To Light a Fire

"To furnish the means of acquiring knowledge is...the greatest benefit that can be conferred upon mankind." -John Quincy Adams

It is no wonder Mr. Adams continues even now continues to receive so many accolades as a Founding Father. He was a genius! His words remind me of something I always tell my students... "If you learn to read, you will have the means to teach yourself anything you may ever want to know...and books are the vessels which enable you to travel any place you'd like to go." Perhaps this sounds lofty, poetic at best, but it is the most basic of truths. By substituting one word in a famous quote by Abraham Lincoln, I've settled on this belief about education: People are about as ignorant as they make up their minds to be.

"It is the supreme art of the teacher to awaken joy in creative expression and knowledge. " ~Albert Einstein

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"Education is not the filling of a pail, but the lighting of a fire."~William Butler Yeats

My first graders partner with Ms. Bearden's fifth graders each Friday for "Reader Pal" activities. Ms. B will soon enjoy maternity leave. Because we believe that literacy is everything, my students and I gifted our little as-yet-to-be-born Reader Pal with a book of Nursery Rhymes (with a wish that she grows up to always enjoy fine literature). The book was signed by all of my students. One little girl wrote a note to the baby..."Welcome. I hope you enjoy your trip around the world." This brought a smile to this teacher's face. Emily already understands that books take you places. Wow!

"Though we travel the world over to find the beautiful, we must carry it with us or we find it not." ~Ralph Waldo Emerson

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"Shoot for the moon. Even if you miss it you will land among the stars." ~Les Brown

Readers relate what they read to personal experiences (text-to-self), to information from other text (text-to-text), and to information about the world (text-to-world). "Making Connections" is a favorite comprehension strategy of my students. They love to activate their schema when reading and anxiously throw their hands into the air to say, "Mrs. Green, I have a connection!" Today we read Eric Carle's The Tiny Seed. This is a delightful story with huge implications. It carries the message that with steadfast determination and perseverance, success can surely be achieved. My sweet Ella excitedly raised her hand. I knew it...she had a connection! For those who live in this area, you are familiar with Metro Business College's advertising jingle. So is Ella. "You know, Mrs. Green, this story is a bit like that song...'a small college can make a BIG difference'." How correct you are, Miss Ella. I'm so happy you "get it."

"If a seed of lettuce will not grow, we do not blame the lettuce. Instead, the fault lies with us for not having nourished the seed properly." Buddhist proverb.

Happy Reading!

"There are only two lasting bequests we can hope to give our children. One of these is roots; the other, wings."
~Hodding Carter