The mad dash

I have just finished reading Stones into Schools after having read Three Cups of Tea in preparation for a whole school reading event. The book, newly out, is on a speed read program at my library which means it can only be checked out for one week and is not renewable. I didn't fully grasp this until the two days until due email appeared in my inbox. I have since then become absorbed in reading in a way reminiscent of my childhood. I would disappear into Narnia, Moomin Valley, and many other fantastical or realistic realms only to surface for food, sleep (as necessary), and other necessities. Only when the book was done would I want to go back outside and join the neighborhood games of tag or practice soccer. Books have always been able to draw me in, and it was refreshing to be so deeply immersed in the narrative of how the vision to promote education, and specifically girls' education, to rural Pakistan and Afghanistan has unfolded over time. Both books were beautiful, moving, and inspiring. I highly recommend them.

long day

Today was one of those long days. Started at 7 something at school and ended past 9 at Brandeis. Once a month, I work with a group of new teachers, some not so new anymore, at Brandeis as part of a teacher induction program. It is a great place to do some professional work outside of the classroom.

Other than that, the kids were very energetic and talkative during the day. I was ready to sleep when I got home.

Full Day

It snowed again today.


Rose showed off her poses while trying to navigate her first chimney.

Rachel (mom) and Allie(baby only a few days different in age from Rose) visited today. Yay for play and talking.

I went to class and, though the clock said time was blazing by, it did not do so.


We made rice paste paper that we will be turning into books.

Back to School

Last year, I had a student teacher from Lesley University. In return for the work of being a supervising teacher, I received a credit for one course at the school. I was supposed to use the voucher by last semester, but with the new baby, new job role, and then Reena's broken ankle, it just did not seem the time to take on a course as well. Now that much is settled and moving more smoothly and the extended voucher is only good for this semester, it was time to enroll. I have not taken a formal college course for quite a while and am looking forward to doing so. I have chosen a course called Teaching the Fundamentals which is for students going into fine arts education. I look forward to learning much about integrating art into the main curriculum.
I pushed Rose's stroller into the elevator and was prepared to hunt down the registrar's office. Amazingly, it was an open desk area just outside the elevator with very approachable people. I was able to enroll and shift down the counter to pay. This is a far cry from my previous experiences in higher education in which the registrar's office and finance offices are often far if not in separate buildings, and they are either hidden or staffed by people whose job it seems is to keep enrollment down. No, this was just too easy. What a pleasure.