Photo Blog Challenge

#Kinderblog2012: Question numero cinq!

Choose 5 objects from around your home (NOT your classroom!) that tell us something about you: as a teacher or as a person. Take pictures of the objects and post them with captions. The real challenge here: the captions should be no longer than a regular tweet-- that is, 140 characters.

Ok. This I can do.  I have missed most of the challenge questions. 

But this I can do. Except the 140 character thing. 

Seriously Amy. You have met me.  

My Great Great Grandparents chose to leave the security of their 
home in the late 1800's to strike out for a new life with their clan. 

He was 95. She was 101. 

All that I am comes from pioneers like these. 

Hunter, Graham, Walker, Wise.  My family.  

Looks like history matters to me. Almost as much as reading.  

My old books are all from my family.  Open an old book? 

The smell, the texture, the beautiful text and covers. 

Two of these were presented to my 

Great Aunt Annie in 1897 for "verses memorized". 

Ah. Collections of random stuff.  But significant to me. 

These were collected over the year after my Dad passed.  

I have this kind of thing everywhere.

 Little collections of specific times in my life. 

My back yard and garden is a haven and a spot to help me recreate (in a tiny way) for my kinders what I had as a kid - a huge farm, a constant invitation to play.  

Makeshift, found stuff, forts and figure it out.  

The bracelet came from a kinder last summer, and it symbolizes why 

working with young children is the only way I plan to spend my life : ) 

 A bit of a cheat here - this photo comes from 

one of last year's blog challenge questions. 

Finally. The photo that says it all.  

A glittery Ukulele ready to play on a piano 
that has been in my family since 1916. 

This represents all the crazy assed, half baked ideas 

that constantly bubble out of my brain that 

NEVER come to fruition : ) 

I do not play it. It is unlikely that I ever will. 

But, I might : ) 

So. Here is to all the things in your world 
that have been, are, and may still be. 

The Rock Stars of Play

So. Edcampkinder reflections.  Meeting some of the #kinderchat dream team face to face in Vegas of all places.   I told an absent Patty:  Don’t worry - it will feel like you are there!  I lied.  Wireless headaches aside, it can’t feel like you are there. She was right to start a counter #edcampkinder movement called #grouchycamp.  It affects you deeply.  

I told Patty that it was weird.  I stand by that.  It is not the right word to describe it, but it is weird.  Like Alice through the Looking Glass weird. And unsettling. And butterflies in the tummy.  Because it is a huge deal.  These are minds you have lurked, retweeted, engaged with, DMed, snarked with, collaborated with, shared Twitter and Skype and Facebook and Google hangouts with.  

But let’s face it.  Seriously. Face to Face it.  There they are in real life, sitting across from you.  Each bringing a uniquely rich and diverse personality to the table.  Joking, sharing, connecting, gesturing wildly, intense, passionate, reflective,  #CanyouSingitSister/BrotherAMEN!

And you lean back and think - these people are Rock Stars to me. And I get to PD in the pool with them.  I get to dump an expensive conference session because I don’t want to miss a thing. I get to lament the fact that I did not spend nearly enough time with each and every one of them. I get to wish more could have come.  I get to feel like I am namedropping when I mention them to others. I get to smile when amazing Principal @ChrisWejr want to be our #kinderchat principal.  I get to meet THE  Lisa Murphy AKA  @OoeyGooeyLady because I think she sees this  #Kinderchat PLN as Rock Stars too. 

And yet, we are not.  We are Educators.  From small towns, cities, quiet schools, massive districts. Engaged in the task of advocating for Play. Many operating covertly like 007.   Over and over, at the conference, in side conversation, I heard the educator’s lament  “I feel so alone where I am. No-one knows that I think this way. Thank heavens there are others who think this way.” 

So, my take-away? Another Just for Me Epiphany?   Time to get fierce people. Time to stop saying “I’m alone” and start shouting “Here I AM! We Play in MY room!”  

And so, if you are lurking - step out, step in, get fierce.  You are definitely not alone.  

So to all of the  #kinderchat PLN, thanks is too small a word.  

To #edcampkinder Protector of Play Rock Stars @hechternacht @LirenmanLearns @MauiMickey @Garrioch @Matt_Gomez @happycampergirl @tashacowdy @Havalah @Mr_Fines 

To our Virtual #edcampKinder crew - it was messy and hectic and amazing to bring you in via Skype and Facetime : )  @mrsmelva @pattymcn @erocklewitz @tori1074 @jasongraham99 @soltauheller  Sorry that we missed connecting with everyone who wanted to. 

PS  Can I  trademark the word fierce?