Nearly every morning, I invite the students to share "happy news." It's always a great time to connect as a class and learn more about each other's joys (and sorrows).
Today, my happy news was that my brother, Peter, is alive and well. (In our family what's app chat, he wrote on Sunday night to tell us that he and Melissa had arrived safely back to shore in Puerto Rico after their weeklong anniversary cruise.) I explained to the class that I really missed him and that if felt odd to not hear or see anything from him for more than a week. No Facebook pictures. No messages. No emails. Nothing.
I then explained to the class that this is called being "unplugged," something that's very healthy to do every once in a while. (Of course, at this point, one of the students incredulously commented, "What? That's just impossible.") I gently smiled and said, "Actually, it isn't. You *will* survive without technology for a day, a week, or even a month." I climbed up even farther onto my soap box and went on to explain how my childhood didn't include any technology, unless you count Atari.
Soon thereafter, our lovely librarian, Mrs. Mollenkramer, arrived to read to my class as a guest reader for Literacy Week. The book she brought, The Three Questions, was so apropos because it asked three important questions:
1. When is the best time to do things?
2. Who is the most important one?
3. What is the right thing to do?
Afterwards, the children shared a few great insights. Then, I asked if any of them could find the connection between what we chatted about earlier in the morning and the book. They got close, but they didn't quite get it, so I shared that Peter had answered these questions well: He took time to get away with his beloved wife, the "most important one" and he choose the right thing, which was to give her his full attention, instead of getting distracted by lesser things that often come with technology.
I heard a few "ahh's" and saw some nods and smiles, which showed me that the class understood my practical example.
It was a special moment that taught a great life lesson, which I hope they'll remember for a long time to come.
Sooo, how ironic is it that, of all days, I arrived home from school just a little while ago and realized that I had left my phone sitting on my desk? Seriously? Now, I'm the one who is (semi) unplugged. Life is so funny sometimes...and I am preaching to myself now.
When I went for my beach walk, it was strangely liberating. I had no music, no camera, and no ability to message or post anything. It was just the sea and me, totally unplugged. :)
Today, my happy news was that my brother, Peter, is alive and well. (In our family what's app chat, he wrote on Sunday night to tell us that he and Melissa had arrived safely back to shore in Puerto Rico after their weeklong anniversary cruise.) I explained to the class that I really missed him and that if felt odd to not hear or see anything from him for more than a week. No Facebook pictures. No messages. No emails. Nothing.
Soon thereafter, our lovely librarian, Mrs. Mollenkramer, arrived to read to my class as a guest reader for Literacy Week. The book she brought, The Three Questions, was so apropos because it asked three important questions:
1. When is the best time to do things?
2. Who is the most important one?
3. What is the right thing to do?
Afterwards, the children shared a few great insights. Then, I asked if any of them could find the connection between what we chatted about earlier in the morning and the book. They got close, but they didn't quite get it, so I shared that Peter had answered these questions well: He took time to get away with his beloved wife, the "most important one" and he choose the right thing, which was to give her his full attention, instead of getting distracted by lesser things that often come with technology.
I heard a few "ahh's" and saw some nods and smiles, which showed me that the class understood my practical example.
It was a special moment that taught a great life lesson, which I hope they'll remember for a long time to come.
Sooo, how ironic is it that, of all days, I arrived home from school just a little while ago and realized that I had left my phone sitting on my desk? Seriously? Now, I'm the one who is (semi) unplugged. Life is so funny sometimes...and I am preaching to myself now.
When I went for my beach walk, it was strangely liberating. I had no music, no camera, and no ability to message or post anything. It was just the sea and me, totally unplugged. :)
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