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The Rhythm of back to school

8/27/2014

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It's that time--back to school.  A time that incites a multitude of reactions depending on who you poll. Parents are relieved, teachers are frantic and many kids are bemoaning the end of summer fun.  As someone who's been a student even longer than I've been a teacher and a parent, I can honestly say that I enjoy the energy of "back to school."  I like to think that it really doesn't matter if you'll be attending classes or not, one can still approach this time of year with the mentality of a student.  What I mean is that this is the chance for a fresh start, a new endeavor or a changed outlook.   The beginning of a new school year, even for those not attending, presents the opportunity for re-evaluation and change.  Why not embrace it?

I'm actually a little surprised that I get so excited about the new school year given an early trauma in the first grade.  Let me share my sob story.  As so many students do, I had gone shopping with my mother to buy my school supplies for the new year.  I was especially proud of two big fat pencils, one in shimmery emerald green, the other sparkly hot pink.  What was cool about these pencils, to my mind, was that each had a matching eraser on the end.  Between that and the shimmer, I thought they were pretty special.  As it turned out, my first grade teacher was a bit of a battle-axe. With an iron grey bouffant and a stern voice, she made it clear from the onset that she brooked no nonsense.   One of her first admonishments was to behave or she'd choose a ruler from her rather large pack of rulers (held together by a big rubberband) and smack the back of your hand with it.   Then she proceeded to explain other rules in her classroom.  You were to have a writing utensil every day and as she said this, she moved over to my desk and picked up my pretty green pencil with the green eraser.  She showed it to the class (I'm thinking, of course, "YES--my pencil is awesome").  She then produced a large set of scissors and said, "see this eraser, I'd better not see you using any erasers or I'll cut them off."  And with that she guillotined my lovely new pencil.  I was both heartbroken and terrified.  Her reasoning was YOU'LL LEARN TO DO THINGS RIGHT THE FIRST TIME. Now, I can appreciate her inclination to stress that sloppy work isn't productive or helpful, but really--first-graders can't erase their mistakes?  We all spent the year trying to wipe away errors on worksheets with spit on our fingers. Is it any wonder that I still mentally beat myself up any time I make an error?  I have since used that experience to emphasize to my students that taking risks is part of learning.  We have to stretch ourselves or we don't grow, and that means making mistakes.

It is a wonder to me that given this experience I still love when the school supplies appear in the stores.  I like organizing my planner and thinking about tools I'll use throughout the year to be better organized than ever.  I enjoy thinking about something new I might try in the classroom.  I like re-organizing my closets and clothes.  I like the feeling that here, two-thirds of the way through the year, I have the chance for a "reset". It feels like a shot at redemption.  Combine this with the great weather of early fall and the energy is electric.

So, some ideas to bring a "new school year" mentality to your life:
  1. Get yourself some fresh "school" supplies.  Are you always hunting for a pen, or a pad of paper, or a stapler?  Now's the time to get what you need with more choices in the stores than usual.
  2. Add something new to your exercise routine--like a daily walk (while the weather is nice).  Perhaps get a pedometer.
  3. Take inventory of how you are eating.  Summer tends to be a time when perhaps we overindulge in cool treats or county fair fare.  Get back to simple flavors favoring lots of greens, squashes, tomatoes and fresh stone fruits.
  4. Take up a new hobby or area of study.  You don't have to be an official student to take up a new course of study.  My suggestion would be our Art of Living September Mini-Course (of course) http://www.yourartofliving.com/store/p12/Month_Mini-Course%3A_September.html
  5. Clean out your closet.  Make a bag for charity and keep a list of things you need to buy or replace to put together good outfits everyday.
Get in that "back-to-school" mode and enjoy the fresh energy and approach to life that can accompany it.  As always, smile, study hard, and play nice with others!

Artfully yours,  Lisabeth




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the power of playing

8/8/2014

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Cubs face off, by john storr

I'm thinking today about the power of play.  School has not yet started, and so my daughter and I had the afternoon to spend together doing whatever we wanted.  Her continual plea: "Play with me!"  Why is it that as adults we forget the importance, the POWER, of play, for ourselves and our children?  Play serves important psychological and physiological functions, and yet it tends to be ignored in the daily busy-ness of our lives.  Animal research shows that not only do lots of different types of mammals play, but that not to do so can have a detrimental impact on their health.  We know from artifact collections that mankind has always invented games with which to occupy their time, entertain themselves, and develop certain skill sets.  

Now, let me emphasize that by "play" I don't mean playing organized sports, or taking part in a scout troop, or going to summer language camp, or rocket camp, or a Suzuki violin intensive.  I mean spontaneous, creative, unstructured, unencumbered-by-expectations play.  I was reminded of the difference after my daughter's plea to play.  See I had bought her a couple of "ballerina Barbies."  They were inexpensive, yet I felt the need to justify the purchases by saying to her (and myself) "you aren't going to be interested in Barbie dolls for too much longer, so sure, let's get them."  When she asked me to play with her, what she wanted was for me to watch her perform a ballet with her various ballerina Barbies, including the new ones.  I am ashamed to admit, the prospect didn't thrill me, but I also realized that I was being unreasonable if I said no to her request.  

After I acquiesed, my daughter proceeded to "build" a stage on the dining room table.  Cleverly using my centerpiece and various odds and ends from her play room, she created costumes for her dolls and three set changes.  With the "classical ballet" station on Pandora playing in the background, she spontaneously performed "The Rose Princess" ballet.  I was surprised and delighted by her enterprising instincts.  She managed to convey a storyline through various scenes, was extremely dexterous in having her dolls "dance" and even managed to hold her audience's interest (the impatient ME).  Most engaging was watching the look of rapt concentration and exultation on her face.  In a world where young people are too often exposed to overtly sexual messages, are inundated with social media, and saddled with the need to use their time for activities to "get ahead" (too many camps and enrichment opportunities), casual play--interest in things like dollies at age twelve--can fall away or be perceived as ridiculous.  Yet through watching her play, I saw my daughter's best qualities of innocence, resourcefulness and creativity come out.  She had me thinking about how I would play similar sorts of games with my dolls (but I never ever had an audience).  She reminded me of how much fun it is to invent, make do, re-purpose toys and items from the house and to use your imagination.  So many toys today are crafted to be all-inclusive and prescriptive (think Lego building sets). So much of our adult lives is designed to be prescriptive and pre-fabricated: our meals, our outfits, our desires and goals, our personal and professional benchmarks.  

So how do we loosen up, lighten up, become more playful?  Some suggestions:
  • Turn off the television and go outside to throw a frisbee, play catch, play informal badminton or volleyball.  No scores, no "working on improving the accuracy of your throwing"--just enjoy the leisurely pace, the movement, the laughter and the talk that will ensue.
  • Invite others to play.  Instead of scheduled playdates, how about an informal game of foursquare in the driveway with whoever happens to be around/available?
  • Bring back board games and card games!
  • Do a jigsaw puzzle, put on some fun music in the background, make some tea or hot chocolate and go to it!
  • Charades.  No equipment required.
  • For adults: Trivia nights at pubs.  
  • Also for adults: Don't forget bedroom play.  Doesn't have to be elaborate, but bring back some lightheartedness.  Laugh at yourselves and have fun.

For those interested in learning more about the research and history of play, I'd recommend Diane Ackerman's Deep Play and David Elkind's The Power of Play.  I'm also including a link to an article/exhibit devoted to deep play:
http://www.missoulaartmuseum.org/files/documents/exhibits/Deep_Play_essay.pdf

Most importantly, just do it.  Make play--the removal of objectives and the sheer freedom to exult in whatever you are doing--an essential part of your life.

Playfully and artfully yours,  --Lisabeth
1 Comment

    Lisabeth Robinson

    I have been an educator for 20 years.  I create, I play, I guide and I grow.  I want to share that with you too!

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