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The Friday Photo – Time for Thoughts

Posted on July 23, 2011 by

I was thinking today that sometimes as I’m moving around in my day, an image gets stuck in my head that I can’t shake.  Sometimes it conjures up a memory, a feeling, or provides an impulse to do something.  Often, though, I just see something that I want to capture in my mind for no particular reason-it just speaks to me.  I’d like to offer these images up for ‘thought contributions’-as a way to generate a community of ideas together.  So….here’s my first ‘Friday Photo’.  What does it make you think of? Please share your stories, memories, or just what comes to mind when you look at it.  I can’t wait to hear what you have to say!

primark

Jennifer Wolfe

Jennifer Wolfe, a writer-teacher-mom, is dedicated to finding the extraordinary in the ordinary moments of life by thinking deeply, loving fiercely, and teaching audaciously. Jennifer is a Google Certified Educator, Hyperdoc fanatic, and a voracious reader. Read her stories on her blog, mamawolfe, and grab free copies of her teaching and parenting resources.

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Treasure Hunting: Geocaching for Memories

Posted on July 11, 2011 by

Sometimes, taking a walk with my son Cameron and my dog Cola is just the best thing to do.  We’re lucky in Davis to have a multitude of options for our journey-from our place in central Davis we can really head in any direction and find something to see.  After discovering geocaching a few years ago, our walks have turned into moments of discovery.
Geocaching is a game of high tech hide and seek.  It’s kind of like treasure hunting, except typical cache treasures aren’t worth much in monetary value-it’s all about the hunt.  “Cachers” find the thrill is in trying to solve the mystery and find the box, can, or whatever creative container has been hidden using coordinates from a GPS.  Personally, I like the geocaching app I downloaded on my iPhone-it has allowed us to hunt and seek for treasures everywhere we go, in any city or state.
As Cameron, Cola and I stroll along on our hunts we start to notice things we haven’t before-even in our own neighborhood.  We pay attention to the little details around us as we search for clues to the mystery.  We talk and walk, and when we think we’re close we check for ‘muggles’-(cache-speak for those who aren’t part of the caching community).  After we log our find it’s on to the next, and the next, and pretty soon it’s dark, and we head home.  We’ve cached all over Davis- the Arboretum, old North Davis, CommunityPark, Covell, Northstar and Stonegate.  We’ve climbed bridges, dug around in dirt and spiderwebs, and even stumbled across a large roosting bird of some sort out by the freeway.  There have been moments when I was ready to give up, and suddenly Cameron would pop up with a huge grin on his face and the cache in his hand.
What I’ve learned is that stuff is hidden everywhere.  For me, geocaching isn’t about finding the capsule, or logging the visit.  It’s the journey we take to get there.  It’s the wild turkeys roosting in the trees, or the geese in the bird sanctuary.  It’s the turtles and peacocks at the Arboretum and the yellow roses blooming along the Toomey Field fence.  And mostly, it’s the stuff that my son and I discover about each other along the way.
What I’m still learning is that it’s ok to get lost in the moment, and to slow down and notice the stuff.  The memories I log in my mind are the most valuable treasure of all.

Jennifer Wolfe

Jennifer Wolfe, a writer-teacher-mom, is dedicated to finding the extraordinary in the ordinary moments of life by thinking deeply, loving fiercely, and teaching audaciously. Jennifer is a Google Certified Educator, Hyperdoc fanatic, and a voracious reader. Read her stories on her blog, mamawolfe, and grab free copies of her teaching and parenting resources.

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Speak Softly: How To Coach So People Will Listen

Posted on July 6, 2011 by

Scenario:  Hot July night in Davis, CA.  Little League Fields are full of spectators smiling and sweating through the sweltering 100 degree plus heat amidst umbrellas, ice chests, and the search for shade.  Hundreds of people were gathered to watch our local children battle it out in the District 64 all star games. 

I do love Davis Little League baseball.  Starting with T-ball, our sons and daughters learn to run, bat, throw, catch, and play hard.  As they move through Farm, AA, AAA, and into Majors, games turn from endless marathons of good natured cheers and encouragement to intense moments of strategy, skill and endurance.  But tonight’s game got me thinking about HOW we teach them to play the game.

My son has had dozens of amazing Davis Little League coaches.  As a teacher, I am always amazed at and profoundly grateful for the contribution they make to the program-my son wouldn’t be the player he is without their dedication.  I’ve watched them coach through rain, wind, cold, and heat with smiles on their faces and a constant positive attitude.  They teach, supervise, and prepare their players to do their best and never give up-excellent life lessons.  But tonight I watched a different kind of coaching-this came from a visiting coach from a neighboring town during the all star games. 

This visiting coach used the ‘bark and drill’ approach.   He was loud, and barked as if he were conducting a symphony of soldiers on the field.  I tried to listen to what he was saying, and I have to admit that most of what spewed out of his mouth was ‘positive’- but the kind of encouragement that I would expect from someone training kids to win at all costs.  The strategy he used didn’t seem to involve his head or his heart-it was intimidating, loud, and abrasive.  Because I was sitting merely 10 feet away from his ranting, I couldn’t help but wonder how the players on the field (namely the third baseman) could keep their focus.  He yelled, but did anybody hear him?

Baseball is a game of concentration and observation.  Players need to plan ahead, think it through, and know what they will do if and when the ball arrives in their space.  This ‘coach’ was taking all individual thought away from his players in favor of overwhelming them with his plan.  Is this what we really want our kids to learn about playing a sport?  Are these the life lessons our kids should learn?

What I’ve learned is that the best way to get people to listen to you is to let them hear you whisper.  Trying to “lift up” versus “shout down” has always served me best-both in and out of the classroom.  What I’m still learning is how to deal with these yell leaders-if you have any ideas, please let me know.  And please, thank those coaches in your life who teach by example, and know how to really communicate what’s important.

Jennifer Wolfe

Jennifer Wolfe, a writer-teacher-mom, is dedicated to finding the extraordinary in the ordinary moments of life by thinking deeply, loving fiercely, and teaching audaciously. Jennifer is a Google Certified Educator, Hyperdoc fanatic, and a voracious reader. Read her stories on her blog, mamawolfe, and grab free copies of her teaching and parenting resources.

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