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Celebrate Saturday

Thank you to Ruth for this community of celebration. Please join us!

Much of this week was spent indoors hibernating from the cold and the snow. Our county made a bad call earlier this week and didn't delay or cancel on a morning when the commute became extremely dangerous. I saw so many examples of rude comments on social media, from adults...name calling and just plain meanness. It made me sad. I quickly adjusted my plans and taught a mini-lesson about using social media to vent frustrations.  We discussed this and then listed appropriate and inappropriate choices to make when writing and then we blogged. They expressed their views and opinions without calling names! They showed respect while disagreeing with the decision that was made. I celebrate the maturity I saw in my sixth graders!

Much of celebrating is about perspective, about how to look at life...so I celebrate my single-ness. The freedom I have to sleep in or wake up early...to stay in or go out...the choices being single gives me. I celebrate the opportunity to play auntie to children of friends...like this little guy.

I celebrate FLY, my one little word (OLW) of 2015. I've written about it. I encountered it in my reading. My talisman (the first one) arrived in the mail yesterday. 

https://www.etsy.com/listing/191408023/necklacebird-flying-away-from-birdcage?ref=shop_home_feat_3

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Comments

  1. MariaJanuary 10, 2015 at 9:42 AM

    Wow what great celebrations. I love when we take a current event and turn it into a hands on lesson. I applaud you for changing your LPs on the fly. My OLW is perspective so as I read your post I appreciate your celebration and your positive perspective. Finally what a great idea to find something to wear that reminds us of our OLW for 2015. Thanks for posting.

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  2. KendraJanuary 10, 2015 at 10:13 AM

    Awesomely proactive approach with social media. I studied this a lot last semester in my grad class. I think as teachers we can be so monumental in the shift online. I appreciate your positive, honest ideas when you share! Great post!

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  3. Terje January 10, 2015 at 12:52 PM

    I like how flexible you were with your teaching. You saw a real life experience as an opportunity to teach a valuable lesson. If you think of it - many adults have never had that lesson and they seem to forget common respect when it come to online communication. Your talisman looks so beautiful.

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  4. JulieanneJanuary 10, 2015 at 1:22 PM

    I'm so proud of you! Turning a negative to a positive. And proud of your kiddos for hearing the call and making better choices than the adults. Perhaps we adults need teachers to keep our perspective, to adjust our point of view.
    And, you have inspired me with your talisman. I need to think about one for my OLW.

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  5. CrystalJanuary 10, 2015 at 2:25 PM

    What a beautiful talisman and a thoughtful post. So glad that you were able to teach about respectful communication online and in texts. It's such an important skill.

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  6. Jennifer LaffinJanuary 10, 2015 at 2:51 PM

    I was thinking the same thing about how some used social media in such a mean way this past week to vent their frustrations over school (non-) cancellations. I'm glad you took the time to teach your students how to vent in a respectful manner. I also love that necklace. Where did you get it? I may need one! ;)

    Jennifer

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    Replies
    1. Michelle HaseltineJanuary 10, 2015 at 3:01 PM

      Here's the link to the Etsy store: https://www.etsy.com/listing/191408023/necklacebird-flying-away-from-birdcage?ref=hp_mod_rf (I have two more necklaces coming soon from this Etsy store: https://www.etsy.com/shop/SweetPeasStamping) :)

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  7. Carrie GelsonJanuary 10, 2015 at 4:57 PM

    That little guy is very adorable. I can imagine he really energized your week.

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  8. Linda BJanuary 10, 2015 at 5:00 PM

    I love that you used that 'morning commute' as a lesson to discuss, Michelle. What a gift to the students! And love that you celebrate all kids you're connected to. I imagine in their own way that they celebrate you, too. Thanks for sharing the necklace-just gorgeous!

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  9. Leigh Anne EckJanuary 10, 2015 at 6:54 PM

    Congratulations on turning the bad behavior of adults into a lesson for those much younger. I would hate to be the administrators who have to make these calls because you are never going to make everyone happy. Sometimes the weather is so unpredictable at every minute, it is hard to make those calls. Hopefully your weather will be better this week!

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  10. Andrea January 10, 2015 at 7:08 PM

    What a powerful lesson your kiddos got when you took such a real-life situation to really teach about digital citizenship. I also hear you about perspective. I am working on being able to celebrate my role as auntie to two beautiful kids and two more on the way without letting the jealousy creep in. I will celebrate the freedom my husband and I have to be spontaneous. Thanks for the reminder to stay positive.

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  11. Sandi January 11, 2015 at 4:22 AM

    What a beautiful necklace - and a beautiful reminder to fly ... be free.

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  12. UnknownJanuary 11, 2015 at 10:56 AM

    What an awesome idea to pull in that real life application with using social media appropriately to vent some frustrations. Now, to work on those adults!! :)

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  13. Michele KnottJanuary 11, 2015 at 10:05 PM

    I love your talisman! Beautiful :) We skyped with Edith Cohn, author of Spirit's Key, and she showed us the necklace she wore as she wrote the book. I think it's a great idea to have that reminder with you.
    I've seen the negative comments this week as well on social media directed towards the decision to close the school this week. It amazes me that people think it's ok to react in such a way. I'm glad you used it to talk to students.
    Hope you have a great week!

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