Let's see...

Today we had a breakthrough in my theater group...

I am so proud of these students and the things that they overcome before they come to school.

These kids have HARD LIVES. Every day, piece by piece I hear more about their parents, their families, what they go through when they are at home, and I become more and more proud of them for the efforts that they make on a daily basis. Hoping that I can offer them any kind of solace when they are in school and that they allow school to maintain as their place of peace and safety...

Mid-October sickness has arrived as it does yearly, so coping with lots of vitamin C and plenty of rest is always the perfect remedy. Happy to see my parents this coming weekend, happy to have a little break coming up. Planning for the future little by little and learning something EVERY day. No matter how hard it can be sometimes, I know that compared to the stress I handle, these kids are handling 10 times more.

ALSO everyone who can should see the film, "Waiting for Superman." It's an excellent documentary about the achievement gap and what educational reformers all around the country are doing about it. Definitely take time to see it.

Tonight I am thinking about KB and hoping her father is taking care of her and loving her, DR and KA, hoping that they feel loved.

Paz

C

Good day for theatre!

Yay, I'm finally seeing something in these girls in my theatre class!

After a jaded last 2 days at RBN, filled with several, pretty serious fights, I think I brought at least 7 girls some safety. I wrote them all notes today and delivered them to their classes to remind them to come to theatre class today, and they all came! We acknowledged those that hadn't come, and how we would feel their void and think about why they weren't with us (they had been in fights, and probably didn't feel safe to stay after school) then we carried out business as usual, playing theatre games and doing spatial and body awareness exercises and reflections. They were hilarious, made me laugh, made me think, challenged each other.

I LOVE DOING THIS. At the end of class, we stood in a circle and touched one person that made us smile, one person that made us laugh and one person that made us feel safe, and they all touched me... :)

If I'm not doing anything else other than making them feel safe, that's a success to me.

Last week I facilitated a group in the Teach for America professional development for first years, and I had 3 attendees. While that sounds bad, it was actually wonderful. All of the participants were happy to learn from me and try new things. They were all enthusiastic about getting into the work, asked questions and we had a great experience together. They gave me such good ratings that I was asked to go to Albuquerque to present to other TFA-ers in the Southwest!!! What an honor! Not sure if I am going to take it but this Sunday I start my first DCA group with some TFA friends/ teachers and I am really looking forward to seeing how it unravels...

Starting to cool off here in Colorado, still some 80-90 degree days, but the leaves are changing and it is pretty spectacular looking outside. Hope to do some things out and about these next few weekends....

Peace and non-violent thoughts and energy to the students at my school -

C