How I Learned To Read

How did you learn to read?  That is a question that I never really pondered until recently.  I had gone to my parents house to help clean out their house and found a bin of my things from grade school.  Inside, I found photos, newspaper clippings of events and a book titled The Secret Place and Other Poems.  These all brought a smile to my face as I remembered a sweet time in life and had a good laugh at the book that helped me to learn English. 

Why a good laugh?  The Secret Place and Other Poems looks like it was written in Old English!  It was written in the Initial Teaching Alphabet (ITA) system that used a variant of the Latin language.  The program was piloted at the grade school I attended.  It is a wild system but somehow did not impact my language acquisition during those formative years. 

Watch the video below to learn more about this reading and writing teaching method.  It was developed originally in Britain in the 1960s.  Some schools in the United States implemented it but it never caught on and soon faded out altogether, in both Britain and the United States. 

She ...

She sat in the waiting room. It was filled with patients, queuing at the various reception counters or seated on the cold hard metal chairs.  Each person came in, dutifully went to their respective specialist’s counter and handed in their appointment cards.  Acknowledging that many people had travelled long distances to access this subsidised service, she was prepared for a long wait.  Armed with a puzzle book and pencil she settled in and awaited her turn.

So she sat, and she waited.  She watched people come and go.  Her appointed time came and went, and still she waited.  She could afford to be a patient patient because she was certain that her turn would come.  To pass the time, she toyed with her puzzles, alternating with people-watching.  How much longer would she have to wait?  When would her number come up?  Tick-tock, tick-tock ... and so the time passed.

But sure enough - just as she was sure it would - her number came up and finally it was her turn.

"The two most powerful warriors are patience and time."  

-  Leo Tolstoy

Journal Writing

 My Favorite Quote 

During the Covid lockdowns, I was teaching Science to 5th and 6th graders in Chicago.  The timetable had an odd 20 minutes scheduled in right after lunch, before a specials class. While looking for different activities that would be a good fit and use of educational time for that period, I stumbled across Amy Ludwig VanDerwater's YouTube channel.  I found her videos  engaging, educational and inspiring though they would be a good activity for my class.

Amy recorded episodes on notebook-keeping, from a little camper van she named Betsey, the Writing Camper.  Each week she provided a theme, along with a brainstorm activity and then guided the writer to write on a subject chosen from the brainstorming.

I adapted her videos into PowerPoint presentations to present to my students and chunked up the activity during the course of the week. The children enjoyed the lessons, the routine, and over time, many of them really got into it.

What I enjoyed most was reading what the children wrote.  They were able to write about their own authentic lives while the brainstorming sessions gave them options about what to write. 

Get a notebook, take a look at the presentation and begin writing.   

Amy Ludwig VanDerwater is a teacher and writer who lives in upstate New York. Visit her YouTube channel for more ideas and activities.

A noble profession

Tinker, tailor, soldier, sailor ... Doctor, teacher, biologist, agricultural extensionist … A noble profession can be defined as one in which the greater good is the aim; work that has a positive impact on the society.

Recently, I stumbled across a truly noble profession, one that exemplifies selfless service and dedication to duty. Rambling in the city, Jen and I walked into a fire-station. No - actually, we were admiring the vehicles outside, when a fireman invited us to come in and look around. 

Established as a fire-station in 1935, the front part of the building was renovated in 2024, at which point it was decided that a museum be set up there. With authentic items from stations all across Mexico, the museum gives a rich history of signficant events that the country's firefighters have been involved in. It turns out that this is the first fire-station museum in Mexico.

Even adults sometimes yearn to play dress up! Jen accepted the challenge of taking on the sensory experience, and was kitted out in full firefighter uniform, complete with helmet and Halligan tool. The latter two were soon discarded as it would have been practically impossible for her to move around as she kept it on for the duration of our tour.  It took her about 10 minutes  - with help - to get the full gear on. On average, a firefighter takes all of 55 seconds to be dressed and ready for action! 

    

The Halligan tool is an intriguing instrument. 30-inch in length and weighing about 10.5 lb (approximately 4.8 kg), it comprises a claw, blade and pick. It is used to break open doors and locks.  In vehicles, it is used to pry open hoods or other parts of the vehicle. The Halligan can be used to knock down walls or break glass. It is also used to shut off gas valve meters and can act as an anchor.

Javier, our guide, explained that although all firemen undergo a 3-month intensive training at the outset, a fireman's life is one of continuous education; as advancements in science and technology are made, their training, too, must be up to scratch. Burning buildings, floods, earthquakes, and traffic accidents all fall under their purview.

Unfortunately, it is getting harder to get people to enlist in the fire service. The younger generation seems to lack a strong work ethic, and their poor one-on-one communication would not handle the demands of the job well.  "We need people with a true calling, a vocation for the job", says Javier.

We must pay tribute and homage to these brave men and women who take great risks to save the lives of others.  Rubén Darío, a Nicaraguan poet, has this portion of his renown poem Himno de Los Bomberos (The Fireman's Anthem) displayed on a wall:

!Suena alarma, valiente bombero!

Va la bomba una hoguera a vencer

Ponte el casco y camina ligero

donde vibra el clarín del deber.

 - Vamos, vamos, con paso ligero, 
donde vibra el clarín del deber -

                                        Rubén Darío,
                                                    La Epoca, 6 July 1888*

*My attempt at a translation of this verse follows below:

Hark, O brave firefighter; the alarm sounds!
To the pump we go, a fire to defeat
On with your helmet and with wings on your feet
The clarion call of duty calls.
- Swiftly, swiftly, make haste, make haste
The clarion call of duty bids us come -

Our gratitude goes to Fireman Javier Melgarejo for his patience and guided tour, and to the entire Guardia Azul for their cordial welcome and reception.

We thank you for your service.

#selfless_service, #dedication, #job_satisfaction