For almost a week, the television stations in Pittsburgh hyped a giant storm that would be sweeping across the country and dumping 3-12 inches of snow on Pittsburgh, depending on the track of the storm. The air of electric with anticipation and dread, depending on the age of the person. Saturday drew near, the day the storm was to arrive, and Facebook was filled with posts about wearing jammies all day, cooking large pots of soup, making a snowman, curling up in front of the fire with a book, and having time with family.
The snow did not arrive when forecast. In fact, it never arrived, and we had an all day rain instead. The disappointment was real. I saw more than on post that said something like, "How can I enjoy all this cooking when the snow is not falling?" Plainly, people were disappointed, and I started to think about why. This is what I decided.
People of all ages need an occasional snow day. Snow days remind us of our school days, when life was more carefree, and a snow day was a day to goof off with our friends and get out of school. A snow day provided a respite from the daily grind of school and homework, as well as an extra few hours of deep and refreshing sleep. A snow day was a gift of a "slow day" in our busy lives. When we fast forward to our lives as adults, a snow day is an even bigger gift. Meetings are cancelled, schedules are adjusted, and it feels good to be able to stay inside and relax. During my 37 years as a teacher, our faculty used to pray for snow days, or at least a 2 hour delay! We needed that snow day/slow down day to provide balance in our busy and stressful lives. Everyone returned to school refreshed and renewed. from a snow day.
Here's to more snow days in our lives. We all need to slow down and enjoy the silence of the snow.
As always, I welcome your comments and suggestions.
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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
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