A Little Sad News

This week we have some bad news.  Our resident cat, Nimue, is very sick.  She cannot walk (it is a neurological problem called ataxia) and she is taking very strong medicine that makes her sleep even more than usual.  🙁

Many of our students love to ask about Nimmy, and we welcome their questions at this time.  This is a sad but necessary part of life, a good lesson to have in a comfortable environment.  (Nimmy might enjoy a get-well-soon letter!)

Because she cannot walk, I am keeping her near me as much as possible to help her drink water during the day.  I know some students are uncomfortable around cats, and for those classes, Nimmy will be downstairs in her usual spot.  Please let me know if your child has an allergy or would for any other reason be more comfortable with the cat downstairs during his or her class.

Important facts for the students:

— Nimue is 16 years old (very old for a cat!) and has had a wonderful life full of toys, yummy treats, and people she loves.

— She is still purring and looking out the window at the birds.  In her bed is a wool sweater which reminds her of being a baby kitten with her mother.

— Although her body is weak, the vet has given her medicine so she is not in pain.

— Taking care of a sick animal is different from taking care of a sick person because they cannot speak and tell us what hurts.  That is one reason Nimmy’s medicine is so strong.

— We are all sad about her illness and hope she gets better soon, but the most important thing for us is to keep her comfortable and happy.

I am sorry to bring a sad post to you, but thank you all for your patience and understanding.

***Your child’s comfort and ability to pay attention is my #1 priority during the lesson, so please do not hesitate to request a cat-free lesson.***  🙂

Book Review: Miss Bridie Chose a Shovel

Miss Bridie chooses one special item to take with her when she moves to the U.S..  Not a beautiful, small statue but a shovel.  Thoughout her life, she uses the shovel to make money, to have fun, when she gets married and builds a farm and raises a family.  One of those deceptively simple stories that connect to so many questions we ask about our values, our histories, and our choices.  (Grade level 2)

Miss Bridie Chose a ShovelMiss Bridie Chose a Shovel by Leslie Connor

My rating: 5 of 5 stars

From the first sentence – “She could have picked a chiming clock or a porcelain figurine, but Miss Bridie chose a shovel back in 1856.“ – I knew this would be a rare picture book. The sentences contain ample information without laying it out too obviously, they are complex and rhythmic, and they build on each other smoothing, inevitably, like the steps in a journey. The illustrations, too, provide more information than a reader may at first realize, with a figure on one page becoming the husband on another. A particularly good example of the beauties contain within the English language. read it aloud to some one you love!

View all my reviews

Happy Labor Day!

Labor Day is a holiday created to honor the contributions of workers.  For some people, it is a time to remember the accomplishments of workers’ unions, specifically.

(Art by Ricardo Levins Morales.)

The National Education Association has compiled a series of resources for learning about Labor Day.

Personally, I am always drawn to the history of the Triangle Shirtwaist Factory for three reasons: (1) I am interested in fashion history, (2) I am interested in women’s rights, and (3) I was born on March 25, the same day as the tragedy.  If the Triangle Factory story is interesting to you, too, Margaret Peterson Haddix wrote an interesting historical fiction novel about that event called Uprising.  Libraries are closed today for the holiday, but you can check the book out tomorrow!

More popularly, of course, it marks the cultural end of summer (fashion experts used to instruct us to only wear the color white during the summer, between Memorial Day and Labor Day).  Most schools begin the new school year this week.  Stores have lots of sales.  And I visit the beach for that one time a year when I am willing to get a sunburn.

Book Review: Raider’s Ransom

Raiders' RansomRaiders’ Ransom by Emily Diamand

My rating: 3 of 5 stars

Objectively, a really good book that I will not hesitate to recommend. Subjectively, however, it just never grabbed me. It had everything that should have made me love it: dystopic, environmental message, historic view of technology, changing language… I don’t know what it is missing, and hopefully others will feel that nothing is missing at all.

View all my reviews

Book Review: The Clever Little Witch

The Clever Little WitchThe Clever Little Witch by Lieve Baeten

My rating: 4 of 5 stars

A nice back-to-school book, The Clever Little Witch may also be a nice book to share with younger siblings who  have been told “You are too young for school.”  As the little witch tries and tries to unlock a mysterious suitcase, Baeton and Fossey’s illustrations are fun to pour over, looking for everything “opened” (even a flower bloomed!). Although the text is not as strong as the illustrations, in my opinion this is not always a bad thing for a book aimed at such young readers. The illustrations are themselves eminently readable so, adults, take your time with the child at your side and enjoy this delightful little tale.

View all my reviews

“Extended Day” Programs at School

Many Boston-area schools run a wonderful after-school child care program called Extended Day.  Information about the Baker School program, for example, can be found here.  It is important to note that this is not an academic program like after school institutes (such as the hagwon in Korea).  Originally begun when working mothers led to latchkey kids who were left at home alone after school, this program gives your child an opportunity to play with other children under adult supervision if you are not able to be home.

In past years, we have had students attend this program to get more exposure to English.  Sometimes parents want their child to speak only in English during this time, in order to learn the language.  However, many children will want to play with others who speak their native language. If your child attends a school with many other students from the same country, this is a good opportunity for them to relax and enjoy their first language.   Because this is a social – not academic – time, that comfort of speaking in the language they choose is nice, especially after a long day struggling to listen to and speak in English at school.  It has been difficult for some of our students who want to follow their parents wishes that they speak English when they see their friends speaking in their home language.

Our students have compared Extended Day to recess, an enjoyable time for them to relax and play games (we grown-ups know that these “games” are also teaching them lessons in art, science and more!).  Parents can be confident that this play happens in a structured and supervised environment.  There is a quiet period for doing homework – we recommend making sure your child feels comfortable asking the supervisors for help with any questions, because at the end of a long school day, some children may feel more shy and will not speak up.

Your school’s Extended Day Program can provide after-school care for your child if you have to work, but it is also a supportive environment for them to socialize in English and speak in their native language.

Book Review: Larf

LarfLarf by Ashley Spires

My rating: 5 of 5 stars

With all the recent conversation about introverts, this book makes a nice offering for kids who like their solitude but still want a friend or two. Further important lessons learned? I did not realize that Sasquatches carried their pet bunnies in Snuglis. Sadly, Spires does not clarify whether this is for all journeys or merely those in which the Sasquatch is in disguise.

View all my reviews

Book Review: Gossamer

GossamerGossamer by Lois Lowry

My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Lowry’s understanding of how to pack a message or a little self-help into children’s novels continues to amaze me. Too often in books, the message is simply spoken by one character to another, a la Glinda’s “You’ve always had the power to go back to Kansas […but you] had to learn it for [your]self.” (The ending did skate a little too close to that for me, but the bulk of the work is more subtle and respectful of the reader.) By making the plot the message here and in other books, Lowry allows young readers to decide for themselves whether and how much to adopt the message for themselves. She is inspirational, not didactic. Here, the struggles of an abused boy and the individuals who want to help him may be fodder for anyone trying to cope with their own bad dreams.

View all my reviews