RIding Up the Thruway Again

Morning Friends,

It felt so familiar and fresh to give into my early morning restlessness and begin the day in darkness.  I tried hard to keep Tuvia sleeping through my shower and prepping to leave, but no luck, we were  actually showering simultaneously and as I grabbed for a towel, he handed me my essential 1/2  glass of OJ.

Just before 7,  I was back in my car, prepping its audio bluetooth for Alec Baldwin’s latest NPR podcast.He could easily keep me distracted for my 62 miles ahead. The forecast for the day was rain and more rain, but maybe just the overcast skies would hold for me.  One last wave to Tuvia, who would never go back for one last snooze, and   I was off on very empty Paramus roads ready, I hoped, to  kick-off our 13th Hudson Valley Writing Project’s  Summer Institute.

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For the past two years,  Tom Meyer has been anchoring the SIs with different co-faciltation teams. As I step back in after my two-year hiatus we will be creating yet another new variation of a cohort.  Christine, finishing up her Fulbright work in Finland will be joining me as a co-faciltator along with  three returning fellows from last year’s team, 3 brand new returning fellows and a smaller than usual group of new teacher consultants. We will be  fifteen in all which is not a bad number for our action-packed July ahead of us.  Maybe more time for us to write and reflect and breathe!

Yes, it will take patience and careful planning to make sure everyone feels comfortable in this new community, but good thing that as I planned my trip to Finland, Tom and I found the time to plan for the orientation days and  allowing for a smooth handoff, Tom will be spending the morning working along side me as we  begin the essential work of creating a new cohort community.

With the exit just a mile ahead and Alec’s interview with Martin Green coming to an end, I grab my iPhone to check in with Tom to get a sense of where he is in his race to join me with the journals, lunch, coffee pot, handouts etc.  In the early days of our work together the early-morning call was a welcome staple.  He is gulping down one last sip of coffee with his wife, Julie and then ready to make his way to the college with a packed car.

Will I make it through the day finally freed of Fin jet lag?

I arrive in front of our Ed building with my pick of spots.  There’s just spot taken by, Camile  already there, waiting in her car.  It’s great to see a familiar face for both us.  She helps me empty my car and we search a bit for an open door and head up in the elevator to the second floor, to a room at the end of a hallway, which will be ours for next week and the rest of our SI in July.  Jennie and Rebecca, more familiar faces are already wondering how we might set up the room.  A U might be perfect!

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Tom has arrived earlier than expected and the caravan begins to unload his car.  So many details to consider. I hang back ready to welcome the newbies who enter with a bit sheepishly, not sure what they are doing here on a precious Saturday morning at 8.

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Coffee is set, my bagels and muffins are nibbled and conversations quietly begin.  It will never be this quiet again.

We wait for a few stragglers and the room is perfect.  The U works to bring everyone into the community. I introduce myself and  we begin with our morning ritual, Writing into the Day with an short article by writer Ken Haruf about how writers write. And we all write about how we, writers write for 15 minutes.  It’s the most wonderful silence I know. I’ve remembered my bells. We come out of our writing to  share in pairs.  I make sure to share someone new, it’s  Kenneth a wonderfully interesting and thoughtful person-writer.  It’s an interesting conversation about his need to incubate his thoughts in writing.  I focus on my issues with writing as a lefty- why it was so easy for me to give up the pen for the computer keyboard.

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A full swift sharing as each new SI member  shares the essence of that first writing in a brand new HVWP gifted  journal.

We have invited Elaine,  a teacher consultant from last summer’s SI to present her workshop on the power of using blocks and writing.

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I’ve seen her present this workshop before and yes, it’s a wonderful way to kick off the this SI.  Tom anchors the discussion as the group is introduced to  the Teacher Inquiry Workshop strand.  This is always the most challenging of all our challenges and no matter how clear it seems I know that it will be tough for the new members.  I’m wondering if pairing up our returning fellows with each newbie will be effective. It’s worth a try and the smaller numbers allow for it.

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I’m wondering too how we deal with the question now an issue, how can take something from this workshop, all workshops, back into their classrooms?  What power do they still have over what they teach?  How they teach? One of our new members, a  3rd grade teacher shares that because there isn’t enough funds to offer all teachers blocks, those that have a set has lost them in her school.

I’m wondering how we stay positive and supportive in this reformed world of school.

Tom leaves as we begin lunch.  A few housekeeping details and   we have just one activity scheduled for the afternoon. Heather leads an modeling introducing the reading strand with key National Writing Project text, Because Writing Matters, published in 2006.

As we read the introduction together, I’m wondering what others a thinking about a text written before the recent changes in public education.  I hope there’s a update in the works.  We all need it.

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It’a good day, a really good day even though by the end of that day I can’t see straight.  Jet Lag is still with me and the skies have opened sending down some powerful showers.  But I pack up, share last goodbyes and head for home.

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Yes, this will be a good one, a great one when I get my mo-jo totally working. :)

Categories: SI 2013 | Tags: | 12 Comments

Home and Happy

Morning from Nyack,

I arrived home from Finland on Tuesday afternoon with a stop at the Suburban Diner for chicken soup. First night in Paramus but as Tuvia headed out to work the next morning I lugged my overweight bags into my waiting car and headed back to my place in the pouring  rain which was fine. By the time I stopped at my ShopRite for essentials to fill my refrigerator, there was a pause in the downpour. I couldn’t wait to plop down on my comfy couch and stay there for the whole day, another?  Before another rain burst I had my car unpacked in just two trips. I had my groceries put away and my luggage emptied with the usual piles of dirty clothes to make their way into the washer/dryer during the course of the day.  Maybe somethings didn’t need the wash and dry but how could it hurt.

Slowly, slowly,  everything was back in its place and my portable external hard drive with my freshly filmed interview videos landed a prime spot on the coffee table.  But my head was spinning, my eyes aching and I was officially feeling jet lag. Yes, I remembered it.

On  that first day home I did almost nothing beyond the clean up.   I passively caught up on mail, email, my favorite TV shows, and dozed and pretty much did exactly the same thing yesterday with a wake up at 3 and coffee at 3:30AM for the day.  On day 2 I couldn’t just veg. I caught up with Andrea, got a visit from Masas the super who came to check my balcony that was painted while I was gone and I did some planning for our upcoming HVWP SI Orientation on Saturday.  And finally,  I grabbed up that external hard drive calling to me and I opened it and started watching the teacher videos from Finland, creating a work flow on Final Cut and even though I was in the moment for all the conversations, it felt like I was hearing them for the first time.  It was exciting!  Of course I didn’t get through them all.  Just not enough focus quite yet and I took time to back them up on yet another hard drive and I took time to find some classroom photos for our documentary plan.

Another day of rain was welcomed to just love my couch and walk my apartment, my tree house over the Hudson.

Looks like today will be a perfect one to venture out into my NY/NJ world.  Back to the gym at 9:30, a conference call with our HVWP leadership team, maybe a chat with my buddy, Joseph, dinner tonight in Hoboken with Mihael, Mia, Ami and Adi.

It’s feeling good to be back home and slowly reflect on my adventures in Finland.

Good to hear the birds and feel like my winter pjs need to be replaced.  I’m home. :)

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Categories: Uncategorized | 7 Comments

Tampere, Finland, Last Full Day: Slice of Life Tuesdays

Yes, I’ve been away from my blog. I have a few starts leading up to my departure from home. I started posts about my excitement and planning for the trip but I could never stay with it to the end. And now I’m here and I’ve been here long enough to lose track of how long I’ve been here :) but I know that last night I slept through the night after a great conversation with Christine that started to anchor us with all that we have been gathering for the last 3 days.

I arrived on Wednesday morning and found my way to the correct bus stop and waited with a cup of drinkable Starbucks from the only Starbucks in Finland. I don’t ever go crazy for Starbucks but for Christine, I had four pounds of it packed tightly in the suitcase from home. It was sunny and the bus ride of 2 hours+ gave me time to see a bit of the country and snooze. I wondered if I could keep up the pace of Christine’s schedule once I got to her town of Tampere. I had no clue how to correctly pronounce it and I wasn’t sure how close we were, but I now could call her safely on my A T and T Traveler Minutes.

Just as the bus entered the station, yes, we had arrived. Christine was hangin’ right at the stop and again, I left my post for time to get my Finn Feet anchored and yes, I’m anchored just before the country joins with other socialist countries in Europe to celebrate May Day tomorrow. Actually, the fun begins tonight and it’s up to the weather, whether or not we join in. Of course, we did buy an extra bottle of wine. Alcohol is essential for this holiday.

It’s been a challenge taking on the weather that moves from rain, to sunshine, to snow showers, to wind and rain and back again…Not much spring here yet but it’s good to know that back home, it’s officially Spring and as we get off the plane I can finally officially shed my winter skins.

But enough complaining. It’s been wonderful getting to peel back the miracle that’s Finnish education. No miracle, just patient and thoughtful planning and more than that of course. It’s complicated and it was good to keep digesting each visit we made in the last week. I can’t wait to get home and keep chewing all that I’ve seen and documented. I couldn’t have done it without my door opener, Christine, Fulbright Educator, who gave us a chance to see for ourselves.

Tomorrow, as we enjoy May 1st here in Tampere in the morning and later in Helsinki, we have one more school to visit and I will get ready to welcome Tuvia for the last leg of this vacation. Just a few days of tourist and then home to race into the HVWP Summer Institute Orientations, the final projects at Highland Falls and Jack at Dover.

I’ll say goodbye to Christine and our face-to-face adventures and wait for her return in June with more insights than ever.

I’m so glad I’m here even with the crazy weather.

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Categories: Finland | Tags: , | 13 Comments

Made with Love: Slice of Life Tuesday

Morning Slicers,

I’m just back from a wedding weekend and once my video was shown as the kick off to the event, I was breathing comfortably again.  So I’m going to share it here.  It’s close to 15 minutes and if you have a few minutes, I’d love to hear if it works for a universal audience.

Watch it all, skip around… all up to you.  No pressure.

 

I loved the process as usual,

Bonnie

 

 

Categories: Uncategorized | Tags: , , | 12 Comments

Wedding Prep: Arun #4

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Wedding Prep: Arun #4
Wires
first and
then clothes? My
freedom from tradition
offers a new challenge.
Yes,
the dress
mattered, but
the camera is
even more central.
I
wear the
dress, but the
camera is my ticket
to significance.
An Arun is a fifteen-line poem in three sets of five lines.  Each set of five lines follows the same syllable structure: starting with one syllable and increasing by one (1/2/3/4/5 — 3x).
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Loss: Arun #3

Loss

I
always
wondered what
loss would feel like
and now I live it.
But
I am
not alone
in my loss and
that is almost enough.
In
the windy
sunshine friends joined
us as we uncovered
your stone in prayer.

 

Categories: Uncategorized | Tags: , | 3 Comments

Another Arun?: The Unveiling

 

Unveiling

I
hold you
in my head
As I prepare
for a formal visit.
We
come To
honor you
today with your
stone placed on top
of the ground,for now.
Too
cold, wet,
Dad will take
charge of your plot.
I can’t find you there.
I
hold you
in my head
and in my heart,
and wish you might hear
my call one more time.
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Categories: Uncategorized | Tags: , , | 5 Comments

Head Cold in an Arun: A Tuesday Slice

 

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If it’s April, it’s Poetry Month and I wasn’t planning to write a poem, but I did stop by Stacie’s blog and I wasn’t surprised to find a delicious poem with a challenging structure… and I’m going to take the plunge today. Okay?

 

 

This is an Arun: fifteen lines, each set of five lines starts with one syllable and increases by one (1/2/3/4/5 — 3x)

I
am plagued
by attacking germs
that won’t leave me
in peace.
Living
Half Stuffed
I sink into leather
With Soup and Matzah
Sleep to a movie
And Try Patience
Praying
It’s gone
When I wake
But no, there’s more
More, is it less?
I can’t tell.
That was fun.  Do I feel better? Maybe.
Categories: Slice of Life Tuesdays 2013 | Tags: , , , , | 17 Comments

Last Slice of the Challenge: Slice #31

Hi Slicers,

I stalled today.  I was obsessing over one last draft of my wedding video for next Sunday and yes, I think I have it now.  I would love to put it up on You Tube after the rehearsal dinner’s premiere but there will be an issue using copywrited music. You tube will catch me  even if I give credit where it’s due. Oh well.

I wanted to compose this last slice thoughtfully, with more pizzaz but it came again, right on schedule: another head cold. 3 weekends 3 head colds… Ugh…

Yes, I did try to dress properly for the last few weeks of this lingering winter, but there were days that the winds attacked me where I was most vulnerable.

So sorry, the energy is just not with me as I cozy up to my man who feels my pain.  I just don’t want him to take in what I have.  It hits him harder.

So  once again I begin the week at a deficit without enough time to concentrate on my guitar practice.  But like my very patient sweetheart, I also have a very flexible teacher…

There is one good thing- if I feel tomorrow, like I do tonight, my periodontal appointment will have to be changed, right?  Can’t have someone poking around in my mouth with my head exploding :)

So thanks again Slicers for a wonderful month and see you back at  Two Writing Teachers for SOLT!

Bonnie

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Categories: Slice of Life 2013 | Tags: , , | 11 Comments

A Story to Share: Slice #30

There’s just one last slice to compose for tomorrow.  No pressure of course, but boy this has been a wonderful challenge.

Funny, this is the story that I was planning to write and share today but  Manda’s wedding video took center stage.

Now I’m free to recreate this morning as I was coming to the end of my gym workout with my trainer, Anthony.  My arms were killing me and both of us moved to a favorite leg machine to end a very productive hour.

Just next to us, another trainer was working with his client.  It was clear that Anthony was friendly with the smiling PT and after a bit of small talk he turned to me.

“Ms. Kaplan, you were my 8th grade English teacher.” Still smiling, and you don’t recognize me, Carl? Carl Helstead?

“Carl? You don’t look like that sweet, small 8th grade boy.”

Carl, I couldn’t stop beaming at him.  Lucky for me I have been in touch with lots of my former students on Face Book and just because I still live in the county and visit my hometown where I started my career.  And I am always happy to meet up with my past.

But Carl, was a bonus.  A really wonderful student, usually happy to be in class, actively engaged, bright, creative and kind to everyone. But if I hadn’t pushed him, he would have never signed up  for my Drama elective in the fall of the next year.  He was not a theater kid and even though he loved the class, that was as much theater study as he probably ever had.

He remembered the details I confessed were not with me anymore, but it was so wonderful to see the boy I loved being with now a man who Anthony agrees, is great.

I couldn’t wait to ride back home and share this with Tuvia.  On my cell phone, I bubbled over with excitement and he took it all in, happy to be on the other end of my teacher joy to see one so small, explode into manhood.

I hope to see him again and share a picture with you.

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Categories: Slice of Life 2013 | Tags: , | 10 Comments

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