Lessons Learned from the Bunny Teacher: January 2017

Saturday, January 28, 2017

"Take chances, make mistakes. That's how you grow." Mary Tyler Moore

America lost her sweetheart this week with the passing of Mary Tyler Moore. Both men and women loved her as Laura Petrie in "The Dick Van Dyke Show", and women revered her in "The Mary Tyler Moore Show." Mary Tyler Moore's character, Mary Richards, helped women to know their value - in business, in the home, and in both personal and workplace friendships. During the run of the show, I was a young woman beginning my teaching career in 1974. In those days, female teachers were not even permitted to wear slacks (later on, we were permitted to wear pantsuits.) Although it seems archaic now, omen were still required to leave the profession when their pregnancy began to "show." The only thing that was equal for both sexes was the teaching salaries, which were really low, but equal! (I made a yearly salary of $8100 in the 1974-75 school year. I thought if I could ever make $20,000, I would be RICH!)

Mary Richards made women see themselves in a new way; as strong human beings, as independent people, and as self-supporting individuals who were not merely someone's daughter, sister, or wife, but real persons in their own realm. She made it OK to be 30 and single, while enjoying a career outside the home, rather than marrying, having children, and kissing a career goodbye.

Mary Tyler Moore will be missed, as icons are. I think she was so much more than an icon; she was a TV friend who came into our homes every week and shared her life with us, including the negatives, and made us feel empowered in our own lives. Female viewers felt that if Mary Richards could do it, we could, too!

Although I am not a big fan of today's television, I am so glad I was a fan of Mary Tyler Moore. Thanks for being strong and for making so many women believe in themselves! Including me! "Oh, Rob!" #strongwomen

As always, I welcome your comments and suggestions. Rittman Publishing, LLC ®

GRADY GETS GLASSES was the winner of Best New Children's Book 2016 from The Authors' Zone. For more information about The Authors' Zone, please visit http://www.theauthorszone.com/submissions/

Visit Dede's webpage for complete details on her award-winning book, STUDENT TEACHING: THE INSIDE SCOOP FROM A MASTER TEACHER. Many colleges have made the book required reading. Signed copies are available www.dederittman.com Dede is also a national speaker on The Three C's for Classroom success: Confidence, communication, and Creativity; Avoiding Teacher burnout; and many other inspirational topics.

I LOVE writing. And I love writing children's books- my newest passion. Although it will be a ton of work, I am looking forward to selling my books. Since I was a secondary teacher, I know that I have much to learn about elementary students, and I will have to follow my own advice and be my genuine self. However, I also know that I am passionate about helping kids who have to wear glasses, and that GRADY GETS GLASSES sends a positive message. I am willing to work hard and do all the things that also made me a successful teacher for 37 years. I remain inspired!

Elementary teachers in Western Pennsylvania and beyond - I am willing to come into your classroom in person or as a virtual field trip through a group called Field Trip Zoom. Check them out! http://www.fieldtripzoom.com/

Teacher friends- let me know if you want me to read GRADY GETS GLASSES at your school. I am willing to come in to discuss the creative writing process, why writing is important, and personal fulfillment through writing, along with reading my book. I would appreciate the exposure, and I would make signed copies available for purchase in your classrooms following the reading. Please email me at dederittman@gmail.com The website www.gradygetsglasses.com now has plush Grady bunnies for sale!

Please like Dede's new page Grady Gets Glasses for updates about her children's book. https://www.facebook.com/gradygetsglasses?ref=hl

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Saturday, January 21, 2017

"Educate yourself. Read up on current events and books." - Victoria Justice

When I was a student in school, and for all of the 37 years I was teaching English, current events were an integral part of the social studies curriculum. I saw and continue to see great value in following world, national, and local events. Current events presentations are actually a part of how and why I became a teacher. My 9th grade American History teacher had a precarious health year the year that I was her student. I was always a good student, and she liked to begin each class with a current event. Knowing I would always be prepared, if the assigned student "forgot" the current event, Mrs. H would invite me to the podium to present. I enjoyed peer teaching so much, that I became a teacher!

I used current events in my own classroom to enrich the curriculum. Following a local murder trial helped students to understand the legal vocabulary when we were studying the play 12 ANGRY MEN. A coup d' etat in a foreign land helped students to understand displeasure with government in JULIUS CAESAR. Students enjoyed discussing how real events here in Pittsburgh were similar to our classroom studies, and relevance to real life learning is always essential.

Our world has grown so much smaller since the advent of the Internet, making the study and discussion of current events especially important. Students need to learn that Americans are globally connected to the rest of the world, and I have found that a skilled teacher can even teach an Economics lesson through world events. Our own country has just had the inauguration of a new U.S. President, which presents a plethora of topics to discuss, most importantly our democracy and the uniquely American peaceful transition of power.(I am optimistic that students had the chance to watch the historic inauguration of our 45th President, and that they were not denied the witness to history by teachers or administrators with limited opinions.)

The divisive state of our country makes me hope that teachers who are using current events in the classroom will not color the events with their own opinions. The classroom should be a place for open discussion, a divergence of opinions, and an opportunity for mental growth; a space where students learn to discuss and tolerate others points of view, even if they do not agree personally with the ideas of others. Teachers have the ability to help to unite the country and stop the name-calling through guided discussions I hope that all Americans - especially teachers - can use their influence in a positive manner, helping students to become more tolerant of the opinions of others.

As always, I welcome your comments and suggestions. Rittman Publishing, LLC ®

GRADY GETS GLASSES was the winner of Best New Children's Book 2016 from The Authors' Zone. For more information about The Authors' Zone, please visit http://www.theauthorszone.com/submissions/

Saturday, January 14, 2017

A child who reads will be an adult who thinks. - Unknown

I was privileged to present my book and author presentation for GRADY GETS GLASSES in Sharon, PA, on Wednesday at the New Light Education Center. The 60+ mile trip from Pittsburgh was easy because of good weather, and my presentation coincided with the Mercer County vision screening for the 4 and 5 year olds. The kids were so receptive to both Grady and to me; in fact, we were both delighted by several of the little ones hugging my knees and Grady the bunny.

I taught high school for 37 years, and every time I present to such young children, I find that having the ability to watch such early learning is so exciting! Upon arrival, I perused the room, and every child was actively engaged - with books, with the smart board, with a teacher or an aide, and the kids were so happy! Dr. April Lynn Torrence and her staff provide remarkable resources for the community, and I was so happy to be able to support their work.

During this past year of traveling around the United States and speaking to elementary students, I have found that little children, for the most part, LOVE books. For all 37 years of teaching 10h grade English, I had to work really hard to encourage most kids to read, and it was a real challenge. I devised fun and interesting anticipatory sets, gave tantalizing hints about events in upcoming chapters, and worked to engage every student through reading and discussion. Indeed, attempting to get kids excited about reading all those years was a real challenge. However, the little ones are so receptive to reading, which makes me think that we owe them something important. As teachers, parents, aunts, uncles, friends, and neighbors, we must nurture that love for reading, because we are not just helping kids to be better readers, but also better thinkers.

Books have always been among my best friends, and I know that every book has had an influence of my thought process. Let's keep reading to our children and help them to continue to love reading and learning!

As always, I welcome your comments and suggestions. Rittman Publishing, LLC ®

GRADY GETS GLASSES was the winner of Best New Children's Book 2016 from The Authors' Zone. For more information about The Authors' Zone, please visit http://www.theauthorszone.com/submissions/

Saturday, January 7, 2017

"I urge you to deliberate honestly and thoughtfully. You are faced with a grave responsibility." from 12 ANGRY MEN by Reginald Rose

I received a jury summons in the mail a few months back, and I had to appear last week. It has been a very long time since I have been called to serve - maybe over 15 years. I was not looking forward to it, but I hoped I would learn something from the experience.

First of all, just getting inside the Allegheny County Courthouse was an ordeal! The Courthouse in Pittsburgh, just like airports and federal buildings, requires screening and the deposit of possessions into bins to be x-rayed. My three Sabika necklaces set off the alarm, so I even had to remove my jewelry! (Sorry to the people in line behind me.)

About 70 of us were herded into a large room at 8:30 a.m., and our summons were collected. Just like school, some of the people forgot theirs! Everyone was a little apprehensive, especially when we found out that they were choosing a jury for criminal court. When the judge appeared to speak to us about our solemn responsibilities as jurors, I could not help but think of the 37 years I taught 12 ANGRY MEN by Reginald Rose to my 10th grade English students! I planned guest speakers back then, usually moms and dads of kids from my classes who were lawyers, and we spent several class periods on legal definitions of words. Perhaps the most difficult one for students to understand was the term "reasonable doubt." As the judge spoke to our group of prospective jurors, he spent quite a bit of time on that term as well. He talked about the legal definition of "presumed innocent", as well as trying to be nonjudgmental. The gravity of his tone made me think of the uniqueness of our legal system, in which everyone is entitled to a trial with a jury of his peers. Just like exercising the right to vote is so American, serving on a jury is fundamental to the American system of law. I felt good inside that I had been called to serve, because the judge's presentation reminded me of the blessings of being an American.

We had to complete a very thought-provoking questionnaire as well, which asked tough questions about personal beliefs. Would I believe a police officer over an ordinary citizen? Would you?

I was not chosen for a trial; in fact, no one in our group of 70 was even interviewed. A jury had been chosen from another pool of jurors in another room. In Allegheny County, jurors serve one day, and if they are not chosen, they are not recalled more days. We are one and done.

I felt relieved that I did not have to be a juror and have my life disrupted for a week or two on a homicide trial, and even more relieved that I did not have to work with 11 others toward a unanimous verdict - after all, you know what happened in 12 ANGRY MEN !

If you are called to jury duty, I urge you to take a positive attitude with you, because real people are the reason our justice system works.

I have often wondered how many of my former students from those 37 years have been called as jurors, and I hope that our classroom lessons about law and reading and studying the play 12 ANGRY MEN helped them to be confident jurors. I loved teaching, and I personally enjoyed seeing my classroom teachings come alive in my experience in the jury pool.

If you haven't seen the 1957 black and white film of 12 ANGRY MEN, Henry Fonda is wonderful as Juror 8, the hero of the story. Lots of great character actors were also in the film. Here is a link to take a look at the cast. http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0050083/fullcredits/