Lessons Learned from the Bunny Teacher: April 2019

Wednesday, April 24, 2019

"What you do makes a difference, and you have to decide what kind of difference you want to make." Jane Goodall

InspirationBoost.com

I grew up in a small town about 25 miles northeast of Pittsburgh, PA, in the Alle-Kiski Valley (named for the two rivers, the Allegheny and the Kiskiminetas.) The town was Natrona Heights, but the specific area where our house was located is called Birdville. My father lived in Birdville for his entire life, except when he was serving in World War II. As a little girl, I would ask questions, like "Is Birdville named for a bird? What kind?" My dad regaled my brothers and me with stories of the local airfield and the mail drop airplane; the "big league" baseball games, including teams like the Homestead Grays; and stories about what
used to be" where the Plaza currently stands. Birdville had local stories about Indian attacks and I saw the proof when our neighbor built a new driveway and mother-in-law house on his property. The summer of construction led to the findings of Indian pottery and glass beads, as well as arrowheads.
Birdville Elementary School was at the center and was the heart of the little town. My dad went to school there, as did my brothers and I. Just as a church is the center of some towns and parishes, our school was the town, serving the people both day and evening, as well as weekends.

A friend, Bob Barrage, a local architect, who was a cub scout and boy scout at Birdville, and is now a troop leader, allowed his piqued curiosity about Birdville to lead him to extensive research and the writing of a big book about Birdville, including old-time photos, drawings, and blueprints. There is even a section about the Ku Klux Klann giving Bibles to school children! The book comes in at over 700 pages, and many local people bought and are reading the book, which has prompted many discussions, both online and in person.
Perhaps one of the most poignant discussions about the book was abut a principal and teacher couple, Paul and Ruth Ripper. Although they passed away in the 1980's, both continue to be remembered for their contributions and their kindness. I had a discussion with a friend who is 72 years old, and he said Mrs. Ripper was the nicest teacher ever - noting that his class - back in the 1950's - collected money and bought her a television set, when television was still in its infancy. Having this discussion led me back to one of my firmest beliefs about being a teacher: the teacher MUST care about the students. Students recognize that care, and a relationship of mutual respect is formed. Teachers who enjoy a true relationship with their students have very few discipline problems. Additionally, students will try harder to please a teacher they like. Everyone liked Mr. and Mrs. Ripper; hence the positive information in Bob's book, and the fond remembrances they are receiving from former students more than 50 years later. (I can only hope that my 37 years in the classroom will be remembered so kindly.)

The BIRDVILLE SCHOOL book is the culmination of years of research, input from residents, and years digging in the library and newspaper archives. Bob Barrage created a wonderful book, and I wish my father, George Faltot, were alive to read it. Dad would have enjoyed every morsel and tidbit of this book about his beloved home town.

A link to information about the author and the book is here https://triblive.com/local/valley-news-dispatch/harrison-man-goes-back-to-school-to-tell-birdville-history/

Interested in the book? It is online only at http://www.lulu.com/shop/bob-barrage/birdville-school-a-portrait-of-small-town-america-in-the-20th-century/hardcover/product-23956620.html

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
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Monday, April 15, 2019

"Never listen to other people's expectations. You should live your life and live up to your own expectation." Tiger Woods, 2019 Masters Champion

Something amazing happened this week at The Masters - the greatest comeback in sports history. This win certainly did not happen by accident.

Tiger Woods was a phenom since he first appeared on the Johnny Carson Show at the tender age of 2. If you haven't seen it, here is the link  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MxPmzIKBris This link also includes footage of Tiger in a tournament at age 5. As he matured, Tiger won in college and in amateur events - too many to mention here- and as a golf professional, he took the world by storm. I coached girls, and the boys golf for 33 years, and Tiger was the greatest person to interest kids and adults in playing golf since the late Arnold Palmer. His work ethic, his confidence, and his skill drew audiences in, and I would guess that for a while, he was the most recognizable athlete on the planet. He won over 80 career wins in the span of several years, and for a while, it looked like his winning streak had no limits.  https://golfweek.com/2019/04/14/tiger-woods-81-career-pga-tour-wins/

Then came all the bad stuff. Tiger's very public shame about his private life was seared into the public's brain by tabloids, and then there were the women that came forward. An argument with his beautiful wife Elin was followed by speculation of her hitting him with a 9 iron. In the court of public opinion, Tiger's personal stock dropped faster than the 1929 market crash. He went from being loved to being loathed. If that wasn't enough, tabloids carried a dreadful picture of him, as he was arrested for impaired driving. With his back problems causing more and more pain, Tiger endured several back surgeries, and most people, including me, thought he was washed up.

I admit I made a mistake. I forgot that Tiger has a superb work ethic, bequeathed to him by his late father. I forgot that Tiger loved both the hunt and the win, and that those things can be addictive. I forgot that Tiger is a father who wanted to show his children who he really is - a champion.

Sunday at The Masters brought back the former great champion, with softer edges. Tiger's competitive spirit was still present, along with his decisive strategy and planning, but he showed the crowd just how grateful he was for the win with the sharing of his emotions. His hugs for Charlie and Sam made most of America cry, and the hug with his mother off 18 reminded the viewers that Earl Woods was not there for this momentous win in Tiger's life. In a post round interview, Tiger talked about how his mother was the one who was always there - driving him to far away tournaments as an 11 year old, leaving the house at 5 am and sacrificing many days so he could play in tournaments. He spoke about how Charlie wrote a wish at school that he could see his father win. In his children's memories, has only caused pain for Tiger.

I believe that Tiger Woods' victory at the 2019 Masters is the greatest comeback in sports history. Tiger is a man who had it all, lost it all, and worked for years to overcome physical and mental challenges. He simply would not give up, and there, my friends, is the best lesson of all. He lived up to HIS personal expectation of what he could do, and Tiger is back. What a performance! What a champion! What a great example for the world to follow!

We know Tiger's expectations, but what are your expectations?

Never give up!

"Never listen to other people's expectations. You should live your life and live up to your own expectation." Tiger Woods, 2019 Masters Champion

NIKE ad posted immediately following Tiger's win  https://www.sbnation.com/golf/2019/4/14/18310523/nike-tiger-woods-ad-video-masters

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

Thursday, April 11, 2019

"I've learned that people will forget what you said . . .but people will never forget how you made them feel." Maya Angelou

Inspire 99

I spend at least an hour a day on Twitter, expanding my brand and reading and tweeting about Education. Many teachers are on Twitter, and they spend lots of time tweeting about research based articles and technology. Although I know research is important, I think after 37 years in the classroom and 8 years of retirement/being an author and presenting globally to ages 4-college, I hold firm with my true belief - that students are far more important than any content. Teaching is all about relationships. and without a solid relationship, no learning will occur.

I have the good fortune to live in the same community where I taught for 35 of my 37 years. Additionally, I have the further good fortune to be out in the public and encounter many of my former students, which is delightful. Some opening lines go like this:

"Miss Rittman, I can't believe I am seeing you! You look exactly the same!" (Bless these kids)

"I remember that you made us feel special and called us your bunnies!"

"You gave us bubble gum before a big test and told us that chewing would make our scored higher." (I did - this was from a research article.)

"You helped me when my parents were getting divorced - 10th grade was so hard for me, but you made it easier."

"I remember how much you LIKED us. You made us WANT to learn."

That last statement is the one I hear the most often, and the one I cherish the most. For all 37 years of my teaching career, I taught 2 classes of reluctant learners every year. I recognized the importance of relationships during the student teaching experience, and I carried that practice over to my teaching positions. Kids have to perceive that you actually like them, and that you want to be with them. They are so needy, and even in the 10th grade, the majority still want to please the teacher. I worked hard to lean about each of my students - hobbies, jobs, home life (if offered), siblings, girlfriend/boyfriend, and more. In return, I shared information about my wonderful husband, about learning to fish and go camping, about buying a new car, about getting a flat tire, and thousands of other small details that did not disclose too much personal information, yet let them know who I really was as a person. I cried when I had to tell my students that my parents died unexpectedly within 82 days of each other, and they were polite, sad, sweet, and supportive when my husband was diagnosed with stage 4 colon cancer. Our mutual respect was evident to anyone who happened to walk in my classroom or see my interaction with a student in the hallway.

I saw two former students within the past two days, and I was amazed at what they remembered from my class. Very gratifying. In fact, those chance meetings prompted this post.

I know the trends in Education are important, but I urge teachers not to make technology and methods your classroom focus. Instead, make students your focus.

I still miss being in the classroom. I would have stayed 40 years or more if my husband's stage 4 colon cancer had not changed both of our lives, although I am so grateful for my June, 2011, retirement and our final 11 months together.

Teaching is all about the kids! Enjoy them Like them! Show them how much you love teaching! The rewards for all involved are so wonderful!

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

Thursday, April 4, 2019

"No one has ever become poor by giving." Anne Frank

Brainy Quote

16.2 million American children live in households that are food deficient. School programs that offer free and reduced breakfast and lunch are godsends during the week, but what about dinner and weekends?

A school in Indiana has created an innovative way to save and repackage cafeteria food and send it home to families instead of throwing it away. I am so impressed with this idea! Think back to your school days. Schools notoriously have more prepared food than is served or eaten, and with so much need, this idea is a lifesaver! Working with a group called Cultivate, the cooked (and unserved) food is packaged and frozen in individual portions. Kids take home a weekend backpack containing 8 meals, and they don't have to worry about where or when their next meal will be. In my eyes, this is a win-win. No waste, and feeding others!

As my readers know, I was a teacher for 37 years, and I offer you this one indisputable fact: Kids simply cannot learn when they are hungry. Through this rescued food program, schools are preparing students to be more willing learners when they are in school. I love how this school recognized that they were wasting food and partnered with a group who could package it, and return it to the students.

With so many students and families going hungry, why can't more school districts try to solve student hunger with this method? I am sure the district would share their idea.

Schools are a dumping ground for so many of society's problems, but feeding families by rescuing too much prepared food can actually solve a problem of society, and without too much effort.

Congratulations to Elkhart School District in Indiana for such an innovative idea!

If you have not read about or seen this story, here is the link:
https://www.cbsnews.com/news/schools-team-up-with-program-to-package-unused-food-into-take-home-meals-for-students/

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