Where I'm From

Hey Everyone!!!

I apologize for not posting in a while, but I have been very busy. Between working at the local pizza place in my town (5 years and counting :) ) and volunteering as a teaching assistant at Hathaway Elementary School, I seem to be searching for time to do anything else. I have been hard at work on a year in review blog about my first year at SMC. If all goes as plan, Part 1 should be up by the end of the week, so stay tuned.

Today I wanted to share a poem I wrote with my kids. We have been focusing a lot on poetry lately, responding to poems of all different kinds. This week we are focusing on a poem by George Ella Lyons title "Where I am From". After reading and discussing George's poem, the lead teacher and I had the students echo the poem and write their own "Where I am From" poem. Here is mine:

Where I'm From

I am from sandy beaches

      constantly caressed by waves

      the giggling of children and the squawking of birds

I'm from grass cut in straight lines

      a made for tanning

      the smell of fresh dough filling the air

      a growing and ever-changing home

I am from mountains and trees

      draped with new fallen snow

      leaves of every color that crunch under your feet

I am from the Red and White

      lockers, backpacks, and books 

      JKL2, the WMP crew, and the tricycle too

I'm from small desks and chairs

      bulbs of budding knowledge

I am from the Purple and Gold

      proud knights who care

      classes and volunteering

I am from an angelic nephew

      an adorable Godfather

      filling the home with joy and laughter

I'm from those who love to care

      always ready to give a helping hand

I'm from letters and cards

      pictures from a camera and from kids' hearts

      never leaving me feeling lonely

      memories that last forever

Where are you from? Writing like this can open a door to bringing out the best memories. It can be a leaping pad to other writings. I invite you to write your own Where I'm From. At this point in many of our lives it is so important to look back at our past too see where we have come from. I leave you with the words of George Ella Lyons, "Remember, you are the expert on you. No one else sees the world as you do; no one else has your material to draw on. You don't have to know where to begin. Just start. Let it flow. Trust the work to find its own form." I hope you all enjoy your Summer!!!

Peace, Love, and Hugs,

Josh

Two Roads

The Road Not Taken

ßy: Robert Frost

Two roads diverged in a yellow wood,

And sorry I could not travel both

And be one traveler, long I stood

And looked down one as far as I could

To where it bent in the undergrowth;

Then took the other, just as fair,

And having perhaps the better claim,

Because it was grassy and wanted wear;

Though as for that passing there

Had worn them really about the same,

And both that morning equally lay

In leaves no step had trodden black.

Oh, I kept the first for another day!

Yet knowing how way leads to way,

I doubted if I should ever come back.

Somewhere ages and ages hence:

Two roads diverged in a wood, and I -

I took the one less traveled by,

And that has made all the difference.



Today in the 5th grade classroom I work in we began our unit on poetry. This poem was the one i shared with my kids as it spoke to my fears over the last year and going to school so far away from home. I shared with them that many of my friends went to state schools like URI and RIC, but I decided to travel to VT for school to St. Mikes. I took the road less traveled (to be exact 89 :) ) and ventured into a new chapter -- a decision that I could not be happier that I made. I want to share this poem with all of you to know that it is okay to take the road less traveled, to journey into the uknown, for you never know what you will find.
 
STAY TUNED FOR A END OF THE YEAR REFLECTION BLOG!!
 
Peace love and hugs,
 
Josh

True Life: My First PDAY

Hey everyone!!

Do you want to see what PDAY was like? Watch this!!

Best of Weeks...Worst of Weeks

This time at school is a really difficult time - mentally, emotionally, and physically. First, since it is the end of the semester classes are crazy -- everyday it seems there are more and more assignments being handed out. To make it more difficult, it has been sunny so much and all my friends and I want to do is lay and/or play outside -- not homework. To add onto the stresses of homework, comes the stresses of leaving friends. In 5 days I will close my last box and move home. Moving home to me, is moving 1.5 hours away from my best friend and various amounts of hours from my other friends. Do not get me wrong, I am stoked to go home, but at the same time I love my friends here. To make leaving worse, I have become very close this week with a lot of people and now there really is not time to let things grow because now we will have a 3 month break. Also, last week was also physically demanded; back to back meetings, homework, classes, programs, and work led to little to no sleep. My body at times felt like it was going to give up, but it persevered and I made it to the weekend!!

THIS WEEKEND WAS THE BEST WEEKEND OF MY LIFE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! On Friday, my best friends and I watched a movie and spent a lot of  time together since it was my last weekend on campus. Friday night was an early night though because we all knew that the next day would be a long one. Saturday, was the best day of my life -- literally. Not only was it one of my best friends' birthday, but it was also PDAY. Pday stands for Preparation Day and it falls on the last Saturday before finals week. It is meant to provide a chance for all SMC students to come together and have fun. Whether its the friends, the inflatables, or the massive amounts of food, every one has a fun day on PDAY. I was able to work and make $100 by helping out the SA and running a couple of tables (token table and bubbles boot). This was the best $100 I have ever made!!!!!!!!!! The night of Pday a friend of mine asked me to watch the sunrise, and even though it would mean I would be up for more than 20 hours, I agreed. This was the best decision of my life, for now this friend has become another best friend. We were able to talk and share stories as the clock ticked to 6 am. After the sunrise, it was time to go to bed and I closed my eyes after the best day ever. 

I look forward to what this week will bring and look forward to sharing it with all of you. 

PEACE LOVE AND HUGS,
 

JOSH

Springtime on Campus

If you are about to watch my new vlog...

If you are about to watch my new vlog, scroll down and mute the slideshow so there is not a crazy amount of sound going on. Hope you like it and please comment and tell me what you think :)!!

Peace Love and Hugs

Josh

MY FIRST VLOG!!!