tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9494893840123470032023-03-29T06:07:58.494-04:00Reach for More - Aspira a másBilingual thoughts on life, language, learning, and all things Latina.Cassyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01773053134937944674noreply@blogger.comBlogger219125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-949489384012347003.post-74887569932674155792016-07-02T12:09:00.000-04:002016-07-02T12:09:41.723-04:00Stay put? Go back?I wonder if I should start paying attention to my dreams more. On several mornings this past year I’ve woken from a dream in which I’m in the classroom, or I’m teaching, or I’m surrounded by kids, or I’m doing something teacherly – and then I wake up and feel like I’m missing something. Should I go back to the classroom?<br />
<br />
I’ve been in this profession since 1990. Teaching has been my life. After 26 years in, however, teachers usually start looking at how many years they have left, when and how to retire. I've found myself doing the same. I know I'm not totally content in my current position. For the last two years I’ve been in a support role, coaching new teachers, providing professional development, running data, and going to meetings.<br />
<br />
It’s just not as satisfying as the teacher life. There’s nothing like teaching kids how to write, reading with them, getting them excited about new things, and letting them figure things out for themselves. It’s fulfilling and heartbreaking and joyful to be responsible for a classroom kids who depend on you in different ways; you get to watch them grow, you form relationships with them, you push them and protect them. Teaching is how you move the world forward, how you connect with the future, how you keep dreams alive. I miss that.<br />
<br />
Now, I know teaching isn’t what it used to be – and that if I were presently in the classroom, I would be complaining about the paperwork, the lesson plans, too much testing, demanding administrators, and disengaged parents, and the pointless meetings.<br />
<br />
But I still miss teaching. And I know that, if it’s popping up in my dreams as often as it does, it’s because my soul is trying to tell me something.<br />
<br />Cassyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01773053134937944674noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-949489384012347003.post-21774127483414688872013-01-26T20:49:00.001-05:002013-01-30T13:13:24.394-05:00Half Teacher, Half Super Hero<br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Most of us are required to wear an ID badge at school. I
wear mine on a lanyard, to which I've attached a large white button with black
lettering, stating: “HALF TEACHER, HALF SUPERHERO”. I’ve felt that way for a long time, but this
past year I believe it even more. I wear these words as a mantra, a shield, and
a shout out to all my fellow educators. Who else but a teacher can know what
it’s really like? </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">We pay our respects to the children and educators lost in
Newtown, Connecticut on December 14. While the grim news affected our entire
country, it touched teachers in a most profound way. Who would ever imagine
that the joyful place called school would one day invoke the saddest of tears?
And, are we even surprised that teachers would step forward to protect those in
their charge? </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">I’m even more determined to make it known, that ours is the
most humbling of professions. The huge expectation placed on our students as
indicated in the new standards, and the incessant testing that robs us of teaching
time, wears at us. Teachers are more burdened than ever with district mandates,
tight schedules, and the urgent need to reach every student. A typical school
day with its ups and downs– bad behavior, laughter, the discovery of a
weeks-old muffin in a desk (and an accidental science lesson!), multiplication
facts that make you shake your head, great discussions, no homework and MIA
parents, and the collective “Nooooo!!!!” when the bell rings and it’s time to
go home – is tiring, overwhelming, heart-breaking, and inspiring. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">I often tell myself “I’m done!” with this exhausting work,
it’s just too much sometimes. And yet, I fall in love with it again day after day.
Right before we broke for the holidays, my newest student - who has only been
here a few months – laughed at a joke I told in class. His eyes lit up and he
guffawed! Another student, who refused to speak since September, began to bloom
during guided reading, as she shared the story of her arrival to the U.S. – a
connection she made after reading <a href="http://www.the-best-childrens-books.org/When-Jessie-Came-Across-the-Sea.html"><i>When Jessie Came Across the Sea</i></a><i>. </i>Moments like these mean a lot to a
teacher, especially a teacher of ELLs. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">It’s been too easy to criticize teachers lately. But when it
gets really tough, and when it counts the most, we stand firm. And so, in the
New Year, I recommit to being the best teacher I can be. I’ll teach my kids
with energy and enthusiasm. I’ll prepare engaging lessons. I’ll keep myself
informed. I’ll have high expectations of my students, but I’ll also be
sensitive to their needs. I’ll watch over them.</span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">I’m half teacher, half superhero.</span></span>Cassyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01773053134937944674noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-949489384012347003.post-27622567836274653302012-03-17T16:54:00.000-04:002012-03-17T16:54:18.434-04:00Babbles and ConfidenceIt's the start of spring and that awesome time of year when my students begin to "blossom". I feel relieved this month; my students are <i>finally </i>showing progress. At the same time, I'm finding that I've left some holes in my teaching OR that my students have not fully grasped a skill OR that they "forgot" OR... all of the above.<br />
<br />
My students, English Language Learners, have varying levels of English proficiency. The typical reading or math lesson takes us double (and triple) time; I need to pre-teach vocabulary, develop prior knowledge, and spend lots of time clarifying text. I can't get through any kind of lesson without stopping often to make sure my kids are "getting it". We're often weeks behind the other classes.<br />
<br />
So this week, during a mini-lesson on alliteration, and after we looked at (and played with) several examples from authentic text and lots of tongue-twisters and <i>trabalenguas</i> in Spanish, I stopped to review the difference between <i>sounds </i>and <i>letters. </i>I wrote "<i>Cassy catches coffee quickly in a cardboard cup" </i>on the board, and asked the class -<br />
<br />
"What do you notice about this sentence?" No reaction. (OK, I'll ask it in a different way.)<br />
<br />
"CCCassy cccatches cccoffee qqqquickly in a cccardboard cccup. Do you <i>hear</i> anything interesting?"<br />
<br />
Blank stares. (That's OK, I'll do "wait time".) Five seconds, ten... fif-<br />
<br />
"I know!" one of my buddies calls out. "They all have the same letters!"<br />
<br />
"And those letters are...?" I prompt.<br />
<br />
Crickets chirp. Five seconds, ten...<br />
<br />
Someone's raising her hand - YES! "Tell me charming lady! What do you see? What do you hear?"<br />
<br />
"The alphabet!" with a huge smile on her face.<br />
<br />
"The alphabet. Yes, the alphabet." (Well, no, that's not what I was asking, but I'll go with it, see if it gets us where we need to go.) "The alphabet has two kinds of letters, and those letters have different kinds of sounds. Can anyone tell me what <i>kinds</i> of letters are in the alphabet?"<br />
<br />
Sssshhhhhh. (Geez kids, <i>now </i>you're quiet?)<br />
<br />
A hand shoots up. "Yes sir! What kinds of letters are in the alphabet?"<br />
<br />
"Upper ones and lower ones!"<br />
<br />
"Well... " (I don't want to discourage him, but - )<br />
<br />
"Small ones and big ones!" he tries again.<br />
<br />
Oh no. Really? (My face is probably changing now. I. MUST. REMAIN. CALM.)<br />
<br />
One of my "top" reading group kids raises his hand. Aww. I bet he was waiting to give his classmates a chance. "Babbles," he says.<br />
<br />
"Babbles?" I ask. "Babbles?" I repeat. I don't get it.<br />
<br />
Another hand waves. I call on him, silently hoping the fire drill will go off.<br />
<br />
"And confidence. Babbles and confidence."<br />
<br />
Yep. Babbles and confidence.Cassyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01773053134937944674noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-949489384012347003.post-45686681616641189992011-11-09T22:28:00.000-05:002013-01-27T19:51:03.756-05:00Stand Up... I'll Help You<div style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.917969); color: #222222;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Last Thursday morning, as I walked my class in to the school, I tripped and fell on the sidewalk. It was one of those slow-motion knee, to hip, to elbow falls that took forever to finish. I found myself lying on my side, on the walkway, the blue sky above and morning noises all around me. As I lay there, I couldn't help thinking "Oh my God! How many people just saw that?" I wanted to disappear!</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">As I shook my head in disbelief (I have just FALLEN!) and tried to hoist myself back up, my students all of a sudden surrounded me, like a wall. It was like they were protecting me from the <i>others</i> - the other kids, the parents, the teachers! One of the boys stood in front of me, set his feet firmly apart, and extended his hands to me, saying, "OK miss, venga. P<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: black; line-height: 21px;">á</span>rese...<span class="Apple-style-span"> yo la ayudo." </span><i>(OK miss, come on now. Stand up... I'll help you.)</i><span class="Apple-style-span"> He actually stood firmly enough that I was able to lift myself up with his help. </span></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The rest of the children were soooo quiet.The girls brushed me off, and the boys scattered to collect my things which had landed all over the place. My books and papers had flown out of my book bag, my yogurt had splattered all over the walkway. No one said a word!</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">We walked in like we always do, but the boy that had helped me up, kept his hand on my elbow as we took the steps to the 2nd floor and in to our classroom. The kids were all still so quiet. All morning, through math, then word work and writing, they were really quiet. Every now and then they'd ask again if I was OK. </span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Later on, as we started reading, they were still somber. I had to snap them out of it! I said "Hey guys! Remember when I fell this morning? Wasn't that hi-LA-rious? Ha ha ha ha haha ha haha!!!!!!!" I laughed at the visual I conjured up, of my shocked self laying on the sidewalk. And then, like dominoes, a chuckle spread though the room, turning into full-out belly laughs. </span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I thought all day about how my kids reacted to the incident, how they remained respectful, and how they showed me their concern. They seemed worried all morning, until I got them to laugh about it! I'll never forget how protected and loved I felt; my students stood by <i>me</i> and looked after <i>me</i>. </span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">It's gratifying to know that in the two months we've been together, my students and I have developed a relationship that allows us to care for each other and laugh together. And I salute their parents for the fine job they've done so far in raising kind children.</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Humbled...</span></div>
Cassyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01773053134937944674noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-949489384012347003.post-15867748317004059782011-06-29T11:46:00.000-04:002011-06-29T11:46:19.258-04:00Take out your cellphones, please.Last night, while in bed, I used mobile technology to get a quick answer.<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.latenightwithjimmyfallon.com/blogs/2011/06/--description--1---asset--1-5/"><b>Late Night with Jimmy Fallon</b></a> was running a repeat of their July 7 show. A band called <b><a href="http://www.mymorningjacket.com/gogo/">My Morning Jacket</a></b> was the last guest. <b><a href="http://blog.vh1.com/2011-06-08/last-night-on-late-night-my-morning-jacket-heat-up-fallon-with-circuital/">When they started to play Circuital</a></b>, which I had never heard before, I was captivated by the intriguing way in which the song began. I often get hung up on certain pieces of melody, and I just had to know who these guys were.<br />
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Luckily, my <b><a href="http://www.barnesandnoble.com/nookcolor/index.asp">Nook Color</a></b> was at arm's reach. OK, the Nook is supposed to be a reader, and that <i>is</i> how I use it for the most part. However, I wanted to find the name of the song, and I wanted to hear it again, to affirm that I had indeed come across a sound that pleased me. I switched on the browser to my Nook, did a quick Google search, and there they were. A band and a song I had never heard before, and that I would certainly look in to further.<br />
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This morning, after reading the article <b><a href="http://newamericamedia.org/2011/06/mobile-devices-in-classroom-give-english-learners-a-leg-up.php">Mobile Tech in Classrooms Boosts English Learners</a></b>, it occurred to me, the same on-the-spot-let's-find-out could take place in my classroom. If my students were each handed mobile devices at the beginning of the school year - like Nooks, iPads, tablets or netbooks - their worlds would be made larger, and language learning would be enhanced.<br />
<br />
Or, what if my students were permitted to use their cellphones in class? This past year, of my 19 fourth-graders, nine of them had their own cellphones. What if I devised activities where my students would be allowed to use their cellphones to access information, submit answers, collaborate and be even more engaged? Until mobile devices are provided to ALL learners, why not let us use what is already in our students' hands?Cassyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01773053134937944674noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-949489384012347003.post-30754393789049050822011-06-27T00:11:00.001-04:002011-06-27T00:14:16.181-04:00We Can Do BetterWhen I first welcomed him to our classroom back in September, "G" warned me, in all his toughness, "there's nothing you can do to make me like school". I was taken aback by his statement, but instantly took it as a challenge. We struggled the first several weeks as we got to know each other. He had to learn to trust me, while I had to figure out what set him off.<br />
<br />
I learned quickly that G had two huge issues: divorced parents and what looked to me like dyslexia or dysgraphia. Which of the two? I'm afraid we never got to that. Although G had been referred to I & RS <b>last year, </b>all he got this school year was two marking periods of <b>tutoring!</b> I had him in my lowest reading group, gave him extra time at writing conferences, and tried different tactics for getting him through his literacy difficulties. (Classroom teachers are not necessarily equipped to address the needs of dyslexia and dysgraphia, unfortunately.) I also had to muster up some serious patience, especially at the beginning of the year, during his outbursts which involved shoving furniture, throwing school supplies, and trying to engage me in arguments. His little face would turn red, he would huff and puff, he would cry. He would tense up and pinch or squeeze his arm. ( I later recognized this as his attempt to control himself.)<br />
<br />
I knew, of course, he acted out of frustration. He lived with his mother one week, his father the next. G clearly had a preference for his dad's place. I could easily tell on a Monday morning whose week it was, by the angry look on his face. His family situation, coupled with his learning difficulties, made for a very angry little boy.<br />
<br />
As the year progressed, G did get better academically and socially. He did very well in math. He contributed very thoughtfully to classroom discussions. And although his independent reading ability was well below grade level, he developed a desire to read. I often found him engrossed in the <a href="http://www.wimpykid.com/">Diary of a Wimpy Kid</a> series, which took him way longer than his peers, but held his attention. He eventually overcame some of his distaste for school. His classmates often teased, "See?!! You DO like school!" He learned to curb his emotional outbursts and he practiced self-calming techniques.<br />
<br />
I know we should have done more. As much as I advocated for G, my school was not able (or willing?) to address his needs more appropriately. Some forms were filled out, a few questionnaires completed, and ONE meeting held to discuss his case. By the end of the year, his case was left... open? hanging? in limbo?<br />
<br />
G left for summer vacation a week earlier than his classmates, while I was still grading benchmark tests. He said "Bye Miss!" as he took off at the end of his last day, and that was that. My eyes later filled up at his response to a persuasive writing prompt, where he was to explain why our school is the best in town:<br />
<br />
<i>Also the techors here cold relle chang a person. Like me befor I cam to this school. I hated being in school. However, the techors changed me. I still don't like school but now I can't sae I hate going and being in school. Also the techers are alway fair about stfo.<br />
</i><br />
This is the "stuff" that makes me want to do better.Cassyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01773053134937944674noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-949489384012347003.post-47749161426432653712011-06-23T23:40:00.000-04:002011-06-23T23:40:51.978-04:00School's out for summerOn this last day of school I wanted to say so many things to my students. But there were cumulative folders to fill out, books to put away, papers to file, a final assembly to attend, summer paperwork to distribute, and letters to send home. Sorry kids - your teacher didn't have a chance to share some last thoughts.<div><br />
</div><div>Five minutes before the bell rang, I said "OK guys. Last time I'm going to say it. Let's line up for dismissal." And all of a sudden I felt a little lump in my throat. I looked away to hide a tear that welled up, and started down the hall, downstairs, to the gym, where I delivered my kids every day for the past year, so they could catch their buses to various parts around town.</div><div><br />
</div><div>I grabbed the first child's hand, I'm not sure why, and walked with her like that until we got to the gym. She looked at our hands and raised them, saying "This is something I'm going to remember." And with that, I hugged my 4th grade buddies, whispering a few special words to each, and sent them on their way. </div><div><br />
</div><div><div class="MsoNormal">¡Adelante mis niños! </div></div>Cassyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01773053134937944674noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-949489384012347003.post-57559054057241977302011-06-01T22:51:00.000-04:002011-06-01T22:51:38.697-04:00Trying to get backThree months have passed since I've updated my blog. I've wanted to come back here, several times, but my mind was overloaded with extra work and responsibilities. I couldn't find my way back in the way of a coherent "What I've been up to" post. But now, things have calmed down a bit, and my husband encouraged me to at least write a paragraph to get started (or restarted). <br />
<br />
The problem is, the paragraph I want to write will take me forever. I'll scrutinize my words too much. I won't just write. I'll dwell on how it sounds, if it flows, if it makes sense. I'll either reveal too much or too little. This paragraph will about the writing I want to do, the kind I wish would just flow, as it does for others. This paragraph will be telling. It'll be empty, but it'll say a lot. It'll hint at things and be quite clear. It'll be a pointless little paragraph, but it'll make a point at the same time. <br />
<br />
I need to write more.Cassyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01773053134937944674noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-949489384012347003.post-4025974260278532812011-02-26T00:09:00.000-05:002011-02-26T00:09:46.489-05:00Una visión<script src="http://www.freefoto.com/imagelink/?ffid=11-52-16&s=s" type="text/javascript">
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<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Every now and then, I'm absent from school to participate in professional development, workshops, training, or conferences. Recently, I've signed on to work with my state's DOE on a special curriculum writing project. Specifically, we're writing exemplar ESL units that match up language objectives with content objectives. It's both interesting and intense. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">What I appreciate most about this experience is the way in which it makes me take a closer, harder look at the way I teach my ELLs. I'm finding that I'm on target most of the time, especially in the way I structure my lessons - providing plenty of scaffolding at the beginning, having a "big idea" in mind throughout, and relinquishing control gradually as my students take on more responsibility for their own learning. At the same time, I recognize a few blind spots in my instruction, and I realize why they occur. The demands and goals of the general curriculum can often obscure the specific language needs of my ELLs. <br />
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I've been teaching for almost 21 years now, and while my eyesight has begun to fade ever so slightly, my vision for Bilingual Education has become clearer. I hope that, in spite of the negativity around me, I'll not lose sight of what matters. Good teaching, respect for kids and the way they learn, and </span><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><em>ánimo </em>will endure in my classroom.</span>Cassyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01773053134937944674noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-949489384012347003.post-20894302827817038382011-01-31T21:29:00.000-05:002011-01-31T21:29:55.263-05:00Weather Conditions<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Her face struck me, in a sad way, in an "awww" kind of way - </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">downcast brown eyes forced me to see I had been thinking only of myself.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I was relieved at the thought of a snow day, even giddy - </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">many of us, overworked and unappreciated get to feeling that way</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">this time of year.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">But not her, nor her little friends.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Several of them were downright disappointed at the possibility of NOT having school.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">What kind of kid doesn't LOVE a snow day?</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">That would be the kind that sits in my room</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">looking at me expectantly for the next <em>big thing...</em></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">prime numbers, possessives, paragraphs,</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">and PEMDAS.</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><em>Niña</em>, I think to myself, <em>I need this day. </em></span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"><em>Maestra, </em>she says with her eyes<em>, I need you more.</em></span></div></div>Cassyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01773053134937944674noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-949489384012347003.post-27355689060142052772011-01-06T22:15:00.000-05:002011-01-06T22:15:47.282-05:00Books I Should Have Read...<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">... will be part of my 2nd Annual Personal Reading Challenge. As I did last year, I will read 52 books by the end of 2011. As part of this goal, I've signed up for the <em><a href="http://www.danahuff.net/?p=1972">Books I Should Have Read in School but Didn't Challenge</a>. </em>I've committed to the "Literature Professor" Level, and will read 12 selections to meet this challenge. I'll read 12 selections I missed in high school and college.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">This past week, a good friend of mine mentioned she was starting <em>El amor en los tiempos del cólera. </em>I own the translation - Love in the Time of Cholera - and will therefore start my reading resolutions with Gabriel García Márquez. I should have read more of his work while in college. Now I get to have "book talks" with a friend <em>and </em>work toward my goals!</span>Cassyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01773053134937944674noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-949489384012347003.post-86213469451299876412010-12-31T17:45:00.000-05:002010-12-31T17:45:01.845-05:00CumplidaI've finished book #52 this late afternoon! I've met my goal for the year and I'm feeling quite good about it.<br />
<img height="216" id="il_fi" src="http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/41WcWNzEIJL.jpg" style="padding-bottom: 8px; padding-right: 8px; padding-top: 8px;" width="154" /><br />
<br />
My last selection of the year, suggested to me by my husband, was Mary Oliver's <strong><a href="http://books.google.com/books?id=sr7GMCknvLQC&printsec=frontcover&dq=red+bird+mary+oliver&source=bl&ots=kseYpUFbR3&sig=uSBInv73A7NOQp_L2pLNqB2Ch3c&hl=en&ei=gFweTZG7GIL7lwfwhcDDDA&sa=X&oi=book_result&ct=result&resnum=3&ved=0CC0Q6AEwAg#v=onepage&q&f=false">Red Bird</a></strong>. And on this evening of resolutions and looking forward to the New Year, Oliver's book of poems is very fitting for me. Through her observations of the fox, the river, the turtle, and many other gifts of this world - including her pet dog Percy - Oliver reminds us to pay attention to what is alive and around us, to be aware of nature and the way you feel, and the way <em>it</em> feels.<br />
<br />
Beautiful.Cassyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01773053134937944674noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-949489384012347003.post-43104909966028144662010-12-27T22:52:00.000-05:002010-12-27T22:52:38.543-05:00DistractionsI'm halfway through book #50. You'd think that being on Christmas vacation <em>and</em> being snowed in would help my mission, allowing me to finish the last three books I need to read before the clock strikes twelve on New Year's Eve. But I have a problem. <br />
<br />
I'm easily distracted.<br />
<br />
I'm distracted by emails, Facebook, and Twitter. I lost my way yesterday when I glanced at the windows in my office and just <em>had</em> to make curtains, right then and there. (They're lovely, I must say. I made them out of two Indian scarves.) I'm distracted by laundry, but not so much that I actually <em>do</em> any. (OK, I did one load today, just the essentials, like a bunch of underwear and some pjs I'll need for the rest of this lazy week.)<br />
<br />
I'm distracted by Christmas cookies. Lots of cookies, all kinds. Every time I pass by the kitchen table, these bright red tins call to me. I open them, and discover new treasures while sipping hot coffee. <br />
<br />
I <em>was</em> productive today, and helped my husband shovel snow. I was distracted though, when the most beautiful flock of geese flew by, and I couldn't help but marvel at the beauty of the day - the crisp cold, the white snow, the blowing wind, the clean air. (How alive I felt!)<br />
<br />
I did read this afternoon, but a nap came on. I gave in. Now here I am, it's almost 11 pm, and I'm about to watch a movie with my family. Movies are distracting too, but this is the week to catch up on them. When the movie is over, off to bed I'll go. <br />
<br />
I'll prop myself up with a bunch of pillows, and read until I'm struggling to keep my eyes open.Cassyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01773053134937944674noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-949489384012347003.post-54002108597110844952010-12-14T20:42:00.000-05:002010-12-14T20:42:01.268-05:00Almost there! Not giving up!To date, I've read 47 books in 2010! Just five more books and I will have met my challenge! <br />
<br />
Now, how to get five more books in by New Year's Eve? The routine is: get in bed by 10:30, read for an hour or more, then sneak in short spurts of reading here and there, between after school and dinner, and on the weekend, between housework and holiday shopping. It'll be a squeeze for the next two weeks, but I will do it.Cassyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01773053134937944674noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-949489384012347003.post-2201457386592980842010-11-20T21:49:00.001-05:002010-12-14T20:31:19.705-05:00Books, books, and more books!When we rang in the <strong>New Year 2010</strong>, I resolved to read a book a week this year. It's been a challenge to keep up the momentum, but it's also been exciting to see my virtual bookshelf fill up on <a href="http://www.shelfari.com/cassyll">Shelfari</a>. My shelf is at the bottom of my blog here, if you care to take a look.<br />
<br />
So far, I've read 42 books this year! I MUST read 10 more books by New Year's Eve or I'll be disappointed in myself. No matter what is happening in my life, I absolutely have to read everyday, or I get to feeling like the day was a waste. During the day, I plot how I'll get schoolwork, errands, and housework done in time to get in bed by 10, so I can read for at least an hour before going to sleep. It's what I look forward to all day...<br />
<br />
My husband, <a href="http://twitter.com/#!/TheAmericanPoet">@TheAmericanPoet</a> on Twitter, honored me with a <a href="http://crownedwithlaurels.blogspot.com/2010/11/stacked-up.html">poem</a> about my reading quest. Please read it at his blog, <a href="http://crownedwithlaurels.blogspot.com/2010/11/stacked-up.html">Crowned with Laurels</a>.Cassyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01773053134937944674noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-949489384012347003.post-29899272503848980762010-10-18T22:43:00.001-04:002010-10-18T22:44:08.904-04:00TornLook how long it's taken to make my way back here! <br />
Time gets shorter and tighter as it slips through my hands and feet - <br />
I try to finish a billion little things<br />
as I juggle enormous tasks.<br />
<br />
Has anyone realized how long it's been since I've posted? I'm trying to keep up with everything; work has a way of taking over. In the 20 years I've been teaching, the amount of work I bring home has increased dramatically. No matter what I do, I'm always behind. Added to that, my responsibilities to family (which should come first) as well as those to my <a href="http://www.njtesol-njbe.org/">advocacy organization</a>; I often have a hard time keeping up with it all. All I can say is... you should see my house!<br />
<br />
I wish... I could read and write all day and then I wouldn't feel like I'm not doing <em>everything</em> I <em>should</em> be doing to complete ME.Cassyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01773053134937944674noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-949489384012347003.post-58222854576251685392010-08-20T14:34:00.000-04:002010-08-20T14:34:25.053-04:00Tales of a Female Nomad - Book ReviewTravel often and live outside your country for a while, if possible. You'll learn three things. <br />
<ol><li>You <em>can</em> live without many of the objects and comforts you feel are must-haves.</li>
<li>People want to connect with you. They want to share what they have, even when they have little to give. Eating together and talking are two of the most important activities we can engage in with anyone.</li>
<li>You create your own adventures. You just have to be willing to take the first step.</li>
</ol><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/__PrQbLY6PqA/TG7BjsmnA3I/AAAAAAAAAjQ/46KdQAljAnA/s1600/tales-of-a-female-nomad-living-at-large-in-the-world-8448544.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" ox="true" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/__PrQbLY6PqA/TG7BjsmnA3I/AAAAAAAAAjQ/46KdQAljAnA/s200/tales-of-a-female-nomad-living-at-large-in-the-world-8448544.jpg" width="129" /></a></div>These are just a few points I've internalized from my reading of <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Tales-Female-Nomad-Living-Large/dp/0609809547">Tales of a Female Nomad</a> by <a href="http://www.ritagoldengelman.com/">Rita Golden Gelman</a>. I enjoyed the book tremendously. <br />
<br />
In her late forties, Gelman embarks on a series of travels around the world. A successful writer of children's books, Gelman lives a very comfortable life, but something is missing. She sells her things, and fills a backpack with the most essential items for a journey into the unknown. She really isn't sure what she is getting into at first. But once she goes to Mexico, and lives in a Zapotec village... she is hooked on living simply, living with and learning from different people, and experiencing the sights, sounds, and flavors of another culture. She travels all over the world and stays for months at a time in places like Nicaragua, Israel, the Galapagos Islands, Indonesia, New Zealand, and Thailand. She even returns often to the US between travels and stays in different places - giving her the valuable opportunity to reconnect with family and build new friendships.<br />
<br />
Gelman's descriptions of people and places were excellent. I felt as if I were traveling with her. I was especially intrigued by her detailed accounts of meal preparation and sharing in these very different places. <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Female-Nomad-Friends-Breaking-Around/dp/0307588017">Female Nomad and Friends - Tales of Breaking Free and Breaking Bread Around the World</a>, is Gelman's next book where she "pays homage to the wonders of traveling, connecting, cooking, and eating around the world". I plan to read that one next.<br />
<br />
I've had the opportunity to visit several different states. I've also traveled often to Bolivia, and I've been to Spain once. (Thanks dad, for igniting the travel flame!) I hope to have the chance someday to travel more. Maybe I'll even be lucky enough to enjoy an extended stay somewhere where I can work at an elementary school. Traveling, eating, and <em>teaching</em> around the world... now <em>that</em> would be <em>my</em> dream adventure!Cassyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01773053134937944674noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-949489384012347003.post-65655637551723546202010-08-20T00:57:00.000-04:002010-08-20T00:57:01.456-04:00Bracing myselfSchool starts in a couple of weeks. Not just school, where I teach, but school, where I'll be going every Monday for a graduate course. I've decided to go back to school to get my supervisor's certificate. <br />
<br />
When I finished my master's in 2005, I thought I'd never go back to that stressful schedule of an intense day of teaching, followed by a one-hour drive to the university, then two hours and a half of class, then a one-hour drive back home. Here I am once again though, registered and tuition installments paid. Luckily, I enjoy school, at least until I start to become overwhelmed with classroom duties and family obligations. <br />
<br />
I predict an intense year, where I'll need to be extra organized and manage my time wisely. I'm good at letting things pile up, and getting annoyed when they do. Willpower, coffee, and the occasional nap will get me through.Cassyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01773053134937944674noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-949489384012347003.post-27881719874212535252010-08-01T23:30:00.000-04:002010-08-01T23:30:28.706-04:00And the Winners are...<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/__PrQbLY6PqA/TFYywv4048I/AAAAAAAAAjA/8ITVZzVQ5V4/s1600/sisters.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" bx="true" height="200" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/__PrQbLY6PqA/TFYywv4048I/AAAAAAAAAjA/8ITVZzVQ5V4/s200/sisters.jpg" width="129" /></a>Marjorie, Karen, and Beverly!</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">Thank you ladies, for visiting my blog and participating in the book giveaway. I will get in touch so we can send out your copies of <em>Sisters, Strangers, and Starting Over</em> by Belinda Acosta. </div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">I am also looking forward to reading <em>Sisters</em>, since I recently finished <em>Damas, Dramas, and Ana Ruiz</em> by the same author, and I must say, I really enjoyed it! A funny thing happened when I started to read <em>Damas</em> a few weeks ago. I received an invitation to attend the National Council of La Raza's Annual Conference in San Antonio, Texas which would take place July 10 to 13 at the Henry B. Gonzalez Convention Center. I was very excited about the event.<br />
<br />
My bags were packed for my early morning flight, and so I settled in to bed with my book. I started to read Chapter Eight, and guess where it was taking place? At the Henry B. Gonzalez Convention Center! The main character <em>Ana </em>and her daughter <em>Bianca </em>were at a <em>quinceañera </em>fair, getting some ideas for the young lady's special day. (A quinceañera is the latino equivalent of a sweet sixteen.) <br />
<br />
<em>¡Qué casualidad!</em> What a coincidence! I was headed to a place in my book, while I was reading it!</div>Cassyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01773053134937944674noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-949489384012347003.post-754587848577977012010-07-06T23:24:00.002-04:002010-07-06T23:27:05.990-04:00Book Giveaway! Sisters, Strangers, and Starting OverI'm hosting a book giveaway on behalf of <a href="http://www.hachettebookgroup.com/index.aspx">Hachette Book Group</a>. There will be three winners, who will each win a copy of <a href="http://www.hachettebookgroup.com/books_9780446540520.htm"><em>Sisters, Strangers, and Starting Over</em></a> by Belinda Acosta. <br />
<br />
<em>Beatriz Sánchez-Milligan is shocked when her 14-year-old niece, Celeste, stumbles into her 25th wedding anniversary party. Celeste reveals that her mother, Perla, has died and that she has nowhere else to go. Beatriz immediately takes Celeste in - a decision that troubles her husband, Larry, who remembers that wherever Perla went, trouble followed. He worries his wife is rushing in without having all the facts. Undaunted, Beatriz begins to plan a quinceañera for Celeste; but the party planning doesn't comfort Celeste, nor does it ease Beatriz's pain.</em> -<em>Hachette Book Group</em><br />
<br />
<a href="http://qclubbooks.blogspot.com/">Visit the author's website</a><br />
Follow the author <a href="http://twitter.com/belindagene">@BelindaGene</a><br />
<a href="http://www.facebook.com/pages/La-quinceanera-club-books-de-Belinda-Acosta/137625675297%20#!/pages/La-quinceanera-club-books-de-Belinda-Acosta/137625675297?ref=ts">Become a fan on Facebook</a><br />
<br />
To win a book, please comment here by July 31, and share your thoughts on sisters, whether you have sisters or not. When you comment, please leave an email address or link to a site where you can be contacted. Winners must be US or Canadian residents. No PO Boxes please. Winners will be selected and announced on August 1.Cassyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01773053134937944674noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-949489384012347003.post-51017306255038421682010-07-03T23:16:00.000-04:002010-07-03T23:16:04.796-04:00Realzar... La RazaI was invited to attend the <a href="http://www.nclr.org/">National Council of La Raza</a> 2010 Annual Conference in San Antonio, Texas, July 10 - 14. The call was totally unexpected and very short notice, causing me to hesitate and think I'd need to sleep on it. But I didn't need to think on it <em>too</em> much; how could I <em>not </em>go? I've been a long time supporter of NCLR and its ideals, and to think that I've been given yet another opportunity to be with people who work toward the same things as I do... well, it means a lot. And as my husband said, when I was on the fence about going, "You <em>have</em> to go. It's your thing!"<br />
<br />
NCLR is "the largest national Latino civil rights and advocacy organization in the United States". I'm excited to listen to the conference speakers, learn new things about community and advocacy at the workshops, and network with people from across the country. You can be sure that I'll be seeking out other educators and advocates for English Language Learners. While there, I'll be tweeting my experiences @CassyLL. Do follow!<br />
<br />
I'm a proud Latina and I feel it's my obligation to support other Latinos, especially my students and their families. While at the NCLR conference, I'll draw <em>fuerzas y animo</em> from the other participants - strength and encouragement, for the work that lies ahead of me. <em>Mi gente</em>... I'm so excited! Cassyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01773053134937944674noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-949489384012347003.post-38092774807295728322010-07-02T15:18:00.001-04:002010-07-02T15:28:51.897-04:00Bitter fruitI was recently at an informal gathering of coworkers, all of whom work at school in some capacity. It was nice to see everyone in summer mode, wearing t-shirts, shorts, flip-flops... sipping on cold drinks and enjoying chips, burgers and dogs, fresh fruit, and key lime pie. The relaxed atmosphere was very pleasant, something I know everyone needed after a long and stressful school year.<br />
<br />
However, some of the conversation troubled me. I was disappointed to hear some people talk so poorly about the kids they worked with. I hated hearing some of them preface several negative comments with "these parents". I cringed when one of them - the same one I've seen being downright abusive to children - talked about how much she "couldn't stand them". A few of them even mentioned the many ways they "got away with" stuff all year... I don't even want to go in to detail. <br />
<br />
Some of us stayed quiet, listened, maybe raised an eyebrow. We made eye-contact, some of us, and in that <em>mirada </em>said to each other, "look what they're doing to our kids". Some of us, for whom teaching and advocating for children has become our life's work... <em>nos quedamos calladas, </em>we remained silent.<br />
<br />
Inwardly, I was giving these <em>gals</em> a piece of my mind; I wish I could tell them to GO elsewhere with their bad attitude and mediocrity. If only I could say out loud that I blame <em>them</em> for the way things have gone sour in this profession. I wanted to say something. I wanted to speak up for the kids and their parents. I wanted to tell them...<br />
<br />
And if I had said something... would they have even listened? I can only hope the summer rest will sweeten their outlook a bit. It's not so much that I care about <em>them</em> - I'm thinking about the little kids they'll meet in September.Cassyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01773053134937944674noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-949489384012347003.post-26737843058799517842010-07-01T13:59:00.001-04:002010-07-01T14:00:59.097-04:00Sensing and Connecting<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/__PrQbLY6PqA/TCzTHAtmQ2I/AAAAAAAAAiQ/kKcP_-3yWQo/s1600/anaturalhistoryofthesenses.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" rw="true" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/__PrQbLY6PqA/TCzTHAtmQ2I/AAAAAAAAAiQ/kKcP_-3yWQo/s200/anaturalhistoryofthesenses.jpg" width="129" /></a></div><br />
I had always thought that the connections we make between life experiences and the five senses were fascinating. Several years ago, upon reading <a href="http://productsearch.barnesandnoble.com/search/results.aspx?WRD=a+natural+history+of+the+senses"><strong>A Natural History of the Senses</strong> </a>by Diane Ackerman, I became even more aware of the ways in which I perceived particular moments in time, as well as how others "sensed" them. Ackerman explores the senses in historic and vivid detail in this engrossing book which I go to again and again. I highly recommend it.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/__PrQbLY6PqA/TCzTnJjnwtI/AAAAAAAAAiY/24oaAB_LYOU/s1600/mangoshaped.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" rw="true" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/__PrQbLY6PqA/TCzTnJjnwtI/AAAAAAAAAiY/24oaAB_LYOU/s200/mangoshaped.jpg" width="133" /></a></div>My interest in this topic was peaked again when I came across <strong><a href="http://productsearch.barnesandnoble.com/search/results.aspx?WRD=a+mango+shaped+space&box=a%20mango%20shaped&pos=0">A Mango-Shaped Space</a></strong> by Wendy Mass. This young adult novel is about Mia, a 13-yr old for whom letters, numbers, and sounds have color. In the course of the novel she is diagnosed with <strong><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Synesthesia">synesthesia</a></strong> - "a neurologically-based condition in which stimulation of one sensory or cognitive pathway leads to automatic, involuntary experiences in a second sensory or cognitive pathway." (Wikipedia) How fascinating! <br />
<br />
While we watch Mia struggle with her condition in this story, we also get to see the reactions of people who are close to her. This is a story about growing up, discovering who you are, friendship, and family. I enjoyed it.<br />
<br />
As soon as I started <em>A Mango-Shaped Space</em>, I began making connections to <em>A History of the Senses</em>, which was a nonfiction piece. This kind of text-to-text connection makes learning concrete. It's a big part of teaching reading to children. Being aware of these connections makes us better readers and teachers!Cassyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01773053134937944674noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-949489384012347003.post-86878397081038139062010-05-31T12:02:00.000-04:002010-05-31T12:02:02.627-04:00Buen provechoOn my desk and shelves, <br />
in my bedroom, on my bedside table<br />
piles of books, stacked as high <br />
as they'll let me. These towers <br />
built with mixed bricks,<br />
flavors I want to taste.<br />
Afraid I won't have enough <br />
like a binge-eater, I read until full <br />
never feeling like I'm done.<br />
<em><span class="goog-spellcheck-word">Quiero</span> más</em>.<br />
<br />
I skip words when I speak,<br />
I can't come up with what I want to say<br />
but my mouth utters one, two, three <em>disparates</em><br />
until the <span class="goog-spellcheck-word">ri</span><span class="goog-spellcheck-word">ght</span> one comes. <br />
Have I overindulged?<br />
These ideas swimming together,<br />
sorting <span class="goog-spellcheck-word">themselv</span>es out, do they<br />
cause me to misspeak?<br />
Should I watch what I read?<br />
Or should I fill up even more,<br />
because there's always more to be had.<br />
No one ever watches how much I read.<br />
They'll judge my plate, eyebrows raised, <br />
but not my shelves.<br />
<br />
<em>Me <span class="goog-spellcheck-word">sirvo</span> m<span class="goog-spellcheck-word">ás</span>.</em>Cassyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01773053134937944674noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-949489384012347003.post-85177255842747139362010-05-30T09:59:00.001-04:002010-05-30T10:01:18.423-04:00Arizona... estoy contigoThis morning I am struck by the latest post over at <a href="http://labloga.blogspot.com/2010/05/alto-arizona-pictures-of-protest.html">La <span class="goog-spellcheck-word">Bloga</span></a>. It was <a href="http://immigrationclearinghouse.org/alto-arizona-national-day-of-action-against-sb1070/">Arizona's Day of Action</a> yesterday. People marched in the scorching heat to protest <a href="http://www.nytimes.com/2010/04/24/us/politics/24immig.html">Senate Bill 1070</a> - a bill that invites harassment and mistreatment of Latinos.<br />
<br />
A colleague of mine, for whom I have little patience, recently asked me what I thought about the latest in Arizona. I can't have this kind of conversation with this person; there's too much ignorance there. How do you explain that people often come here out of <span class="goog-spellcheck-word">desper</span><span class="goog-spellcheck-word">ation</span>? Out of need? And what about dreams and visions? Are brown people not allowed to hope for something better for <span class="goog-spellcheck-word">themselv</span>es and their children?<br />
<br />
My colleague, for the hundredth time, says "they" take some of our jobs. I ask, "Are <em>you</em> willing to pick fruit in the hot sun all day long? Would <em>you</em> stand in an assembly line fastening <span class="goog-spellcheck-word">plas</span>tic bits to metal parts? Would <em>you</em> mind bussing tables and washing strangers' dishes? Would <em>you</em> scrub toilets? Can <em>you</em> imagine taking on two or three of these jobs just so you can get by? <br />
<br />
And now I ask you - <em>mi <span class="goog-spellcheck-word">colega</span></em><br />
would you deny food to Maria who stands in <br />
the lunch line, anticipating the <br />
warmth in her belly that will come from a sandwich <br />
and a carton of milk?<br />
Do you want to send Alex away, whose dad has just<br />
moved his family of five <br />
to a third floor apartment<br />
in a run down house,<br />
no air-conditioning?<br />
And what about Wanda,<br />
who excels in class, writing colorful poems and <br />
hopeful stories - the top student - <br />
would you send her back to a place<br />
where school is unstable? <br />
Would you take from these children<br />
because, as an American <br />
it's your duty to stand for "what's right"?Cassyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01773053134937944674noreply@blogger.com5