Since I began The North Star as a way to set the tone for the school year, I have found that I have also changed the way I plan the school year.  While I do spend the summer months reflecting on the past year and organzing for the upcoming year, I don’t quite get the next year set until I have met my new group and find out their plans.  Part of what we do with The North Star is make goals for the new year:  a goal for school, a goal for home, a goal to help the community, a health goal, and the last goal is THE BIG DREAM.  I ask the children, “If you could do anything you wanted, what would it be?”  I teach second graders, and this is a difficult thing, at first, for them to understand - to be able to choose anything. At you might expect, their goals are tied to their interests, but they are also tied to what is happening currently in their lives. It makes me think how important it is to give young children as many positive experiences as we can to help build their dreams!  So, here are some of my current student’s dreams with some ways I can build my year’s lessons and activities around their dreams.  Isn’t it great to be able to have a learning environment based on the learners dreams!

• THE SPORT DREAMS:  I want be a famous gymnast, Major League Baseball player, soccer player, Olympic swimmer, play basketball in the womens’ NBA. I think some of these dreams come from the Olympics this summer.  How can we support children who excel in sports while they are in the classroom?  How about creating a sports newspaper.  Have them teach others some sports moves or share orally what is happening in the sports world to practice oral expression. Share their dreams with the PE teacher. Have them bring in photos and let other children interview them for the Sports Hall of Fame.  There is TONS of math in sports. I have even converted one of our science kits into a week-long “Science CIrcus Camp” with a balance-themed circus performance at the end of the week - one of my favorite parts of the year!
• THE MONEY DREAMS: I want to be rich, have one million dollars. There is some good math here too.  And there are some great fiction stories to be told.  Plus, there are some good life lessons for those who want to be rich - work hard, do your best, what will you do with your money when you have it?  There are some great role models to share, like Milton Hershey.  Get the children thinking now while they are listening!!

Here are some more dreams. How would you use them to teach in your classroom?

• TO STUDY PENGUINS
• TO BE  A ZOOKEEPER
• TO BE FAMOUS FOR SINGING
• TO BE A PINKS DRIVER (racecar)
• TO GO ON A CRUISE TO HAWAII
• TO DO A BACK FLIP ON A SCOOTER
• TO OWN MY OWN HORSE TO RIDE
• TO CLIMB UP A CRATER
• TO GET ONE INCH AWAY FROM A TIGER
• TO BE FRIENDS WITH HANNAH MONTANA AND MILEY CYRUS AND BE A FAMOUS SINGER
• TO LIVE WITH FAIRIES AND HAVE WINGS:  I wasn’t sure whether to allow this as a BIG DREAM.  But then I thought it had good potential for discussion and learning this year.  What do you think?

Have Animationish up and running in our classroom and the students and the teacher are enjoying  it very much.  Hopefully, I will upload a few samples successfuly so you can enjoy our first steps as animators using WiggleDoodleish.  Here goes…  b_fly-21 ,  handwalker ,  heart_1_2 , moon1,  haring_kids The vids were saved as QuickTime animations and have been posted on The Saugus Union School District’s Student Community weblog.  Here are the links to our classroom wiki navigation.pbwiki.com and the Student Community

Notes like these (which we just got this morning from an “art teacher/mom”) are fuel for our journey - and remind US of why the North Star mission is so important.

“I am at my computer with tear filled eyes reading the North Star thinking of my own children and their precious beginning and wondering how we let all the muck get in the way. We move so far away from what is important. It is hard to get back and I thank you for reminding us that it is worth every step. We can never give up. My entire day will be different because of you and I will fight to hold onto your message while so many other things shout the opposite. For touching so many, my sincere gratitude.”

Paul

FableVision recently completed a project with our friends at SARRC (Southwest Austism Research & Resource Center) to launch a book and a film called Wings of Epoh - which was a creative colloboration between Peter, me and Gerda Weissman Klein - author, lecturer and Holocaust survivor whose story was made into the Oscar- and Emmy-winning film One Survivor Remembers.

The Wings of Epoh film and book, based on an original manuscript by Gerda, present the story of a young boy with autism who is befriended by a butterfly named Epoh (”hope” spelled backward). Epoh helps the boy understand that his journey, while challenging, has immeasurable value - and holds potential that will eventually unfold in time.

The goal of the book, film and classroom curriculum kit is to help promote SARRC’s mission to increase acceptance, empathy and appreciation for kids with ASD (Austism Spectrum Disorders) - or any other difference that makes their journey more challenging. These themes are very much a part of Peter’s book The North Star - promoting the idea that EVERYONE deserves to navigate their full potential - no matter what the obstacles. It’s a mission that takes the entire learning community to accept EVERYONE - no matter what the differences - and help them along that journey. We hope that this kit will ripple across the nation - and around the world - and bring hope to millions.

Anyone wish to share thoughts or opinions regarding Web 2.0 and Open Source software programs?

My school district’s Technology Coordinator and Technology Committee advocate the downloading and utilizing of Open Source programs available on the Internet as they are virtually free of financial costs. They believe purchasing inexpensive laptops and uploading of free software programs from Open Source providers saves money and is just as effective as purchased programs in classrooms and computer labs. I have had a difficult time arguing against that reasoning during this stressful financial period in California. Persuading administrators and teachers to purchase software programs is nearly impossible even if they agree the programs are unique and will help students perform better academically.

I attended the recent California CUE Conference in Palm Springs and observed it was dominated by advocates of Open Source software programs and representatives from Google and Apple. Seems Apple is creating computers and operating systems that work seamlessly with freeware offered by Open Source writers and downloadable programs such as G-Mail, Earth, Sketch, Docs, etc. I was excited and intrigued by the CUE presentations and started learning how to use them as soon as I arrived home. These and other powerful programs work as well as commercial programs costing hundreds of dollars.

How does FableVision fit into the picture as the educational technology paradigm shifts into a new direction?

I want to spotlight two other Peter H. Reynolds books, The Dot and Ish, which are very much in the spirit and philosopy of The North Star.  If you’re reading this blog then you’re probably very familiar with The Dot and Ish, but if not, and you love The North Star and all it represents, then you must go out and find them.  

While The Dot and Ish are very different stories than The North Star, they share The North Star’s messages of being yourself, being brave and following your interests and passions…  without worrying what anyone else thinks or says.  The three books are clearly in the same family in terms of philosophy… and no wonder, since all three were written by Peter H. Reynolds!   

I took The Dot  into a first grade classroom last month to read for a guidance lesson, and as soon as one little boy saw the book cover he said “I have that book!  It’s my FAVORITE!”  He quickly planted himself on floor right in front of me, and while the other kids put their materials away and joined us in the circle area, the little boy gave an impromptu summary of The Dot, and then added that he loves Ish too.  

I can’t tell you how many times I’ve been able to put a child at ease about something they’re writing or drawing… anything they’re creating or doing… by reminding them it can be “ish.”  If the child knows the Ish story, then telling them that something can be “ish,” or story-ish, bird-ish, etc, immediately brings a smile to their face, and a calmness to their spirit… and they are most often able to complete their project with greater ease and confidence. 

So, if you’re looking for more resources that reinforce The North Star approach and philosophy, be sure to add The Dot and Ish to your libraries. 

Thanks Bill for sharing SmartMoves with my voyagers and me. I believe “the universe provides” and this learning tool couldn’t have arrived in my classroom at a more perfect time. It’s springtime, and we are preparing for two weeks of standardized testing during May. Stress levels are rising and this program has made our time together productive and pleasant. I have shared the activities and music several times a day with my regular classroom students, as well as students who attend my intervention math classes, and the kids’ reactions have been nothing short of sheer exuberance and joy.

Hello everyone in the North Star Community!  It is Spring Break, and I am doing all the things I never have time to do, like writing blog posts. (OK, I’d rather be on a beach in Mexico!!)  My “North Star” focus this year in my classroom has been my students’ BIG DREAMS.  This is the second year I have included big dreams as part of our goals for the year.  The big dreams have become part of our discussions and even part of our lessons and projects, which has been amazingly fun and worthwhile. 

For seven years, I have also been following the Iditarod dog sled race that takes place in Alaska beginning the first Saturday in March each year.  Thanks to the fantastic people who run the Iditarod and the amazing the Web site http://www.iditarod.com/, this event is a perfect way to integrate standards-based activities with pure and simple fun.  The activities I do with my class related to the Iditarod create more energy and excitement among the children AND their families than anything else I do.  There is also a sense a community that develops as previous students and parents check in to see how the race is going and to let us know that they are following as well. I am not at all a sports fanatic, but I sort-of stumbled upon the Iditarod as I was doing research years ago for a project for college. I guess dog sled racing is not as popular a sport as football or basketball, but for those of us who get “hooked” it has all the excitement and drama that you could want. 

So what does this have to do with the North Star Community and big dreams?  Well, because of the way the Iditarod Web site is set up, viewers get to really know the mushers (racers), their lives, families and dreams.  The Iditarod race takes about nine days or more to complete, and you have to really want reach this goal get involved in it.  It is one of the lessons that you can use with children as they track the mushers each day and read about what is going on during the race.  Also, there are certain mushers with inspirational stories.  Once the children (or adults) connect with the race and the mushers, they appreciate these inspirational stories on a different level.  This year, for example, I was able to share a touching and emotional story with my class that had special meaning to them because of our own discussions of dreams.  A student in my class brought in some photos that his grandmother gave him to share, knowing we were studying the Iditarod.  It was photos of a former Iditarod winner, Susan Butcher (a very popular winner if you know the history of the Iditarod race).  He explained how his grandparents met her years ago and how she does not race anymore.  He explained that she now trains dogs in Alaska.  I knew that unfortunately Susan Butcher had died two summers ago after a fierce battle with cancer.  The Iditarod community shared her story via the Web site and continues to share information about her family.  I decided that I should tell the class, which I did.  Luckily, a few days later, I was able to share this fantastic story with them, and I could really tell that they connected with her and what what the article was saying, as if it was written directly to them.  Here is the link: http://www.iditarod.com/teachers/news/story_553.html. The article talks about having big dreams but it also talks about making a difference through the small things we do each day.  This was perfect connection for my students because another part of their goals for the year are making a difference in their community (they cut out the North Star and listed on the star points five goals for the year:  big dream, community goal, school goal, family goal, healthy goal).  

If you have never followed the Iditarod, I encourge you to check it out. The race is just about over - but it’s not over until the last musher crosses the finish line (which is days after the first musher crosses the finish line - another great lesson!!  Each of my students track a musher, and it was such a refreshing thing to have a young child excited for his musher who was in 78th place but then was in 71st place!!!) Start going through the site now and then you have until next year to get ready. There is TONS of info.  And, once the race is over for this year, the countdown starts for next year!  I’m already excited!!!

It is one thing to have activities in the classroom.  That is important and worthwhile.  But, when the children can see that what we are doing matches what is going on outside our school and that we are connected to the “real world” I  think it makes sense to them at a different level.  We are fortunate to have the technology to allow for more of these connections to happen.

KEEP CONNECTING!!!

Maryann

(ps - If anyone is interested in seeing some of what we do with the Iditarod in the classroom, click on www.crsd.org\molishus and click 2008 Iditarod Race from the left navigation bar.)

Watching a video by Randy Pausch called the “Last Lecture,” I was struck by a quote, “I’m a professor, there should be some lessons learned and how you can use the stuff you hear today to achieve your dreams or enable the dreams of others. And as you get older, you may find that “enabling the dreams of others” thing is even more fun.”

It seems to me that this man, nearing the end of a spectacular and short life, really describes my feelings about the North Star Community. Not only am I following my North Star, I am working daily to “enable the dreams of others.”

Wanted to be motivated yourself? Video is at this link

I had a wonderful experience last week. I went to Johnny D’s restaurant & club in Somerville, MA with my daughter, Sarah, who is now 21. She had her “North Star radar” on a few weeks ago and spotted a small ad announcing that Blues legend, John Hammond, www.myspace.com/johnhammondblues, was coming to town. Sarah and I are big fans and we quickly made plans.

The club is small and only seats perhaps 80. It reminds me of a terrific club in Nashville called The Bluebird Cafe. My dear friends, Cherrie Farnette and Jill Norris, took me and my colleague Bill Norris there to hear a few musician jam and tell stories while sitting smack dab in the middle of the room. It was a similar set up at Johnny D’s. John was a few yards away from us as he sang two terrific sets (including a cover of Tom Waits’ Get behind the Mule” which is how I “connected the dots” to JH in the first place. I love the way one star in my constellation leads to another. I imagine that all the stars have always been there, but with reflection and patience, more stars come into focus.)

Perhaps as delicious as his music was his stories spanning his 65 year journey. One particular story had a “North Star” theme. He spoke of being a boy in New York City and waiting until late at night to try tuning in to a station from Nashville. Here is a boy in a city whose own North Star radar was switched on HIGH. Through that little radio came the sounds of Muddy Waters, Robert Johnson, and others.

I drew a picture while listening to him. A young boy playing his guitar. I gave it to him after the show when Sarah and I had the good fortune to be able to speak with him. Sarah let him know that it was the stories that she wanted more of. He said he’d love to just rattle on the whole night sharing his stories. Sign us both up for that.

So… listen closely. Tune in. See what your North Star radio might be able to pick up.