The Right Time

According to Martin Luther King, "The time is always right to do what is right."  Always?  Today, as we wrote in our Writer's Notebook, I shared with my students two examples of when I made the right choice.  Disappointed, with some, I had to change the topic or end the conversation, for, a few..yes, some...were just a bit too proud to proclaim their decline in making the same decisions.  Still, though, I stand by my decisions...and now begin to wonder as we initiate a the Case of Tom Robinson, did that jury make the right decision?

Let the Games Begin!

The 2018 Olympic games are officially underway!  Athletes, in shape, more than ever in their lives, are prepared physically, mentally, emotionally to bring home the gold for the USA Team!  Go, USA!  With that said, who are you cheering on?  Whose names will you call out as they skate, ski, and snowboard to the finish lines?  Hummmm, if you are like myself (yes, as we hang our heads in shame), maybe, you, too, are not quite sure for whom to cheer?  Check out this article and video by Time magazine entitled "What to Know About Every Single Winter Olympic Sport in 2018" and expand your background to be better prepared to cheer on the winners.

According Jennifer Calfas, author of this Time article, states, "When she was just 18, [Mikaela] Shiffrin became the youngest athlete ever to win an Olympic gold in the Winter Olympic sport of slalom — an event that involves skiing downhill between poles and gates — a gold medal she’s trying to earn yet again at age 22."  Go, MiKaela! I can only imagine the time, money and effort spent preparing for such an event.  AND the chapstick!  Spending so many hours outside, braving the elements of wind and cold, training every day, every week every month, she knows she has to be the best to win.  Only the best make here.

Check out Elana Meyers Taylor!  "Meyers Taylor was the first American woman to ever win a bobsled world championship in 2015.  The two-time Olympic medalist has also advanced gender equality in the sport...competed in the 4-man event with three male brakemen, a first for the Winter Olympic sport that had required women to race only two-person sleds."  Go, Elana!  Show those men how to win!  She should be the face of women's rights...not those that march here in America and display posters and paraphernalia that border on inappropriate!

As I read further, I was amazed at competitions of which I had never heard.  Luge? Nordic Combined? Skeleton?  Have you heard of these?  More than just reading about these events, I need to allocate some hours to watching these events...and, yes, learning what they actually are!  I am fairly certain that, surely, the Skeleton does not involve bones.  Right?!  Surely!

My favorite Olympian sport?  The ice skaters...especially the pairs, who act out scenes to songs I hopefully know.  The balance, grace, and smooth moves these couples display as they circle that ice rink leave me in awe of their skills.  In essence, they are just gifted.  Truly.

How about you?  Are you an Olympian watcher?  Why do you enjoy your favorite competition?  On the flip...are the athletes giving up too much just to compete for a few short minutes of time?  Why is the time spent from family and friends worth the fame?  Consider this:  the games are not so much for the athletes as they are for the competitions and displays of athletic power displayed by all the countries represented.  What do you think?  Please share your thoughts below!

My One Word for 2018: Less

Each year, for several years now, I have chosen a theme word to go with me throughout the year.  What a journey these words have been for me...and I strongly encourage everyone to adopt this focus each year.

In 2011, I needed peace...I had so much turmoil.  During this time, the gift of peace came.

In 2012, I need times of quiet, for my mom eased into Heaven in January, and, while this was a prayer for which we had prayed...my mom suffered from severe dementia...that grief process simply takes time.

And so on...every year a word.

This year, my word is less.  Part of the reason I chose this word is, yes, less is more.  In several areas of my life I certainly need to do less as they responsibilities do dominate quite the chunk of time.

To Blog, To Blog, To Blog!

I very much enjoy blogging!  I have three personal blogs and several with my classes...AND each of my students has his/her own blog!  Why do I blog?  The power of reflection is immense, and this genre has become quite the journal of my literary life.  I, also, enjoy reading other's blogs and follow many within my Feedly account.

Blogs I Follow:

• Literary Life:  I follow many, including some literary peers and leaders in our curriculum area, including Dana Huff and The Daring English Teacher.
• Crafty Chics:  When I have time...and one day when I retire...I want to grow up and be just like these cutie sites:  Debbie Doo's and Magnolia Market...as in, Joanna Gaines!
• Devotional Delights
• Bookish Thoughts:  I follow another of Dana Huff's blogs, where she posts reflections on books as she reads them.  I, too, have such a blog here at TG Book Thoughts.  (No, I haven't read as many books as I had hoped this year...had hoped to read one per week...but this year threw a couple of curve balls into that plan.)

An Impactful Post...or Two:

ISIS: Enemy of the State and World?

Here, in the good ol' United States of America, we often are so busy with our busyness that we forget the enemies we have abroad.  One those remains the group ISIS, a group...

According to Annie Barnard and Hwiadi Saad in their article "Raqqa, ISIS ‘Capital,’ Is Captured, U.S.-Backed Forces Say," they report, "American-backed forces said...they had seized the northern Syrian city of Raqqa from the Islamic State, a major blow to the militant group..."  While we sit here in the comfort of our schools and homes, our troops are overseas fighting an enemy that drifts to the back of our minds, hardly ever surfacing, leaving us living in a state of "fake" happiness...maybe?

My concern?  This:  "The United States Central Command stopped short of declaring victory, saying that 'more than 90 percent of Raqqa is in S.D.F. control,' a reference to the Syrian Democratic Forces, an American-backed militia group made up of Syrian Kurds and Arabs."  Do the math.  That leaves 10%.  Too many for too much celebration, for this group seems to have not problem recovering, recruiting, and retaliating.

Americans need to know and read and learn and care what happens.

Hacking...Hack! Hack! Cough! Oh, No!

People would hack into other's private information should have special kind of punishment awaiting them.  In The Week's article entitled "You Have Almost Certainly Been Hacked,"

According to the staff writer at The Week, "...some in the security community are advocating that businesses go on the offensive, breaking into their attackers' systems to steal back or delete stolen data or even damage their computers."  Add two sentences of CM.

Last Friday while doing a good deed, my credit was hacked.  Add two sentences of CM.

A three-sentence conclusion.

Benefits of Extracurricular Activities

Dark.  Moist.  Alone.  For hours.  For 58 hours.  Lukas Cavar, according to The New York Time's article entitled "Student Trapped in Indiana Cave...," spent those hours contemplating his future after losing contact with his college group.  Trips such as these are so important, but one must consider at what point does the trips lose their value.  Despite an occasional horror story, though, extracurricular activities should be an option for all students. (s)

According to Jess Deli, central region coordinator with the National Cave Rescue Commission, "she could not comment about what happened to Mr. Cavar but said in general, caving is safe and there are 'very few' rescues that happen across the nation."  This trip should not be the standard by which future trips are measured, for as Deli notes, the percentage of such successful excursions are positive. 

As a sponsor of a various extracurricular groups during my 27 years of teaching, I strongly support the value of being involved in activities outside the classroom, as they encourage friendships and help develop leadership skills.  Even now, I continue to be active in groups outside my job, including the Arkansas Reading Association and Arkansas Teachers for National Board Certification, both of which I hold a board position.  Through these I have met and worked with some tremendous leaders across our state.

For these reasons, students should push themselves to join a group that will further develop their leadership potential, resulting in opportunities for personal growth and possibly even financial gain via scholarships.  While some might consider this a trivial matter, the positives so far outweigh the negatives.