Letters from Lisa

1. Fix up and print out the course syllabus for the next section of my class, plus gather any printed materials the students will need to have over the next several weeks so I can distribute it all tomorrow night
2. Draft a letter to my theater kids’ families about bringing in their costumes
3. Order curriculum books
4. Upload all of our skiing/vacation pictures so I can post them!
5. Type up more entries from my Antarctica travelogue (you’ve seen the video, now read about it in slow motion!)

There’s a lunar eclipse happening outside the window, but dense fog has rolled in and so we’ve got no chance of seeing it. I’m sure it’ll be tomorrow’s Astronomy Picture of the Day - which much better resolution than the naked eye anyhow. With a telescope you’re supposed to be able to see Saturn’s rings, but living just outside New York City, there’s no reason to own a telescope. You can’t see anything but the city lights. I think if Mike Bloomberg is really serious about going green, he might convince NYC businesses to turn off their flashy lights for an evening every now and again when the weather’s going to be clear, and then they can throw a massive stargazing event AND save energy at the same time. I’d participate.

Space has become my favorite science unit to teach. I almost wish I taught older kids, sometimes, so that we could get into all of the complex stuff that just isn’t appropriate to delve into with third graders. As it is, I think third grade is almost too young to begin with, but it’s the oldest group I’ve got, and we’ve managed nicely with the resources that we have. Still, this time around, we barely left our own solar system. That’s barely the beginning. I’ve tried to make it very clear to the kids that there’s so much happening with space right now, that we have tools to explore space like never before, and that there’s just so much we don’t know - so they shouldn’t consider themselves “done” with space. I never tire of reading about it (or in the case of my astronomy podcasts, listening about it). If I had my college career to do over again, one of the rare changes I would make would be actually taking that astronomy class, rather than just looking at it in the course handbook and then turning the page.

Space isn’t my only topic that I’ve only become interested in as an adult. I accumulate interests like some people accumulate gadgets or shoes. I have a chronic bookshelf shortage problem, since I keep buying new books faster than I can clear out old ones (and I hate giving away books anyway - I keep telling myself that someday I’ll want to read them again, and I’m often right). If I had to articulate a vision of what kind of learners I’d want kids to develop into as adults, that would probably be it. If you can identify something that excites your curiosity, find information about it, and feel enriched as a person from interacting with that information, that is my definition of successful learning. And, ideally, it should lead to wanting to learn more. I hate the idea of studying something but only learning as much as you absolutely have to, and then forgetting it as soon as possible. I don’t ever want to teach someone who does that. Luckily, since I teach young kids, I don’t think I ever will. That’s a cynical attitude that only develops later, and with good educational experiences, should never happen at all.

Learning is risk taking. First, you have to admit that there’s stuff out there that you don’t know, but that you should know or would like to know. Some people get hung up right there. I’m thinking about this one kid that I know, whom I like and respect very much and think is very smart, but man I wish he would deign to ask a question every now and then. His first reaction is always to sneer when someone else asks a question, as if they just stated, “I’m the most stupid person on Earth for not already knowing this, but…” It’s really too much for him to accept the idea that you can not know something and admit it, and still be respected as a smart person. I recognize this fear-based reaction - it’s the same one I used to have at the thought of people finding out that I got a B on a test. It’s guarding your position from a place of insecurity. But you’re not going to learn anything that way. Things have been hectic over the past few weeks and we’re on vacation now, but I am going to make sure to find time and pull him aside and say, “Why don’t you have more questions on my wall outside the classroom? Think of some. I bet you can’t stump me!” And I’m sure he will, since I asked. One day I hope he will because he realizes how smart he is, and decides he wants to learn. Really learn, for its own sake.

Tomorrow is our last day of skiing for the vacation - that would be Day 5. Considering that I had not been on skis since LAST February vacation, five straight days on the mountain might seem a bit odd. And indeed, many of my muscles are complaining a bit right now. For the past two mornings I’ve been fiddling with my ski boots, thinking that they were too loose or too tight, when in fact it was mostly just sore muscles.

On the other hand, I can now take almost any blue trail on the mountain and not wipe out. So, we’re making progress. It’s less scary to tackle different areas of the ski resort, knowing that if I read the map wrong and end up on an intermediate trail, I won’t be stranded anywhere.

Next we’re visiting my sister and her husband in their new place, and then up to Portland and Powell’s bookstore and my friend Chris!

I’m in Oregon this week, skiing at Mt Hood and then visiting everyone we know in the area (mainly my sister and her husband, and my friend Chris and her fiance). Clearly have fallen off the blog posting wagon for a time, but once I’m home and near my Antarctica journal again, I’m going to start posting more of it. I’ve been preoccupied with creating the video montages and I’ve put together several photo books - and now that process is almost finished.

It’s been a busy busy time at work and a lot of interesting projects are in the works. Will update more as events occur. The biggest event we’re leading up to right now is the theater production, which is March 18th. We’re scrambling to get there - the show doesn’t even have a title yet - but I’m pleased and impressed with my group, and slowly we’re edging towards the finish line. It’ll be a great relief once it’s over!