Friday, November 23, 2018

Pilot Blog


HAPPY THANKSGIVING!
I feel as though today is the most appropriate day to launch a blog on something I'm absolutely passionate about: gratitude. (Or would have been the most appropriate day had this blogging platform decided to publish it yesterday when I asked it to. There was an error. And another. If I ever get to the point when technology and I communicate effectively, I'll be over the moon grateful! I'm grateful for other things, as I'm about to demonstrate in this here pilot blogpost. ;)

The thought of branching out from my daily Facebook posts has weighed on my mind for the past several months. I tried adding Instagram and an additional Facebook page. I even thought I'd try doing a YouTube channel! My husband and I filmed four episodes before we realized that we had neither the time nor interest to do the editing the videos required. (And I'm a little OCD about the way I appear on film, so it was gonna take a LOT of editing!) So no YouTube stardom for this gal, and that's SO okay! I've come to realize that I prefer writing anyway. So, here it is, ladies and gents: my blog. And you're welcome, YouTube. :)

Before Thanksgiving, I started a writing project with my third graders in which they wrote about the things they're grateful for: one item for every letter of the alphabet! I've already heard complaints of how much their little hands hurt from writing, and how hard it is to think so much (enter the dictionary to give them ideas!). We'll finish up after the break. Anyhow, I'm also tying it in with the curriculum that covers cause and effect, teaching that the effect is their gratitude for the item, and the cause is why they're grateful for it. There's got to be a reason for each.

So, since I prefer to be a lead by example kinda teacher, and I sure want to have an example to show my kids when we get back next week, here are my Thanksgiving ABCs:
(Please remember, I teach third grade. You won't be reading Emily Dickinson.)

A - I'm grateful for ANIMALS because they provide food, clothing, and companionship. And the role they play in the ecosystem is pretty awesome, amiright?
B - I'm grateful for BOOKS because they ignite my mind and soul. (Good ones do, anyway.)
C - I'm grateful for CHARITABLE CAUSES and all of the good people in the world who line up to help when others are in need. I'm not only inspired by these stories, but they make me proud to be part of the human race!
D - I'm grateful for DOGS, particularly my Olive. Isn't she sweet?


E - I'm grateful for the power of EMPATHY. I still have a lot of room for personal growth in this area, but I love the way I've seen how empathy changes a potentially dangerous or heated argument into a conversation of love and understanding. 
F - I'm grateful for FAMILY AND FRIENDS who give my life so much rich meaning!
G - I'm grateful for GOD and the relationship I have with him. I'm so grateful for the life and the blessings he gives me daily. 
H - I'm grateful for my beautiful HOUSE. It isn't always clean, it's got some room for improvement, but I sure love coming home to a place that's ours. 
I -  I'm grateful for my husband, ISAAC. He's the very best friend I could have asked for. He loves me with his whole heart, as I do to him with the whole of mine. (In my mind, my third graders are "ewwww"ing right about now, so more on him later. ;0) 

J - I'm grateful for my JOB as an educator. Okay, so maybe I think of it as a career, but job is such a good "J" word! And I truly love what I do! 
K - I'm grateful for KIDS, both my own children and my students. They give me lots to love and lots to laugh about. 
L - I'm grateful for LIGHT! The more, the better. The more natural, the better.
M - I'm grateful for MUSIC. It's food for the soul!
N - I'm grateful for the NEIGHBORHOOD in which I live. I have some of the greatest neighbors a gal could ask for!
O - I'm grateful for the freedom we have to formulate and express our own OPINIONS. I love having the power to think for myself!
P - I'm grateful for both PINEAPPLES and POMEGRANATES . . . not necessarily together, but, depending on  my mood, I'm sure they're what heaven tastes like. 
Q - I'm grateful for QUALITY TIME. It's my Loca's #1 love language. I'd kinda like to say it's pretty high up there for me, too.   
R - I'm grateful for REST. All work and no play makes Kate someone you're really rather not spend your time with!
S - I'm grateful for the SEASONS of the year, especially SPRING! As we head into winter (which I'm still trying hard to be grateful for), I can do so with hope that spring will be waiting on the other side to warm the earth and help her along with her rebirth!
T - I'm grateful for THEATRE, the art as well as a good venue for it. I've laughed and cried and have been moved by more theatrical productions than I can name. I love feeling human!
U - I'm grateful for UNIVERSITIES where people can go work to receive higher education. The college path may not be right for everyone, but I'm absolutely convinced that knowledge is power!
V - I'm grateful for my VAN. Seriously, I've always wanted one. You may call it a lame dream car, but I can't tell you how long I've waited to fit more than four others in my vehcile! And with it, we have fewer reasons to need a truck! 
W - I'm grateful for WATER and the way it gives life!
X - I'm grateful for the X chromosome that makes me, me! Though I'm not a big fan of the song (really? A pound and a half of cream upon your face, dear?), I enjoy being a girl!
Y - I'm grateful for YOGURT, particularly of the frozen variety. Or just peach. 
Z - I'm grateful for ZEBRAS because they're black and white. Ha! Just kidding. That's usually what my students write, so that's a good non-example. I'm really grateful for ZOOS . . . to a point. I'm grateful that there's a location for folks to come learn about animals and their environments, but I sure hate seeing those polar bears in 100 degree summers. But for the most part, I think zoos are pretty awesome!

So I'm a little late to the game here. Thanksgiving is over for this year. No more reason to be thankful, right? Not so, my friends! Gratitude is best shared all year long, especially as we head into the "All I Want for Christmas" season. You can even do it with an activity like this if you'd like:

https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Thanksgiving-ABCs-Writing-Unit-2203017

The power of gratitude has quite literally changed my life, and I hope with all my heart that it can change the lives of all!

A Very Happy and Wonderful Thanksgiving to everyone!

Happy New Year!

It's a brand new year, and a relatively brand new platform for expressing my thoughts and ideas. THIS is the year I finally settle down ...