and thin as we connect with that vast network of information accessed by the mere touch of a button.”

I see this already in our public schools. The Federal & State mandates require so much content that it cannot be covered in a school year, let alone 18 years of school. If all present content is to be taught, we cannot be k-12 schools, we must become k-22. So what is the solution? Pancake teaching, pancake curriculum. We spread ourselves several miles wide, but only a centimeter thick. We have embraced quantity over quality, & in result, sacrificed knowing knowing very much about a very little, & very little about a very much. Efficiency & productivity are great for machines; this country was built on the Industrial Revolution. But while knowing how to make a cog in a wheel earns a paycheck; knowing how to carve the entire wagon earns time with your family, knowledge of a craft, self-sufficiency, & knowledge you can pass along to others.

Comments to the aforementioned article here.

The original article here.

Father's Day

We all know that being a parent doesn't come with an instruction manual, and the one found at Fatherhood.gov doesn't really cut it. Somehow my parents raised me well. I have a feeling they learned how from their parents' example, not a website. In honor of Father's Day, I'd like to share a few of the things my parents taught me.

Daddy taught me (through example):
to love Mama.
to respect Mama.
to respect myself.
to do my chores.
One appreciates what one works for (or pays for).
I'm worth waiting for.
to budget my money.
be generous.
unconditional love and forgiveness.
to pray to God while making the best decision I can.
my daddy is the strongest man I know; God is stronger.
I can always come home.
hard work usually leads to more hard work.
don't quit.
success comes from hard work.

Mama taught me (through example):
to love Daddy.
to respect Daddy.
to respect myself.
to show love and affection to my spouse.
to think for myself.
to ask questions.
that a strong, independent woman submits to God's (and her husband's) authority.
to stand up for myself.
always do my best.
to never borrow money.
save for a rainy day.
unconditional love and forgiveness.
God is all powerful and all loving.
I can do anything I want, if I try my hardest and do my best.
I am loved, and special no matter what.

Being part of this family means unconditional love, support, encouragement, safety, work, and security.

Painted Patio

Last summer, we bought the house.
Previous summer, we married.
This summer, I do nothing.
Here's the first nothing I did: a painting on the patio for a best friend. I set up everything on a Sunday afternoon and used the easel which my husband bought for my 30th birthday for the first time. It was a sweltering and relaxing afternoon. Luckily there was a breeze, and coupled with the heat, this allowed the paint to dry faster. I always hate waiting for the paint to dry. I'd been inspired just the previous day by our book club book Eat, Pray, Love (see below post) which spoke about words. I thought I had a word to describe the aforementioned friend, and when it was the topic of Sunday's sermon, I knew I had a winner.

James 2:12 speaks about the crown of life promised to those who love God and persevere under trial.

I also heard the quote, "Today's mighty oak is just yesterday's nut that held her ground."

Plus, this definition of self-discipline, which is a form of perseverance, "The key to self-discipline is to remember what you want."

They both describe my friend, as does the definition of this verb. Persevere: to persist in anything undertaken; maintain a purpose in spite of difficulty, obstacles, or discouragement; continue steadfastly.

The title of the painting? Mary's Word.

Romans: 5:3-5
Not only so, but we also rejoice in our sufferings,
because we know that suffering produces perseverance;
perseverance, character; and character, hope.
And hope does not disappoint us,
because God has poured out his love into our hearts by the Holy Spirit,
whom he has given us.

^{James 1:12}
Blessed is the man who perseveres under trial,
because when he has stood the test,
he will receive the
crown of life
that God has promised to those who love him.

Ah, Summer!

A perfect summer day is when the sun is shining, the breeze is blowing, the birds are singing, and the lawn mower is broken. ~James Dent

Top 10 List

Favorite Authors (Sort of in Order)
1. William Shakespeare
2. C. S. Lewis
3. Jane Austen
4. Orson Scott Card
5. The Apostle Paul
6. Max Lucado
7. John and Stasi Eldredge
8. Jasper Fforde
9. Jen Lancaster
10. Edward Rutherford

Ender's Game

Orson Scott Card is one of my top 5 fave authors. This book kept me riveted. It opened my imagination to science fiction. Just the thought of training in a virtual life sized video game in zero gravity! And the brilliance of Ender. How he defeated not only his opponents, teachers, military leaders, but the GAME itself. Card is a brilliant writer. He keeps so many personalities believable. He sees the workings of government and the human mind clearly. I'm glad Card transformed his short story into a novel. A must read for any science fiction fan.

As of 2008 there was talk of a video game.

Ender's website.

Card's website.

Scott Card previews the comic book. While you're over at You Tube, if you have spare time check out all the fan created movie trailers.

Eat, Pray, Love, One Woman's Search for Everything Across Italy, India, and Indonesia.

The book club is reading this book currently. It provides some great discussion.
The idea that resonated with me (besides all the pasta, pizza and bread!) during the EAT/Italy portion of this book was the idea of each city having a WORD. According to a resident, Rome's word is SEX. Even with the Vatican right in the middle! (The Vatican's word is POWER). Liz says New York's word is ACHIEVE, while Los Angeles's word is ACHIEVE (both verbs - I guess we American's can't sit still). A friend from Stockholm says that city's word is CONFORM. I don't know the word fro my city (unless it's CONSTRUCTION!). Of course the logical next question is, "What word describes me?" Mary says that she can think of words that describe her at different times of her life, but not one word to define her at all times. I have yet to discover my word. I have a theory, though...