Playing Around with Words

Have you ever been caught saying something that you think is funny or witty and it flops? As hard as I try, I just don't have the capacity to be funny so I turn to word play to bring a humorous touch to a poem. Since I try to live with a positive approach to life, I am well aware of what a toxic environment can do to the work environment. 

Meet my character who needs to unscrew her prunish facial expression.

Polly Pessimist found a home 

in a world of monochrome-

Colorless, faded jeans,

sour face, screaming teens.

Tried to step out for a spin.

Hit the ground, hurt her shin.

Whisked off to the hospital.

Doctor found bones so brittle.

Final thought: change your tune,

B-negative blood will be your ruin.

Doctor's Recommendation to Polly Pessimist: 

Turn your life around.

Drop the droopy frown.

Play your cards right.
It's an uphill battle fight.
©CV, 2019

   Words at Play Challenge for Today's Little Ditty Challenge

Thank you, Michelle H. Barnes, for bringing this challenge designed by poet Kate O'Neil to the poetry community. In the poetry playground, I can test my thoughts just for fun, bringing out the child inside.  In the DMC challenge, I tried out a pun (A pessimist's blood type is B-negative.), cliches, alliteration, and rhyme to compose a poem. I would love feedback on this poem. 

Thank you also, Michelle, for being the host of Poetry Friday at your blog site this week. 

As for nature, I saw my first snow of the season dusting the ground while traveling to the statewide ed conference this week. 

Mindfulness in the Classroom (and Beyond)

In yoga last week, the teacher gently repeated a mantra that stayed with me throughout the session. 

"Let your mind rest on your breath,"

resounded in the quietness.

We engaged in the stillness

as our minds disengaged. 

A gentle voice retraced the message.

"Let go of your to do lists.

Focus on the breath."

Mindfulness floated

in spaces surrounding us. 

Peace prevailed. 

©CVarsalona, 2017

It was a timely message since I was preparing for the #NYEDChat convo centering on "Mindfulness in the Classroom and Beyond." Building momentum for a successful chat is key.

What transpired was noteworthy. The above poster, illustrated by the beloved author/illustrator Peter H. Reynolds, was retweeted by educators, parents, and students for days prior to #NYEDChat. Thoughtful questions were prepared by the wonderful author, poet, and yoga/mindfulness instructor, Susan Verde, and I repeatedly sent out the question flyer via Twitter. The publicity campaign continued on FaceBook. We were definitely ready  for a chat that would engage people and students from many corners of the world beyond New York State. 

A transcript of the chat was promptly provided by Participate. It can be can be found here. 

What does it take to deliver a topic, engage an audience, and provide an opportunity for people to network with each other?

• Mindful intent
• Positivity
• Focused Topic
• Great advertising campaign
• Passionate moderators and participants (Peter and Susan heated up Twitter, making #NYEDChat trend in the early part of the convo.)
• Stamina
• Gratitude

Upon a quick relook at the chat I realized that the above bulleted points were evident throughout the conversation. Moderators and participants came into the chat with an excited attitude and positive perspective. Everyone was mindfully attending to the topic at hand, providing responses, resources, and sidebar conversations with each other. The topic focused us on the importance of having students learn mindfulness in their early years. Passion was present and in high degrees. Because of the high volume of tweets, stamina was needed to stay in the flow. Everyone was grateful for the moderators' thoughtful questions and responses.

Reflecting on the chat has made me aware of the high energy of educators, parents, and teachers who voluntarily join evening chats. There seems to be an endless thirst for knowledge and consistency in positive perspectives. 

I leave you with gratitude for our guest moderators' enthusiasm to prepare for and engage in the chat. In addition, I would like to express heartfelt thanks to the participants for their eagerness to learn alongside Peter H. Reynolds and Susan Verde. 

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Stay tuned for Part 2 in which I will dig deeper into the chat to highlight the positives. I offer this post to Two Writing Teachers for Slice of Life Tuesday, "a meeting place for a world of reflective writers" where educators share weekly slices of their lives.

Reach and Connect

The skyscrapers of New York City remind us to reach. Like those skyscrapers, connected colleagues' voices can rise high. Joined together we can envision new vistas, see new possibilities, and celebrate positivity. 

Each Monday on Twitter, #CelebrateMonday asks us to showcase the positives. To open dialogue on positivity, Dan McCabe and I will lead the #NYEDChat moderators in a conversation with our connected "edufriends" on Monday, May 2, 2016 at 8 pm EST.

NYEDChat Moderators :

Bill Brennan, Victoria Day, Blanca Duarte, Dan McCabe, Lisa Meade, Starr Sackstein, Dennis Schug, Tony Sinanis, Carol Varsalona

Connected Educator Guest Moderators:

Bobby Dodd, Sean Gaillard, Reed Gillespie, Phil Griffin, Neil Gupta, Jon Harper, 
Jennifer Hogan, Eoin Lenihan, Craig Vroom, Jennifer Williams

While the above connected educators are Positivity Champions, I recognize that there are so many more I come in contact with on social media who have a growth mindset. On behalf of the NYEDChat team I send out this invitation to join the conversation, Positive People Do More, to all who champion the "positives" across the globe. 

NYEDChat, as the voice of New York State educators, reaches beyond our state boundaries to connect with others on timely topics in education. Please join me at #NYEDChat on #CelebrateMonday May 2, 2016 for an epic conversation. The question document below is ready for your perusal. 

Ready to rock the Twittersphere as we discuss how to end the year with a strong finish, right up to the #lastbell, as Jennifer Hogan says. 

Don't forget to #CelebrateMonday today. 

Question to Ponder: 

What might you do differently to create a positive environment that celebrates the journey toward success?