Did you know - GRATITUDE shields you from negativity, makes you at least 25% happier . . .improves relationships

Thanksgiving, 2020, will be unlike any other Thanksgiving.  Governors are urging families to stay apart, Traveling is discouraged, and hosting a large group of relatives or friends is not recommended.  COVID 19 has made 2020 a sad and lonely year for many people.  I hope we all can forget this year soon.

Despite the COVID and restrictions, I am still choosing to give thanks and show gratitude. I felt the power of gratitude very profoundly when my husband was ill and after my husband died.  I felt very stuck in sadness.  Scott  was slowly dying from stage 4 colon cancer for 29 months.  We had heartbreaking conversations in the wee hours, where he would whisper, "I don't want to leave you" and I would whisper back, "We have a new treatment plan.  We have to believe."  We both knew he was going to die; he had already lived past his projected 12 month life expectancy, but neither of us could face that conversation. For 29 months, I put on a happy face and pretended my husband was going to live, and he did the same.  Eventually, we did have that final conversation, but we did the best we could to hold each other up.  During those 29 months, we often spoke about how fortunate we were.  We discussed various facets of our lives and childhoods, as well as friendships and experiences we enjoyed.  In some ways, we were living certain moments over again, and remembering, and being thankful, somehow made our burdens lighter. When Scott died and I revisited sad moments, I countered that sadness with moments that made me happy.  For example, I thanked the Lord that although Scott was gone, I had the opportunity to be his wife and live a fun and full life with him for 30 years.  I remembered when we fell in love, and when we decided to get married. I thought about how rich my life became because of his family and extended family, and how they welcomed me into their lives and home for so many years.  After losing my grandmother at age 9, because I married Scott, I suddenly had two grandmothers! So many things for which to be thankful.

I am sad about the restrictions in place for this Thanksgiving, but I am not going to let myself carry that sadness, like a load on my back.  I am going to think of all the things I have to be thankful for, and I am going to speak the names of those things aloud.  Lord, thank you for golf courses, and good friends; for better health this year, and for new tires on my car to make me feel safe in winter driving. Thank you for my two brothers, and a childhood buffered by loving parents and good neighbors. Thank you for a wonderful career of teaching and coaching and directing, and all the relationships that happened because of my wonderful school district.

I think you get the picture. 

Sometimes, I think we become so accustomed to having things and people in our lives, that we forget they are gifts.  I think it is good to consider and remember our blessings, and to show gratitude. 

GRATITUDE

-Shields you from negativity

-Makes you at least 25% happier

-Rewires your brain

-Eliminates stress

-Heals

-Improves sleep

-Boosts self-esteem and performance

-Enhances the law of attraction

-Improves relationships

I hope you will give it a try and see if you feel better!  Happy Thanksgiving!

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 or we will come into YOUR classroom via ZOOM.www.Fieldtripzoom.com  and a company called www.StreamableLearning.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 web page 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

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 ® 

"Honesty and transparency make you vulnerable. Be honest and transparent anyway." Mother Theresa

 

Dustin Johnson won The Masters Invitational last week.  It was a wonder to see the beauty of Augusta National in the glorious reds and golds of Fall; I have only ever seen the course in the pastels of Spring. And with no throng of fans at the event, a viewer's perspective on  the golf course changes significantly.

I have long admired Dustin Johnson as a player, but I never felt any connection to him personally.  I know he has a famous father -in-lay in Wayne Gretzky, the great hockey player, and I also know that DJ's wife is supermodel Paulina Gretzky. But I never felt that Dustin Johnson allowed golf fans to see who he really was, inside.  That changed when he won the Masters.  He actually cried as he tried to speak, and to relate the importance of his family team, including his brother, who is his caddy.  He talked about going to the driving range at the age of 7, and his father, a golf professional, who encouraged him.  Just that little bit of information and the showing of emotion allowed patrons a glimpse into the real Dustin Johnson, and I am now a true fan, because of his disclosure. He was honest and transparent with his feelings, and I appreciated that. From what the sports reporters said, so did they. 

I share this story, because I believe that to be the best possible teacher, a person also must be his  true and authentic self.  I am not talking about divulging personal information or sharing problems; rather, a person must show his humaneness and his feelings.  When I was in the classroom, I told my students when I appreciated something they did, and I also shared my sadness when they let me down.  I showed interest in them and in their activities, and they showed interest in mine.  We were honest with each other.  Sometimes, I was required to give an assignment that I did not like, and I told them that although it was a requirement, I was not a fan of that particular assignment.  They appreciated my transparency.  Plenty of times, kids did not have their work finished on the due date.  They knew I did not like lies, and many would tell me the truth and hope and ask for more time.  I appreciated their honesty and would most likely grant more time.  When people know each other for who they really are, classroom life is better. Teaching is entirely about relationships, and working toward relationships of honesty and transparency is a wonderful pathway to success. 

Dustin Johnson increased his fan base last week, and teachers can increase their fan bases, too. Honesty and transparency make for solid relationships, and teaching is all about relationships. 

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 or we will come into YOUR classroom via ZOOM.www.Fieldtripzoom.com  and a company called www.StreamableLearning.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 web page 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

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 ® 

"The influence of a good teacher can never be erased."

 

Lyle D. Fox died on November 9, 2020.  He was my first Principal at North Allegheny Intermediate High School when I was hired in 1976.  I was just 23 years old, and I was one of many young  teachers on the staff. In some ways,  Lyle was like our dad.  He was all about Education and being the best one could be. Although stern when he needed to be, Lyle had a great sense of humor, and his administration and our staff had many fun times at picnics and parties.  

Lyle was a military man before he became a teacher.  He was a man to whom one gave respect.  Just by the way he carried himself, and with his strong physical presence, a person knew that Lyle was a man who knew himself and where he was going. I was chatting with him in his office a few times when an unruly student was brought in, and Lyle handled disciplinary issues with fairness and an open mind.  Although no one ever wants to be sent to the Principal's office, the punishment is easier to take when one knows his side will be heard.

When I first met Lyle, I remember him telling stories about all the jobs he performed for the fledgling North Allegheny Joint Schools, which had just become a new district.  Lyle taught Physical Education and coached the very first North Allegheny teams in Football, Baseball, Basketball, and Track and Field.  As if all those jobs were not enough to keep a person busy, he also was a bus driver and the custodian for the building! Thinking of all he did for the school district, it is difficult to create a realistic number of students whose lives Lyle impacted over those 35 years. Five classes a semester of 30 students each is 150, then add in the same number for second semester.  Think of how many kids played on each of the teams, plus the team managers and team assistants.  Add in the kids from study halls and the kids he knew from driving the bus.  I would have to guess that Lyle impacted many thousands of students in his 35 year career.

As a principal, Lyle held his staff to his own high standards.  In our last exchange of emails, Lyle asked me if any of "his people" (the teachers he hired) were still working. It is a great man who takes such ownership of his decisions. Lyle was both loved and revered by "his people."  In fact, that love inspired this post.

I remember when I became Varsity Girls' Golf Coach in 1978, and Lyle told me that I would come to love coaching even more than I loved  teaching.  Of course, he was right. In fact, I can't think of when Lyle was wrong or unfair during our years together in the building.  He always had an open mind and an open heart, and he listened with both.  I am just one person who is a better individual because of Lyle's influence on my life. 

Rest in Peace, my old friend and mentor. Know that your influence will be felt for years to come, as others pay forward the life lessons you taught them. 

Thank you. Lyle, for friendship and guidance through the years. 

If you would like to know more about Lyle D. Fox, the following is what Lyle's daughter, Becky, wrote on the North Allegheny Facebook page.  He was quite a guy. 

I am sad to report that our dad, Lyle Fox, passed away on November 9, 2020. He was 94. Most of you will know him as a former Administrator at North Allegheny Intermediate and High School. If you will, however, please allow me to take a moment to tell you more about his amazing life. He was born on a farm in Lawrence County not far from New Castle where he excelled in sports. Never one to brag about himself, when I asked what position he played in Football he would say he was an end and a guard. He sat at the end of the bench and guarded the water bucket. Upon discharge from his service in the US Air Force, where he told me he spent his time sweeping the runways with a big push broom when in reality he served on the base military police force, Dad was signed as a Pitcher with a farm team for the Cleveland Indians. After a career ending injury, he returned to Pennsylvania where he earned his Bachelor’s Degree in Physical Education from Slippery Rock. Dad was hired by North Allegheny Schools as one of the district’s original staff members. He was North Allegheny’s first head coach in Football, Baseball, Basketball, and Track and Field. Upon earning his Master’s Degree from University of Pittsburgh, Dad became an Administrator for the district and retired after 35 years of service. During his time at NA, he was a member of Ingomar United Methodist Church, served on several boards with the WPIAL, and had roles in most of the North Star Players productions. When anyone would ask him how he got his minor roles with the North Star Players he would say it was because they were using the school auditorium and he had the keys. Lyle loved to have a garden and a beautiful lawn. He was an amazing husband and an exceptional example as a father. He cared about his students and I’ve been told he treated those that visited his office with respect. He was loved and respected by his teachers and friends. Upon retirement, Mom and Dad moved to Ormond Beach, Florida where he volunteered and assisted in organizing the Ormond Senior Games. Life came full circle for him when he became the official score keeper of the Daytona Cubs minor league baseball team. He is a member of the Lawrence County Sports Hall of Fame as well as a member of the North Allegheny Sports Hall of Fame. In his final years Dad lived in Coppell, Texas. He is preceded by our mother, Marge, and our brother, Bruce. Both Cindy and I were blessed to be able to spend several days with him before his passing in the early morning hours on Monday. Besides Cindy and I as well as our husbands, Mark and Larry, he leaves behind 4 Grandchildren and 6 Great Grandchildren. We plan to have a memorial service in Pittsburgh for both our mother and father once this pandemic allows all of our family members to feel more comfortable traveling. We hope that many of you will join us when that time comes.  

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 or we will come into YOUR classroom via ZOOM.www.Fieldtripzoom.com  and a company called www.StreamableLearning.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 web page 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

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 ® 

 

"Hanging with old friends and saying 'Remember when.'" Kushandwizdom

                                                                        QuotesGram 

For many students in Pennsylvania and other states, this week was the first time to return to school since March 13, when the pandemic closed everything down.  Many of my friends posted pictures of their excited children - of all ages - with big smiles and excitement on their faces, all because they were going back to school.

I have such fond memories of my school days; in fact, I liked school so much that I became a teacher. 

I am so happy for the students who are finally back.  School is the place to gain knowledge, to learn how to deal with others, to hone leadership skills, and to determine likes and dislikes.  School is also the place to  develop interests in new things.  Often, what students like and enjoy at school becomes their passion and purpose in life.

For others, school is the place to find nutrition and counseling, and to escape a less than savory home life.  School is where the friends are.

I am so happy for these students - back to school, even if it is November. 

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 or we will come into YOUR classroom via ZOOM.www.Fieldtripzoom.com  and a company called www.StreamableLearning.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 web page 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

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 ®