A Hard Rain’s Gonna Fall…and my emotions will overwhelm me…and I will fail…then, survive…even thrive.

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A Hard Rain’s Gonna Fall…and my emotions will overwhelm me…and I will fail…then, survive…even thrive. That was Patti Smith’s description of her experience at the Nobel Prize ceremony, honoring Bob Dylan by singing his great song, A Hard Rain's Gonna Fall, that evokes a cultural dystopia not unlike what we’re experiencing now in the U.S.

Even though she had the song down cold; even though she knew in her heart it was the right song to sing; even though she is a veteran performer (she celebrated her 70th birthday on December 30th); even though everything leading up to the ceremony had gone perfectly; when her moment came, she was overwhelmed by the second verse.  She had to stop, apologize, and start over.  For her it was beyond embarrassing…she felt the humiliating sting of failure….

Yet, she also felt the strange realization that I had somehow entered and truly lived in the world of the lyrics.  As in the opening words: I stumbled alongside twelve misty mountains….; and the ending line to the verse: And I’ll know my song well before I start singing.

Her profound communication through her performance of the song, it’s visceral message and haunting beauty wrapped in her stumbling, was deeply appreciated by all.  She writes that the next morning, in the breakfast room she was greeted by many of the Nobel scientists.  They showed appreciation for my very public struggle.  They told me I did a good job.  I wish I had done better, I said.  No, no, they replied, none of us wish that.  For us, your performance seemed a metaphor for our own struggles.

Aye, a metaphor for us ALL.  In the world of our classrooms, in the world of our families, our communities, our country, our world, a hard rain’s gonna fall…it always has and it always will.  ’Tis the human condition that Dylan describes so poignantly and that Patti Smith performed so unintentionally perfectly in her “failure”.  AND, ’tis the human possibility that from or after that hard rain we can learn, make meaning, gain perspective, persevere, make things right, discover, create, love one another.  Love you, Patti Smith.  And a deep bow of gratitude for your public reflection.

May will all learn from you, and pay it forward to our children.

*children's work in this post is from Buckingham Browne & Nichols

Environments and Materials in Reggio Inspired Practice

This spring, Louise will teach a class for Lesley University, Environments and Materials in Reggio Inspired Teaching and Learning.  The course will meet for two intensive weekends, March 3-4, and April 1-2.  I taught this course with Yvonne Liu- Constant in 2015 and look forward so much to meeting with participants to focus on these inspiring ideas and practices once again.  Our time together will be lively, practical, uplifting, and grounding.  There are still some spots left.  You can take this class for credit or for professional development requirements or just because you are interested.

Contact Yvonne Lui Constant at yliucons@lesley.edu for information and to register.

Here is the course description:

This course provides an opportunity to explore a variety of materials that form the symbolic languages that children use to express ideas and to consider how these materials can support young children’s learning. The course also focuses on creating environments that promote children’s social, emotional and intellectual development. A progressive approach to education informs these discussions. In particular, innovations from the municipal infant-toddler centers and preschools of Reggio Emilia, Italy are considered.

Inquiry proceeds on two levels. First we will focus on the practical aspects of teaching involved while working with compelling materials and designing engaging environments. The materials we will use in this course include graphic materials and drawing, natural materials, building and construction materials and photography. How documentation, provocations, and an attention to individual and group learning support the use of materials is considered. Planning and designing young children’s learning environments both inside and outside will be a focus.  

Keeping Faith in Love and Light

Dear everyone out there in December...just past the solstice and approaching Christmas Eve and the first evening of Hanukkah tomorrow.  Tonight there is a clear sky with so many stars in Vermont.  And there is a dusting of new snow on the ground. And our family is here or on the way, our sons, daughters-in-law, and grand children.  We are so very grateful to live in this place and time.  Grateful for our family, our home, our place, the good earth, our good work. We send you all our very warmest and best wishes for a lovely holiday season and joy and peace now and in the year to come.

Louise and Ashley

Post Proof

Krista Tippett and her radio show On Being is a great inspiration to us always and especially now.  Driving to Boston a week or so ago we listened again to Krista's pre-election interview with Muslim founder and leader of the Interfaith Youth Core in Chicago, Eboo Patel, and poet and Poet Laureate, Natasha Tretheway.  The title of the show is "How to Live Beyond This Election."  It is an enlightening, heartwarming, real and wise conversation.

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Toward the end of the show, Eboo Patel said this...

— a great radio host named Norman Corwin, who was kind of the Krista Tippett of his time, if you will...

[laughter]

DR. PATEL: ...he hosted these beautiful radio productions. He’s got this line that I say to a lot of 20-year-olds on campuses. “Post proofs that brotherhood is not so wild a dream that those who profit by postponing it pretend.” That’s your job, right? Post that proof. Just do that. It is a religious act, however small it might be. Just post your proof that brotherhood, sisterhood, empathy, solidarity, is not so wild a dream that these other people think it might be.

That seems like a very wise idea.  We all do it anyway.  We literally post images and articles and sights and sounds that are inspiring in this uncertain time. Now, more than ever, that is what we are called to do.  Post Proof! That justice, love, dreams, doing what is the right thing to do for ourselves, all people everywhere, all creatures, the planet is happening right now.

Today, we post proof by sharing what Middlebury College has accomplished in the last decade by taking a group of students' proposal seriously and committing to a very big dream...becoming carbon neutral by 2016.  And in December, 2016, they have done it.

This is such a milestone to be so proud of.  Middlebury College...students, trustees, faculty and staff, parents...thank you for your leadership now and into the future.  Click here and watch the short and inspiring video of how this happened.

https://vimeo.com/193775317#embed

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Affirming our Unwavering Commitment to Children

We read the Exchange Every Day newsletter from The Childcare Exchange regularly and are inspired and informed by all of their topics and resources. The letter below came from their editor, Sara Gilliam, last week.  Sara's words eloquently express our feelings, thoughts and commitments.  We are posting her letter here because it is a beautiful call to renew our collective commitment to empower children in our own lives and in our global community.  Our best wishes to all of you as November turns to December and we all have work to do.  As Sara writes...Let us grow together and unite in our determination to nurture a new generation of wondrous and resilient...human beings.

A Statement from ExchangeNovember 21, 2016

"Many things we need can wait, the child cannot.... To them we cannot say tomorrow, their name is today."-Gabriela Mistral

We at Exchange affirm our unwavering commitment to empowering children in our own lives and in our global community. Children have certain rights that must endure despite changes in leadership and the political landscape. These include the rights to safety, health, thoughtful education, freedom from bullying and fear, and the unconditional acceptance of unique individual gifts. All children—regardless of their gender, ethnicity, religion, sexual orientation, economic means, or learning abilities—deserve love and respect.

In a time of increasing—and often alarming—divisiveness, we have faith that the early childhood community can build bridges between those with differing opinions and priorities. In solidarity with your efforts, Exchange remains committed to supporting early childhood professionals worldwide in their efforts to create early childhood environments where adults and children thrive—environments that foster friendship, curiosity, self-esteem, joy, and respect, and where the talents of all are fully challenged and justly rewarded. Let us grow together and unite in our determination to nurture a new generation of wondrous and resilient flowers.

• Sara Gilliam, Editor-in-Chief, Exchange magazine

In the November/December issue of Exchange, Debbie LeeKeenan and John Nimmo provide the following guidelines for helping children understand what is happening around them including:

• encouraging children to ask questions.
• supporting children to communicate their ideas and emotions through conversations, drawings, writing, dramatic play, creative arts, music and movement.
• being a good listener; paying attention to words and feelings; looking for the underlying meaning.
• answering children’s questions immediately and directly, with information that is appropriate to their developmental level and experience.
• recognizing that there may not be simple answers, but that there are answers that can help children.
• avoiding responding to current events and issues in highly emotional or dramatic ways.

• providing resources to help children manage fears or uncertainty they might feel or express.