Lessons Learned from the Bunny Teacher: November 2018

Thursday, November 29, 2018

"As small as it may seem, a good deed is always worth the doing." Spark Matsunaga

Sometimes, a story just hits me right between the eyes. That happened today.

A 14 year old boy who lives in Reynoldsville, PA *(the center of the state) is dying. He has neuroblastoma and only a few weeks to live. His Christmas wish? Christmas cards from far and near. His angelic face belies his pain and fear. Such a cruel sentence to impose on one so young.

When I saw this story, I went straight downstairs to look through my Christmas paraphernalia to find a card for Maddox. I cried while writing him a Christmas message of hope. (I also enclosed a few stickers, because every child likes stickers.)

The words Children and Cancer should never be used in the same sentence, and to see this young man's plight at this season of Advent makes it even more heartbreaking.

If you are feeling the need to do a good deed, please send young Maddox a card.

His address:

Maddox Hyde
333 Ohio Street
Reynoldsville, PA 15851
Here is the link to his story. https://pittsburgh.cbslocal.com/2018/11/28/terminally-ill-teen-wants-christmas-cards-from-around-world/

This small deed will mean so much to this child.

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

Please invite Grady Gets Glasses (and me) into your school.  if you are not in the Pittsburgh area, we do virtual field trips with a group called Field Trip Zoom. www.Fieldtripzoom.com  GRADY GETS GLASSES was the winner of Best New Children's Book 2016 and 2018 (new edition) from The Authors' Zone.Grady also won a 2018 prestigious Moonbeam Award for Best Children's Book with Merchandise. 

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

Connect with Dede!

Twitter @dederittman
Periscope @dederittman
Facebook Dede Faltot Rittman or Rittman Rules
LinkedIn Dede Rittman
Google + Dede Rittman
Tumblr The Bunny Teacher
Instagram dede_rittman and Gradygetsglasses

Pinterest Rittman Publishing, LLC ®

Wednesday, November 21, 2018

"When I started counting my blessings, my whole life turned around." Willie Nelson

Thanksgiving Day is almost here! My top 5 reasons Thanksgiving is such a great holiday:

1. Turkey and stuffing are so delicious!
2. Thanksgiving makes us feel connected to our forebears.
3. Thanksgiving brings families together, even if it is just for one day.
4. No presents are required on Thanksgiving!
5. Thanksgiving makes us pause to reflect on our blessings, and share our bounty with others.

A man in Massachusetts found a wonderful way to help others and to save them from eating alone (or not eating) on Thanksgiving, and he has been doing it for 33 years. Here is the link to a remarkable and uplifting story.
https://www.cbsnews.com/news/massachusetts-man-has-cooked-thanksgiving-feast-for-strangers-for-33-years/

I am closing with a quote from the man in this wonderful story, who has figured out how to make his world better. "I think each of us are called to brighten a corner where we are and if everybody took care of their neighbor in their own neighborhood we'd have a much better world, Scott Macauley

HAPPY THANKSGIVING! #Bethankful

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

Please invite Grady Gets Glasses (and me) into your school.  if you are not in the Pittsburgh area, we do virtual field trips with a group called Field Trip Zoom. www.Fieldtripzoom.com  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/   

Friday, November 16, 2018

"Appreciation is a wonderful thing: it makes what is excellent in others belong to us as well." Voltaire

Two former colleagues passed away withing the past week, and both were extraordinary educators. Both shared a great passion for knowledge, teaching, and both the written and the spoken word. Both had high expectations of their students, and they shared a strong belief in their respective students. Both were revered. Links to their obituaries are posted on a school/community Facebook page, and the accolades written by past students are so touching. The two English teachers who passed would have been both embarrassed and delighted to read the comments written by their former students. Reading these expressions of grief and gratitude made me think this thought: I hope those students took the time to write a personal note or make a phone call to show their appreciation for these two teachers while they were still alive, rather than extolling praise after they passed.

Showing appreciation to others is so important. Because teachers never have a "finished product", positive feedback is a gift. Teaching is so stressful and demanding, trying to make accommodations for so many individual students, that a small note or any form of of appreciation is a real "pick me up" on any draining and busy day. I saved every note given to me by my students and their parents, and many of my teacher friends did, too. I used to keep some of the notes in my desk drawer, and on a particularly difficult day, I would read those notes, and the notes would give me the energy and the impetus to continue.

Did this post make you think of a favorite teacher, or a special teacher who made you believe in yourself? Today is a great day to write a short note or make a phone call. Sharing your message of gratitude will lift both of you! In this week of Thanksgiving, show your thanks. "Appreciation is a wonderful thing: it makes what is excellent in others belong to us as well." Voltaire

As always, I welcome your comments and suggestions.

Rittman Publishing, LLC ® 

Please invite Grady Gets Glasses (and me) into your school.  if you are not in the Pittsburgh area, we do virtual field trips with a group called Field Trip Zoom. www.Fieldtripzoom.com  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/   

Pinterest Rittman Publishing, LLC ®

Friday, November 9, 2018

"Happiness springs from doing good and helping others." Plato

I live in Pittsburgh, PA. and our city continues to grieve over the senseless shootings on October 27 at the Tree of Life Synagogue, which killed 11 and wounded many more. Sometimes, our world can be so cruel, and make us feel so powerless.

In response to such sadness, I am choosing to share a happy story, which deals with Education and children, who are doing something good for another person.

First, I must tell you that I believe that empathy can and should be taught.If fact, I believe that teaching empathy is just as important as teaching subject content. I am also a strong believer in total inclusion, which makes everyone a better person. Combining empathy and inclusion is the classroom is hitting an educational home run.

In a small town in Tennessee, "Mr. James", as the kids refer to him, is the beloved custodian of Hickerson Elementary School. You need to know that Mr. James has a severe hearing impairment, rendering him practically deaf. As a special surprise for his 60th birthday, two classes of kindergarten students learned to sing and sign "Happy Birthday to You" for Mr. James. Two teachers, an aide, and the school nurse worked with the students so they could all work together to learn to sing and sign for Mr. James. His reaction is truly heart-melting, and the joy expressed by the students to gift this special gift to their custodian friend makes their faces radiant! These students did so much more than a kindness for a friend; they learned valuable lessons. They learned some sign language, and how to be a part of a team. Most importantly, they learned the joy of giving a special gift to another person. I hope this lesson of sharing and kindness will be in their hearts for the rest of their lives.

In my opinion, such a small gesture to "do good" is a huge inspiration. As I said in my opening paragraph, with so much sadness in the world, we all need to spread some happiness, so I am sharing this uplifting story.

Please take a look at this link - it will make you smile.
https://www.scarymommy.com/kindergarteners-learn-sign-language-surprise-custodian/https://www.scarymommy.com/kindergarteners-learn-sign-language-surprise-custodian/

As always, I welcome your comments and suggestions. 

Rittman Publishing, LLC ® Please invite Grady Gets Glasses (and me) into your school.  if you are not in the Pittsburgh area, we do virtual field trips with a group called Field Trip Zoom. www.Fieldtripzoom.com  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/   