Is It Bribing?

Most Tuesday nights of the school year, my school’s library is open from 4:30-7:30 for students and families to come in to read books and take Accelerated Reader tests.  This Tuesday night program is and has been a huge success as most Tuesdays we average about 200 people.  Since I am the LRC director, I’m here every Tuesday watching families spend quality time together away from the television and video games.  Over the years I’ve watched our youngest students grow from being dependent readers to independent readers!  A part of the Accelerated Reader or AR program is that students earn points after taking a test on the computer for a book they have read.  Students get very excited when they reach their points because it means they get a certificate, have their name announced on our daily broadcast, see their name hung on the walls around our library as well as having their name printed in our school newsletter.  Sometimes I hear criticism that the Accelerated Reader program “bribes” students because they are not reading for enjoyment only for the points.  Bribing . . . I say maybe we are “hooking” them and giving them small rewards for his or her efforts!  In fact, what is the difference between reading for points, reading for pizza certificates or reading for Six Flags Great America tickets? And by the way . . . don’t we all like to receive rewards? :-)  Think about those points we earn for airline tickets, restaurants, hotels, groceries . . . need I go on?   My feeling is . . . at least students are reading for goodness sakes!  I have students on a daily basis telling me how great this book is or can I order more books by a certain author . . .  Is the AR program perfect, maybe not, but heck is anything perfect? And . . . I like to think that just maybe . . . in time children will not be looking for the fish at the end of the hook . . . but rather a new author or new series to feed their imagination and love of books!

Getting Ready . . .

I look . . . amazed at what I see

Changes quickly happening right in front of me

Lush greens turning to hues of red, brown, and gold

As the next season autumn . . . begins to unfold

Small animals scurrying here and there

Preparing and storing for when the land is bare

Pumpkins, and scarecrows popping up everywhere

Ware wolves and  ghosts just waiting to scare!

Temperatures dipping, roof tops all glossed

Get ready . . . it’s coming . . . soon all will be covered in frost!

A Short Message to the Teachers of Chicago

As a teacher I feel I need . . . no must say something to Chicago Public School Teachers.  THANK YOU a million times for having the courage to stand strong and fight for what you and the children of Chicago deserve!  It sickened me each and every time I saw the mayor’s big political machine spew lies through the media.  A role model, I think NOT with his bullying tactics and lack of respect towards the teachers throughout this ordeal.  It saddens me how many people really had no idea who and what the Chicago teachers were fighting for.  Clearly, we have it backwards in this country, when movie stars and athletes have more respect then those of us who are in the trenches each and every day, working tirelessly for children so they can become the next generations of respectful, responsible and successful citizens. I can only hope that some day, teachers will be respected for the professionals that we are . . .

Can't Seem to Let Summer Go!

Weather is changing there’s a chill in the air

Gone are the dog days and relaxing on a beach chair

Tree leaves are dropping, no more flowers to prune

Mornings are dark, as are late afternoons

I’ll miss seeing the sun, cause where I live

We can go months without sunshine . . . but oh what I’d give

To get that feeling back even if for just a while

So I close my eyes tight and let summer memories bring me back with a smile! 

My Place . . .

I have a place . . . a place not too far away

A place to relax, a place to unwind, a place to just play

My place is time away with my family and my friends too

With trees, a beach and a lake, that’s almost bright blue

At night crackling fires, roasted marshmallows filling the air

Millions of sparkling stars, all to enjoy from the comfort of my chair

Soon my place will be one more memory of summer gone by

I say with a little sadness and a very deep sigh.