When the Reality Does Not Match Your Imagination

#sol24- Apr. 23, 2024

“I hear it’s like going to a bank, Mom, so, no, you do not need to dress up,” my son told me. “Coulsy’s parents are wearing business casual.”

That sounded good to me- I do not like dressing up and had nothing in my closet that felt dressy. This was in preparation for “the registry wedding”. Jason and Coulsy planned to get married twice- this April in Bangkok (where he lives) at a district office and the following April for the “real wedding” in the Philippines (where Coulsy is from).

Somehow even with this advice, I had a picture in my head. My son said I would be one of the two official witnesses, so I figured I would get to sign my name a few times as part of the ceremony. What I failed to understand is that there would be no ceremony. I was thrilled that I lived close enough that I would be one of the few at the first wedding. It would be me, her parents, her brother, her best friend, my very good friend (who lives in Bangkok), and her husband- a nice, small group. What I pictured was a small office with a few rows of chairs. I thought there would be some official who would do some sort of short ceremony, a translator (who they paid extra) to tell us what the official had said and then a “you may now kiss the bride moment.”

Instead, I arrived first to a big district office. I asked/mimed where the weddings took place and they pointed me to a nearby are with hearts on the walls outside a smaller room. “Okay, we will go in there when it is time, I thought.”

I messaged Jason to let him know I had arrived and he asked me to keep an eye out for Tan, the translator. Nobody “looked like a translator, so I decided Jason could handle that part.

A few Jason arrived. Out of the taxi came Coulsy, her parents, her brother, and her friend. Introductions were made all around (it was the first time I was meeting them). Then Jason phoned the translation office. Just then a man came up and introduced himself as Tan and we were on our way. Only we weren’t going anywhere, because it turns out we were not going to the smaller room. It took about an hour for all of the documents to be signed, for the translator to tell the couple what they were signing, for a certificate to be made, and then… it was over. They took a few pictures by the hearts and the translator insisted we then take some pictures outside by some fake birds.

We then headed to a van to take us to a celebratory lunch. All in all, it was a funny experience- not what I pictured as their first wedding, but they were happy and that is really all that mattered.

Just What I Needed!

#sol24- Apr. 16, 2024

My son is getting married in Bangkok in just a few days. He and his (soon to be) wife met my friend and me on this gorgeous tiny island (Koh Mook) for a few days of peace and quiet before the big day!

Pretty relaxing!!!

Proud Moments

#sol24- Apr. 9, 2024

It started February 5, but of course, to start it there was plenty of preparation work. Tomorrow it officially ends, but I have a feeling the impact will linger. Picture, if you will 65 fifth graders in the Black Box, standing in front of their display boards with a table full of artifacts they could speak to. Topics they were passionate about, that they had chosen after careful consideration. The energy was there!

It is our grade 5 PYP Exhibition. Our school uses the International Baccalaureate Primary Years Program which is a framework that includes knowledge, attitudes, skills, and more. According to the IB website:

“The PYP offers an inquiry-based, transdisciplinary curriculum framework that builds conceptual understanding. It is a student-centered approach to education for children aged 3-12. It reflects the best of educational research, thought leadership and experience derived from IB World Schools.

The PYP has evolved to become a world leader in future-focused education. The PYP is an example of best educational practice globally, responding to the challenges and opportunities facing young students in our rapidly changing world.

The PYP curriculum framework

The PYP curriculum framework begins with the premise that students are agents of their own learning and partners in the learning process. It prioritizes people and their relationships to build a strong learning community.

PYP students use their initiative to take responsibility and ownership of their learning.  By learning through inquiry and reflecting on their own learning, PYP students develop knowledge, conceptual understandings, skills and the attributes of the IB Learner profile to make a difference in their own lives, their communities, and beyond.

The framework emphasizes the central principle of agency, which underpins the three pillars of school life:

• the learner
• learning and teaching
• the learning community.

Embedded in the framework is the recognition of the importance of fostering an individual’s self-efficacy. Students with a strong sense of self-efficacy are active in their own learning and take action in their learning community.”

The PYP Exhibition is a chance for the students in their final year of elementary to design their own inquiry. Topics in my class this year included: why friendships are important, racism, cyberbullying, how and why app designers target kids, regulating emotions, how to normalize mental health concerns, alcohol abuse, road safety, how everyone should have access to education, why healthy foods should be available to all, why green cities matter, deforestation in Cambodia, and much more. Students chose these areas of interest and over the last weeks researched (including surveys and interviews), met with supportive mentors within our school community alone or with a partner for 45 minutes a week, worked with specialist teachers to create a provocation piece, and so much more. Last week they started pulling all this together and today and tomorrow they share their journey with our community.

Today we had visitors from another international school who will have their first exhibition next year as our first guests. Throughout the day classes from our elementary school and secondary school visited. Another international school brought their fifth graders who have just started their exhibition process.

It took about five minutes for the nerves to wear off and these ten and eleven-year-old students were joyfully teaching students of all ages and their teachers. Their confidence and knowledge shone through. A few times throughout the day the background music got turned up and students walked to the risers flash mob style to sing their chosen PYPX anthem. The students did this for three 45-minute sessions. Tomorrow will be a big day too. First thing in the morning their parents will come in- the students are, in some cases, even more nervous about this. Then they will have another two blocks of teaching others. It is a big milestone in their school life and they have risen to the challenge. They definitely exceeded expectations and went home exhausted today. Tomorrow they will shine again. I am so grateful for the supportive community at our school- it really does take a village and we are lucky to have it at school.

In Case You Are Having Commenting Withdrawal

#sol24- Apr. 2, 2024

Slicing withdrawal? Have I got a plan for you! I know, you had a whole day to wonder where all the free time came from. You ended your Slice of Life Challenge and you sighed a great sigh. You picked up the hobbies you had put on the back burner in March, but something was missing. You may be suffering from challenge withdrawal, or its close relative comment withdrawal.

I have the cure for you! Way far away from wherever you are currently sitting there are some fifth graders. These students did not volunteer for the Classroom Story Slice of Life Challenge, rather they were voluntold. “Everyone has to try it on day one,” I insisted. “After that, the challenge is all yours. You decide how you want to challenge yourself.” I said this because I hope that trying it once will hook them. I am hoping that getting comments will seal the deal.

Yesterday we made an idea list. Today we had an optional indoor air-conditioned gathering (it is almost 100 F as I write) to share ideas and write a bit. Some students who did not think they would progress past day one wrote again on day two (and others said they would at home).

If you have a few spare minutes and are missing all the commenting, may I offer you the Grade 5 Padlet– come early, come often. All comments are welcome!

Ten Years of Slicing- Ten Thoughts

#sol24- Mar. 31, 2024

Year 10 of slicing, you’d think I would have more insights and tips to share, but aiming for concise…

1. This was the year I almost didn’t join- I felt that almost every day.
2. I decided to have a loose focus on community and it made me look at the communities I belong to more closely- win!
3. My post from March 31, 2023 is almost entirely true this year too (this led me to read all my March 31 posts which was fun!)
4. I consistently feel like I gain so much from participating in this challenge (and always regret not commenting more than I do.) Note to self-read this line on March 1, 2025.
5. I am inspired by the slicers here- our differences and similarities keep it fresh every day.
6. I am looking forward to getting back to reading more books and notebook writing (two hobbies that always suffer in March).
7. I still find it fun how this community can help to build real friendships- big shout out to Stacey for having that vision so many years ago and keeping it going.
8. I love that this challenge helps me focus more on the here and now- it helps me limit my phone time for sure.
9. I missed Leigh Anne’s party again- I always mean to and often miss it, even though I love the idea!
10. I am looking forward to starting the classroom Slice of Life Challenge with our fifth graders tomorrow.

On the Way to School

#sol24- Mar. 30, 2024

Mid-April is the official start of the rainy season here, hence all the water “sports” over Khmer New Year. Before the rainy season starts the weather gets progressively hotter and more humid. A friend recently posted this:

8th hottest country in Asia & only one SEA country ranked hotter ( Singapore with average temp of 27.7)

I leave for work at 6 and it feels warm even then. Yesterday was the last workday of the SOL Challenge, so I took some notes on the way to school and included a few videos I took on the way to school the previous day..

Things I noticed on my ride (it is a 10ish minute ride in the morning, longer in the afternoon):

• Shops opening, workers sweeping and /or spraying water to clean the “sidewalk” area
• Guards taking apart their bedding from their night outside, cleaning up at spigots
• Cafes, bakeries, coffee shops are open or opening as are many other shops
• A guard wearing a fever patch
• People walking and exercising in the cooler temperatures
• An open air gym with one customer
• People preparing small spirit houses with food and incense
• Workers sweeping the street
• French influence shown in baguettes
• Signs in many languages
• Overloaded trucks
• Factory workers being transported to work crowded in the back of open-air trucks (construction workers too)
• Trash
• A few more public buses
• More personalized license plates
• More Lexus’s than anywhere else I have been
• New building
• For sale/rent signs
• It was a “bad air” day- I could smell it and see the haze!
• Closer to school there is a new development- still only partially occupied. There I often see groups of people exercising together dressed alike
• Video 1, 2, and 3.
• I enjoy the ride to school as traffic is minimal and there are always things to notice.

Ne t’en fais pas! (Don’t worry)

#sol24- Mar.29, 2024

I teach in an international school. We have students from more than 50 countries. For most of my adult life I have lived outside the US- in countries where English is not the first language. Still, I struggle to learn languages. In junior high and high school, I learned French- I was a B student, so it surprised me when last summer I could understand at least some of the conversations going on around me, my problem is I am afraid to speak. I speak a bit of Dutch, Polish, and German from living in countries speaking those languages. When students are new to school and new to English I like to connect to them in their language if I can. I have a few phrases that I can say and can understand their response more or less. There is currently a first grader in our buddy class who is Dutch and we always chat half in English, half in Dutch- he knows my limitations and keeps the Dutch part to the basics, but it makes us both smile.

I teach my students a little bit too- sometimes other languages just nail a turn of phrase, so it is not uncommon for me to say, “ne t’en fais pas,” instead of “no worries”. Our Morning Meeting greetings are often in multiple languages (some that nobody in the class speaks, but I have taught. There is a group of students from grades 5-8 who can confidently sing the birthday song in Polish because they have been in my class either in grade 3 or grade 5.

Today was a challenging day. A bright spot was brainstorming with students things that they could do to ensure we end the year strong, as I explained my weekly lesson from Teach Happier. The students had great ideas and at the end of the day, a few students created a great display to share this. As we reflected on our day and shared a highlight of the day I reminded the students that each day was a new chance to have a great day and that was just the reminder I needed to head into the weekend. #wevegotthis #togetherwearebetter #readytobreathe

Wellness at School

#sol24- Mar. 28, 2024

Our school has many committees at school (as I am sure yours does). Some committees are of the “everybody must join one of these x number of committees” and others are formed for a particular purpose, while others are based on someone’s passion.

I am not sure of the history behind the wellness committee, nor am I sure when or why I joined. I am not really a “wellness” poster child- I am stationary by nature. I joined because it seemed like a good idea, I guess, to be involved in something good for me. Little did I know then, that this committee would be such a place of community and kindness. Leti, one of our PE teachers is our leader and she walks the talk- she is super active and a big believer in many ways to be well- with mental good health being a goal for all. Inspired by this committee years ago I took two mindfulness courses and now regularly teach mindfulness in the classroom. It probably is due to this team that my impulse buy during Covid was a stationary bike (and so began my first ever fitness routine- 30 minutes on the bike every day). It is because of this committee that “wellness hour” is a regular feature of our PD days. Different staff members volunteer to lead different activities- ranging from really active ones like bike rides or working out in the gym, to board games, mindful coloring, crochet, and many more.

Today we had a meeting after school. Leti always starts us with a grounding moment. Today’s came from the Action for Happiness calendar (Thanks to this team I have it up in the classroom and at home. It also appears in our elementary daily bulletin.):

“How do we do that at school?” she asked. One by one we shared our strategies. We nodded in agreement as each person shared. We are a small group, there were only seven of us there today), but immediately we felt connected and seen- others were tired too. We spoke of the power of noticing and naming this in the class to help build everyone’s capacity. Then we got down to the work of the day. We had an organized agenda, all felt comfortable sharing ideas and came to some good decisions going forward. We ended by discussing a team celebration. Leti is moving on at the end of the school year and our little community wants to have a special farewell for her. Her passion, ideas, and determination will be so missed.

A good team does the hard stuff together and celebrates well. I am lucky to have landed in this group.

Delivery Available

#sol24- Mar. 27, 2024

I love Phnom Penh- for so many reasons. One thing that never fails to impress me is how you can get almost everything here- and often it will appear just outside your door. Delivery is easy here and there is a steady stream of carts going up and down the streets trying to sell just about anything.

When I first moved here I wondered what the bicycle horn I kept hearing was- turns out that is the call of the recyclers (adjai). They will take your cardboard, plastic, cans- whatever they can get money for, and add it to their cart. What were the black bin bags full of on the back of the trailers? Charcoal. Small carts sell full meals, snacks, drinks, even balut. Then there is the this and that cart, as shown below. All kinds of household items you might need- there when you need it. Everybody shares the road here. Motorcycles are the most common vehicles, but hand-pulled carts, cars, and trucks all make room for each other. Lanes are not strictly adhered to and to an outsider, it may look somewhat chaotic, but it all works more or less efficiently. This was my view on my ride home today.

I Finally Did It

#sol24- Mar. 26, 2024

Every year that I have sliced (this is year 10) I have invited my class to slice too. At first, the student SOL was the same month as the adult version and it was busy, so busy, but I liked the community of it. We held weekly “slicer lunches” where we ate our lunches, shared slice ideas, and generally had fun. When the challenge was in separate months I tried to keep the same energy and enthusiasm. I do not know what it is- some years the challenge sells itself in the class, and other years it is a hard sell. Even in the years when we were online for the month, I kept it going.

This year is a different cohort. I have mentioned slicing throughout the year. I often mention on Wednesday mornings things like, “Oh, I sliced about our class last night.” Throughout March I have mentioned some of the ideas I have sliced about.

Today I really jumped in- told them more about the challenge and how on April 1 they would all slice once. I told them how successful it had been some years and less so other years. I told them that this challenge was for people who love writing, people who do not yet, and everyone in between. I also said it was for people who are great writers, people who want to practice their writing, and people who like challenges. Then, I said, “Close your eyes and raise your hand if you would like to try the challenge beyond the first day.” About half raised their hands. I did it this way because the group think in this class is strong, and it does not always go well when they look to see what classmates are doing.

“About half of you are already ready to join in the fun. I will bet after you get started more of you will want to join,” I assured them.

I promised a community of student writers from all over the world. “Is that true?” R asked.

“No, I made it up,” I laughed. “Yes, it’s true- there are classes all over the world who will be trying this too,” I told him.

I haven’t even promised slicer lunches. This year I think we will do slicer recesses because most have school lunch and in April it is soooooooo hot here that some look for any excuse to stay in the air conditioning. I know we will face challenges (PYPX is April 9 and 10, and we have a break April 13-21), but we can talk those out proactively and come up with plans, after all, we are a community of writers and we support each other.

While my energy may be flagging for my March challenge (oops, did I say that out loud?) I can feel my excitement building for April. Maybe in the last week of April, I will share this slice with the 5EV writers. Look for them online next week!