Optimism

     One of my favorite things about my frogs is their optimism.  Some of my frogs have faced divorce, abuse, neglect, mental illness, and gangs, but they will be the first to tell you, "It's okay. Life is still good.  Things will get better soon."  Then they look at me, smile, and say, "Right?"  For all their bravado, they still want the reassurance that their hopes are valid, that life is good, things always get better, it really will be okay. 
     Frogs are going through one of the toughest times of their lives. They deserve frog kissers who are optimistic.  Frogs pick up on your moods, no matter how well you try and hide it from them.  They are self-centered, so they think your bad mood means you are mad at them.  A few weeks of bad moods translates into the idea you don't like them.  A few months mean you hate teaching.  Very few adults like to be around negative people, and it is no different for frogs.  They don't like teachers who hate frogs, eat frog legs as a delicacy, or are bully-frogs.
     My frogs and I had a class meeting last week.  I asked them what they liked about teachers and what advice they had for the teachers I would meet on Saturday.   One of the frogs quietly said, "I like teachers who are happy...ones who like us...and like being teachers."  I couldn't have said it better myself.

Inspiring Frog Kissers

     A friend of mine asked me this morning why I always volunteer to present at workshops and conferences.  After presenting five times this week on five different topics and staying up until 2 this morning to prepare for the conference today, I looked at her, rolled my eyes, and said, "I have no idea...because I'm crazy I guess."         
     Then I spent the day with teachers from all over the state.  These teachers willingly sacrificed an entire Saturday without any reward except the hope they will be better teachers on Monday.  After spending the day with them, I have a different answer for her.
     The real reason I do this is because I want to make a difference for my frogs.  I love my profession.  I love the kids.  I love the teachers I work with.  By spending the day presenting my meager knowledge of all this job entails, I hope to touch the lives of frogs all over the state.  I hope  life is easier for their teachers on Monday.  If I made a difference for one teacher or one frog today, then it was worth all the time, preparation, and late nights.  I do it because that's what frog kissers do...they inspire new frog kissers. 
    

Share the Love: Books for Babies

     Renae Salisbury and Tami Ewell believe the love of reading begins at birth.  Their service project "Board Books for Babies" is in its second year.       
     Each baby gift includes a new board book and information on the benefits of reading to children.  Gifts are wrapped in cellophane and ribbons before being delivered to babies at Riverton Hospital. 
     Teachers across Canyons and Jordan School District have taken up the call and gathered 94 board books this year.  The teachers hope their gifts will give the babies a head start on reading when they start school. 
     A board book is printed on durable vinyl or cardboard so babies can chew on it without worry of swallowing bits of paper.  If you are interested in donating new books or money to purchase books, please contact renae.salisbury@jordan.k12.ut.us or tami.ewell@jordan.k12.ut.us .   Share the love of reading with a new baby.

Taking Care of Frog Kissers

     It is really hard to be a frog.  Frogs are concerned about their warts and croaks and webbed feet.  Being a frog is so hard, all their attention turns inward.  They don't mean to be hurtful or unappreciative or moody; they are just in survival mode. 
     It is also really hard to be a frog kisser.  Frog kissers look past the warts and croaks and webbed feet.  They even get past the swampy smells that come with those funny frogs.  The hard part is loving the frogs even in their most unlovable moments, day after day after day.  The frogs mean well, but they don't always know how to show their appreciation - "Hey, today's lesson didn't suck too bad."  A frog kisser will smile and translate their croaks into princely speeches, even if it is through tears.
     Taking care of others well wears you down.  After you spend every ounce of energy caring for your frogs, you forget that you need to find a hidden reserve of love and care for the other frog kissers around you.  Sometimes frog kissers need to be loved in their most unlovable moments, too.  
     If you hear a frog kisser croaking, translate the croaks.  Usually you will hear, "I am so tired...I feel like I'm not making a difference...I don't feel appreciated by my frogs...I need a hug...or chocolate!!!"  Try to assume the positive - after all, they are frog kissers. 
     Croaking frogs don't listen very well, so when you see a momentarily defeated frog kisser, smile, nod and listen.  There is nothing better for the frogs than taking care of their frog kissers.        

Kissing Frog Catchers

     Being a frog kisser is not a job for the faint-hearted.  It doesn't end for holidays or weekends or summer vacations.  Frogs pop up in your thoughts constantly.  You even dream about them.  People begin to wonder how many "kids" you have anyway?  Frogs are slimy and warty and green and sometimes their voices croak. No, it is not a job for the faint-hearted.  It is a job for people who can see past appearances and see the beauty hidden inside.
     Don't become a frog kisser if you don't like frogs.  It doesn't pay well.  Frog kissers don't get much respect. It isn't a prestigious position, and few become famous.  The only thing we have is our frogs.  Why stay if you can't stand the swamp or the flies or the frogs?
     It is hard to go into a swamp day after day and kiss frogs.  Some frogs don't want to change.  They want to be left alone in their misery.  Other frogs are eager to share and follow you around endlessly croaking.  Some frogs have forgotten who they are and believe their froggy bodies are the best they have to look forward to in life.  Sometimes frogs get lost and take their own lives.  Those are the worst times of all. 
     Frog catchers have forgotten how to be frog kissers.  Frogs don't croak or hop to annoy frog catchers.  They are just being frogs.  They don't get slimy and warty because they are lazy slobs.  They are just frogs dealing with froggy bodies.  They aren't green because they are stupid.  Green just means they are new versions of themselves.  It's pretty hard being a frog.  You don't need to remind them of their imperfections.  They catalog them every day without us catching them in our frog-catching-nets.  
     Maybe I should start kissing frog catchers.
   

Stereotypes

     If anyone understands stereotypes, it is a frog.  We talked about stereotypes this week to understand the characters in The Outsiders.  I learned more about my frogs in ninety minutes than I had in ninety days of school. 
     I spent last year listening to a boy's teachers complain about everything he did and everything he did not do.  During our class discussion this week, he raised his hand and said, "Why does everybody think I am just a dumb Mexican?"  His voice shook with emotion as he looked at me for an answer.  
     Another boy told us people stereotype his mom because she dropped out of school to have him when she was thirteen.  Another shared his story of being poor and being judged because of the clothes he wears.  A girl chased out of school by racism hoping to start over in our school.  Kids jumping other kids because of the way they looked.  Being seen as too feminine in a masculine world.
     I learned a powerful lesson this week.  Stereotypes leave scars that don't heal.  It is bad enough that we do that to one another as kids.  It is deplorable when we do that to our children.  I vow to stop judging my students and listen to their stories of who they are.  Listening leads to understanding and understanding leads to love.  It is only through love that frogs become the royalty they were meant to be. 

Pep Talks from my Frogs

     The 7th graders are getting ready to jump into NaNoWriMo (National Novel Writing Month.)  Wednesday I gave the kids a pep talk to get them excited.  I talked about my dream of being a novelist and the voices in my head that always convince me that I can't do it. 
     When I came by on Friday, the kids asked me if I was going to write my novel this time.  I saw the trust in their eyes, and I also saw their fear and silent pleas to go with them in this scary risk.  I heard myself saying, "Yes," and then I had a panic attack. 
     The kids smiled and started giving me pep talks.  Hearing my words sent back to me like that was amazing.  "If I can do it, you can do it."  "Don't be a quitter."  "You will be rich and famous."  "Just start with a genre." 
     I was humbled by this lesson from my frogs.  Life lessons are more important than curriculum.  We may not reach 50,000 words or become best-selling authors, but we will be better people for our efforts.  There is much to be said for perseverance, believing in ourselves and one another, and not always taking the easy way out. 
     If you need me, I will be typing my 7,000 words I pledged to have for Friday.