Teaching children who have rough lives, particularly ones who've grown up in a drought of love, is much like weeding the desert ( Read more... )

Dennis loved me. I loved Dennis of course, but that pretty much goes without saying. I love all my students, some more, some less (OK, Chris, the one who almost got me shot and wouldn't shut up while I was blocking the bullet path to save his scrawny ass - maybe I love him more as a concept or principle, maybe not so much as someone to hang out ( Read more... )

Really. ? Guns in schools will prevent gun violence in schools ( Read more... )

I took my students to the Folk Art Museum. 11-year-olds. Near the end of the visit, several of the Pueblo girls came up to me, very concerned. "They have things that aren't supposed to be shown." "Those things are not for everyone to see ( Read more... )

I work at a "failing" school. The kids are kind, and learning to be kinder. I don't actually call that "failing." They're interested in Aztec and Chinese astrology, and they ask questions like, "If you're born somewhere, are you a native of that place?" and "If you're not native to that place, are you native to somewhere you've never been?" I ( Read more... )

Wishing everyone a happy new year. My year started on Dec. 22nd the Solstice. So far: it's not boring.

I am studying quadratic equations so I can be legal to teach multiplication and the addition of fractions. It's the law. I have to pass the test to qualify for the job I'm already doing ( Read more... )

Feast day. Watched dances of both pumpkin and turquoise sides of the pueblo. Ate at the family home of a 12 step friend. Ate again at the family home of a co-worker. Being fed in all the ways necessary to remain a human being. Came home and wove for hours since looms and attachments and interdependency are the things that make the most sense ( Read more... )

It was suggested I post ( Read more... )

How many times have we passed a lighted window at night and noticed (usually) a woman, her head bent slightly, her body moving slightly to one side as she places the dishes in the drying rack. A blessing to have a window over the sink. A little bit of outdoors to look at. A breeze maybe in a hot summer kitchen ( Read more... )