Lessons Learned from the Bunny Teacher: July 2017

Saturday, July 29, 2017

"Teaching can be a lonely profession." Dede Rittman

Teaching can be a lonely profession. Although surrounded by students throughout the day, teachers have no adults in the room to discuss strategies or ideas, to help make decisions, and to brainstorm options for dealing with students and parents. For new teachers, the loneliness of the classroom can be traumatic. Teachers need to support each other!

In my first two years if teaching, three of us were new, and we banded together to invent lessons, and we had a veteran teacher who was our department mentor who helped us with all of the issues new teachers encounter. In my third year of teaching, I was in a new district with no friends. Luckily, everyone ate lunch in the single faculty room, and many veteran teachers acted as mentors and advisors throughout that first year. My building had a culture of teachers helping each other, collaborating on student and faculty events, and cultivating friendships which continue to endure, some 40+ years later. Case in point:
Last week, an old friend and former colleague came to visit Pittsburgh. She has lived in California for several years, but she continues to make the pilgrimage to see friends in the "Burgh once a year. Nothing remarkable about that, right? What is remarkable, however, is the number of friends who showed up to see her- with just a few days notice! Teacher friends who are still in the classroom, and those who have been retired for 15+ years congregated last week, and it was as if we had never been apart for a moment. Out group was so cohesive and tight at school, and years later, we continue to support each other. A female group from my former school go out to lunch every month; our district has a North Allegheny Retired group with over 300 members. The group's officers and board offer fun activities, a Spring and Christmas luncheon, and group meetings, to assist those getting close to Medicare as well as information about Elder Law and other important topics. In many other districts, once a teacher retires, ties are broken, but for all of us who enjoyed teaching together and being a support group to each other, our retired lives continue to include those lifelong friends.

I urge teachers to try to cultivate a helping and sharing culture in your individual school buildings, and to enjoy the camaraderie of your colleagues. Teaching can be so lonely, but being surrounded by caring friends makes the job so much easier!

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/

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
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Instagram dede_rittman
Pinterest Rittman Publishing, LLC ®

Sunday, July 23, 2017

"Teachers have three loves: love of learning, love of learners, and the love of bringing the first two loves together." Scott Hayden

Although I am a retired teacher, I spend several hours per week on Twitter, because I still love learning. I enjoy reading and sharing articles on Education, and I have found that being on Twitter has helped me to make new relationships, and in some cases, to even have an impact on others. I can say for sure that others on Twitter have definitely made an impact on me!

I enjoy encouraging others, as well as reading positive quotes and stories, and Twitter is a great site to find encouragement. "Liking" a post can lead to a virtual dialogue, and I have enjoyed many conversations about Education with Twitter colleagues. So many teachers are on Twitter, looking for ideas and articles to help them to improve and to serve their students in the best possible manner. Twitter helps teachers to stay current on issues and trends, and it is a great forum for teachers to share strategies and concepts from their classrooms.

If you are a teacher and you are not on Twitter, I urge you to sign up! Just like everything else worthwhile in life, Twitter is about forming positive relationships with others and sharing and learning together. In my opinion, one of the best qualities that teachers can share with others is their love of learning, and Twitter affords endless possibilities for learning much about Education and sharing that knowledge with students. I would be honored to connect with you on Twitter! @dederittman Happy learning!

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/

Saturday, July 15, 2017

"Trade your expectation for appreciation and the world changes instantly." Tony Robbins

In the past few months, several of my friends have been diagnosed with cancer, senile dementia, Alzheimer's, and other major problems. In the past six weeks, four of my friends died - their ages were 61, 64, 64, and 65.

We never know what Life is going to hand us.

I remember the shock when my husband was diagnosed with stage 4 colon cancer. In our almost 32 years of marriage, my late husband, who had the constitution of Superman, had only one cold, one allergic reaction, and one broken leg - then stage 4 colon cancer.

Thinking about all of this has made me focus even more about being appreciative of the life I have been given. With so much negativity in the news, sharing so much sadness with friends, and trying to cope with some major health problems of my own, I am choosing to show gratitude and appreciation. I speak the words aloud! I use statements like:

"Thank you for a beautiful day to play golf."

"Thank you for so many wonderful friends."

"Thank you for a 32 year marriage that was so wonderful that I am comforted by memories."

"Thank you for a beautiful and comfortable condo, and the ability to pay for it."

"Thank you for giving me the inspiration and work ethic to write and sell my books to help others."

Being grateful is SO EASY! You just have to look around to appreciate living in America, and not a third world country with no running water and electricity.

I have noticed that I am so much happier when I am showing gratitude. Please give it a try! look for the positives and be thankful, rather than pointing out and complaining about any negatives. I promise your life will improve! Please - let me know how showing gratitude works for you!

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/

Saturday, July 8, 2017

"The only disability in life is a bad attitude." Scott Hamilton

I enjoy stories of inspiration, especially when the stories are about great things happening for kids with disabilities. And because I have so many readers who are teachers, I really like to share these stories. I have an inspirational story to share today!

It's summertime, and all kids love playing and cooling off in water parks. Go to any water park and you will hear squeals of delight and shouts of laughter, along with wide grins that personify pure summer fun. But what about a child who has a disability, like being in a wheelchair? Have you ever seen a water park for kids with physical challenges?

The devoted father of a girl named Morgan wanted his daughter to have the opportunity to enjoy a water park on a hot day, and after 3 years of planning and working with experts, Gordon Hartman of San Antonio made his dream for his daughter into a reality. He built a 4 acre water park that can accommodate ALL kids - including those with physical challenges. And kids with challenges even get in free!

When I began my teaching career in 1974, students with special needs were not mainstreamed as they are today. Many teachers were scared and nervous, as we had limited or no training for accommodating and helping our new students. My philosophy about teaching students with special needs was simple- they were all kids- so I gave them my best and loved them all! When I had questions, like how to attach a writing contraption to the forearm and hand of a student who was a paraplegic, I asked the student to help me. (Not making a big deal made it easier for the student, and I told him that he needed to teach me!)

Back then, and throughout my 37 year career, I embraced my students with disabilities. In fact, they all taught me to be a better teacher. My lip-reading, hearing impaired students made me slow my speaking pace; the students who were blind made me teach to more than the visual learners, my students with physical challenges and/or mental challenges made me rethink my material and methods so that every learner could be involved. And guess what? Because I changed my teaching methods for a few, everyone in the classroom benefitted. So many terrific former students - who had problems I had never heard of and could barely pronounce - taught me many lessons about patience, perseverance, and the importance of a good attitude.

I have always been an advocate for equal rights and opportunities for students, whether they be regular education or special education. Looking back, I can actually remember some of my first mainstreamed students wistfully saying they "Wish they could _____ (fill in the blank-the possibilities are endless)- like the rest of the kids."

People like Gordon Hartman, who wanted his daughter to feel included and welcomed, are an inspiration. The world provides so many lessons to all of us. I hope you will take a moment to read about Morgan's Inspiration Island, named for his daughter. The video clip and story are very inspiring!

http://www.cbsnews.com/videos/worlds-first-ultra-accessible-water-park-opens-in-texas/

http://www.cbsnews.com/news/morgans-inspiration-island-special-water-park-san-antonio-texas-gordon-hartman/

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/