Cape Cod Home Learners - DIRECTOR\'S BLOG

The Randomness of Life

Fri, 10 Apr 2015 03:05:01 GMT

Life is random.

I am amazed by how life is defined by randomness. Birth location, race, economic status, education, health, success, and hardship—individual lives—mysterious paths, unfolding as one’s unique experience, yet random in the larger scope of humanity.

Can any one person make sense of it at any given time?

This past winter season I challenged my students to look back at the 1850’s (US— pre Civil War era).

I tasked our group to read a historical fiction novel, set in Boston, detailing a runaway slave’s experience fighting the pre-war Civil War political system. We also experienced a world premier play, expressing the southern slaveholder’s belief in white superiority. And, we continued our geographic study of Africa, focusing on South Africa and its relatively recent journey that abolished their country’s policy of Apartheid.

Hard stuff!

Individuel stories—diverse in nature, unique—yet all related by their common themes of race, class, and economics.

Our studies beg the question, how do educators teach connection? How do we teach children to live a life that includes awareness and respect for all? How do we teach compassion? How do we teach leadership? How do we teach children to think globally yet act locally - never forgetting to be an individual retaining the golden rule “do unto others as you would unto yourself”. Lastly, how do we teach courage? —such as the courage to speak out against social injustice.

As educators, we teach history in the hopes that students will study the past and gain a desire to shape a better future. As educators, we teach literature with a goal to assure our students the opportunity to hear multiples voices and perspectives. It is though writing and respectful discourse that educators enable students to celebrate the diversity that make individuals unique.

I ask students today, “Look back on our country’s past?” Revisit the Civil War era.   Ask yourself this: Have we learned from our nation’s past? Are we a more diverse, tolerant society today? As an individual, are you tolerant, caring, and compassionate? Are we all free?

What is freedom?   Are you, as a US citizen and member of this diverse nation, promoting the ideas of equality, freedom, and liberty won by our forefathers?

Join me today in an exercise to think! Join me today in looking at your own individual randomness.   Ask yourself this, “Do I practice acceptance, love, compassion, equality and respect for life?”—Our nation’s life, my life, your life, someone else’s life, LIFE in all its randomness.

The American Civil War played out our national hardship with slavery. The Civil Rights Movement in the 60’s continued our national conversation on individual freedom for all people. Today, we continue to be challenged world wide with hardships and sufferings that prove the struggle for civil liberties is a long road that needs to be traveled often.

More work needs to be done both at home and abroad in order to up-hold the democratic principles the United States stands for - which respects and honors the randomness of ALL LIFE.

Martin Luther King Day, January 19th, 2015 - A day of SERVICE

Mon, 19 Jan 2015 03:11:20 GMT

In the United States, on the third Monday of January (January 19th, 2015) we as a nation honor Martin Luther King and his legacy of action on American Civil Rights.

Civil Rights—by definition—are a class of rights that protect citizens' freedom from infringement by governments, social organizations, and private individuals, and thatensure one's ability to participate in the civil and political life of the society and state without discrimination or repression.

Within our government structure it was not until the 1960's that political action and organization, spearheaded by Martin Luther King Jr., led to the Civil Rights Act (1964) and the Voting Rights Act (1965). This legislation, passed by Congress, prohibited racial segregation and discrimination in voting, education, employment, and housing.

These new laws did not end racism and discrimination; however, since the 60's we have worked as a nation to pursue injustice as we seek to continue our founding fathers’ goal of one nation that supports freedom for all of its citizens.

SERVICE: A mission of the Cape Cod Home Learners Cooperative.

On Jan. 19, 2015 we honor Martin Luther King who once said: "Life's most persistent and urgent question is: 'What are you doing for others?'"

Each year, Americans across the country answer that question by coming together on this holiday to serve their communities. The MLK Day of Service is a part of United We Serve, a federal program managed by the Corporation for National and Community Service (CNCS). This federal agency is charged with promoting volunteering and national service so that Americans from all walks of life can work together to provide solutions to our nations most pressing problems.

The Cape Cod Home Learners Cooperative incorporates public service in our missionstatement. Each year our group takes on a community service event or project that supports the educational theme for our yearly program. This year our group’s focus is the core American values of individual rights and freedoms.

In September we began with early American Literature that deepened our understanding of the American dialogue on faith and human nature. It is this dialogue that allowed America’s founders to make provisions for the social, religious, and political freedoms that exist in ourcountry today.

In November, we participated in the Plymouth Thanksgiving Celebration by creating a banner for the Food and Wine Festival. This banner—Land of the Free, Because of the Brave —as well as our table display—highlighted 12 people who participated in our national civil rights journey.

Today we move forward to the mid/late 1800's where we will study the causes and effects of the Civil War through the written word of speeches, short stories, novels, poetry, plays, eyewitness accounts, diary entries, and newspaper articles.It is our hope to revisit these times in order to gain a greater understanding of the race issues we face today. We also look forward to attendingthe play, Father Come Home From the War, Parts1, 2 & 3.

http://americanrepertorytheater.org/events/show/father-comes-home-wars-parts-1-2-and-3

Set during the Civil War, this powerful new dramais by Pulitzer Prize-winner Suzan-Lori Parks. Thetrilogy examines “the mess of war and the cost of freedom”.

We will end our year with American poetry and the American premier of an opera composed by Matthew Aucion.

http://americanrepertorytheater.org/events/show/crossing

“Inspired by the diary Walt Whitman kept as a nurse during the Civil War, this world premiere opera explores how the individual experiences of soldiers are remembered and told”.

Our Co-op experiences this year ask the questions: “What is our role as students, adults, and citizens with regard to civil rights? How do we express and uphold the values that our nation was founded upon? How do we participate as individuals in the human experience? How do we honor, learn about, and respect the past in order to gain a greater understanding of civil rights today?”

It is my hope that our program this year will lead students toward a greater understanding and appreciation of the rights we as Americans enjoyand celebrate on Martin Luther King Day. I pray we all are inspired to continue to honor the MLKlegacy by upholding civil rights for others tomorrow.

The Meaning of Done –

Sat, 25 Oct 2014 20:08:52 GMT

Or I’m Done, You’re Done, It’s Done……

Do you ever find yourself asking your child, “Are you done?” on a daily basis?

Today a light bulb went off. As a parent, I realized that I ask my child, “Are you done?” multiple times in a single day. However, I never gave thought to what my child’s response meant to anyone but me. I know what I envision “I’m done!” to mean. But, what does it mean to the person speaking those words? When my child looks me straight in the eye with a look of complete authority and self-assurance and answers, “I’m done” – does it mean he is done? Or, simply said, what does “I’m done” mean?

Today I set out to ask myself what does “I’m done!” mean? Does it mean I’ve finished the assignment to the best of my abilities and it is ready to hand in? Or, does it mean I have finished the assignment with the least possible effort and will hand it in. As is!

“I’m done!” could also mean I have finished working on my assignment for today, but tomorrow it will be completed. Or, I have not started my assignment today, but that’s OK as I will do it tomorrow.

Lastly, “I’m done!” can mean I AM DONE! I am refusing to do the assignment at all. In my opinion, the assignment is unworthy of my efforts, stupid, and I am unwilling to do it today, or at anytime here after.

As adults, we make the decision to be done a million times daily, on our own - each time, with all the meaning as stated, or others yet unidentified. Hopefully, as adults, we make the decision to be done consciously. But for children it may be hard to internalize the words that fly out of their mouth. So, parents need to ask the question directly. “What does I’m done mean to you?”

The next time you find yourself asking your child the question, take time to ask them what their answer means. The answer might surprise you. Both for the answer’s honesty and the meaning of the response you receive.

Today I said, “Is it done like your handing it in to the President? Or - is it done like I never want to see it again?” The surprising snicker that developed turned into hearty laughter. At the time, only one person in the room knew the answer. But, how fun it was to both be enlightened by the question. We both realized that either way, it was OK. Our day was done- and complete- with a simple statement. We both had a knowing look in our eyes. Complete. We’re done!

What is an American short story and why is it important to study the genre?

Wed, 22 Oct 2014 16:39:38 GMT

As our group’s director, I began to question my choice of literature this year as our group tackled the difficult nature of literature from the early 1800’s. Conflict arose as individual concerns were voiced. The process of listening, sharing, and accepting opinions became challenging for all. In the end we survived, all the better for our journey. All the wiser as we learned about each other and our diversity.

However, the question still persisted in my mind. WHAT is an American short story and why is it important to study the genre? How do I justify the importance of studying stories that challenge our very natures?

For the answer, I turned to research and came upon this anonymous list, which provides a starting place for my answer.

Literature is diverse in its portraits of life and its claims about the world. Why take the time to read it then? Because humanity is valuable.
When we read, we discover common human ways of understanding.
When we read literature, we also discover significant differences. This allows us to explore another’s message or life, even those separated from us by time and social barriers.
Literature is full of human reactions. As we respond to and analyze these, we can gain a greater knowledge of the human psyche. At the same time, we gain a greater knowledge of our selves and our own responses.
We don’t always agree with what we read, or we agree in part. We read literature to test the truth of a message against our worldview.

It is important to realize that early American literature in particular is associated with Christian faith and Christendom’s influence on American culture. By going back in time, we experience how much early American literature is haunted by questions of faith and doubt.

As we read and compare early American authors, we deepen our understanding of the American dialogue on faith and human nature. It is this dialogue that allowed America’s founders to make provisions for the social, religious, and political freedoms that exist in our country today.

It is through our efforts and understanding of American classics that we gain a love for our fellow American human beings and all their diversity, complexity, and variety. As American citizens in the 21st century, we can read today, of yesterday, and give thanks for our tomorrows.

We are blessed to live in a country that allows us such freedom as unique individuals to express ourselves as we cultivate wisdom, learn of good and evil, and experience the call to justice. American literature, in itself, cannot make us a better person, but it can support and facilitate us in our journey as we seek our own personal understanding of our nation’s history, as we become history to those in the future.

Week two of school can be tough!

Sat, 13 Sep 2014 00:58:09 GMT

It still feels like summer, and motivation is hard to find. As I ponder how this year will turn out, I struggle to not feel the stress as I strive to get the year going.

As of 5pm on Friday, these things I know to be true:

1. Keep things in perspective, it's too early to worry so much.

2. All children will eventually grow into adults and learn the things they need to learn. This includes mine. (and yours)

3. Be happy. Smile, even if you don't feel like it - it will catch on.

“I’m smiling! Can you see me?” I screamed! (from my insides)

My son was clearly not smiling. A 6-word memoir conversation erupted between us.

J. dark dungeon with no fun allowed
Mom. frustration, if only he was motivated

J. motivation is something of a mystery
Mom. time marches on, homework is undone

J. my spirit needs to be free
Mom. escape from school, away he goes…..

Smile, hug me now, I’m done!

And Away We Go

Mon, 08 Sep 2014 02:57:02 GMT

This week as we begin our school year, I am filled with a feeling of renewal.

Every September home schooling families reaffirm their commitment to educate their children. As the director of the Cape Cod Home Learners Cooperative, I restate my commitment to educate and lead our group.

This year, I chose to start our year school year off with a trip to the American Repertory Theater for the world premiere of Finding Neverland, a new musical inspired by the story of how J.M. Barrie found inspiration for his play Peter Pan.

When Peter Pan premiered in 1904 it was a brave theatrical work that enthusiastically stretched the boundaries of what theater could be. Now we have the pleasure of watching Diane Paulus, Artistic Director of the ART continue in this tradition, inspiring us as we partake in her theatrical visions. It is this artistic risk-taking that continues to inspire me as a home schooler and leader of our group.

Participation in the Cape Cod Home School Cooperative requires intense collaboration. Our group works tirelessly together to realize our vision of what education can and should be. Our group takes risks that lead us to places we've never been. As individuals we will each open up more as we reveal our inner selves. As a collaborative we will grow together sharing our ideas and experiences.

As Gary Barlow and Eliot Kennedy expressed in their music, sometimes we may all feel wound up in the "Circus of our Mind". At other times we may feel like "The World is Upside Down". However, by the end of our year, we will all come closer to understanding "All That Matters".

I hope this year we will find our doors and open them wide! For the parents of our group, I ask you to look to your children this year and strive to match and honor their sense of wonder and timeless energy. For the students in our group, I ask you to look closely at the world that surrounds you. With eyes wide open, strive for patience to listen, learn, honor, and respect.

As director I hope our cooperative will:

"teach (us all) how to jump on the wind's back,

Best wishes to everyone for a wonderful year to come!

.... and away we go" J.M.Barrie, Peter Pan