The Power of Questions

We’ve been traveling a bit since I retired earlier this summer. Tonight, we returned home from a short trip to San Francisco where my husband, Randy, had meetings with the California Public Utilities Commission. Randy attended the University of San Francisco Law School, so visiting here is special and brings back memories of his days as a struggling law student.

Since we began implementing project-based learning at our school, I noticed that I was much more curious about generating questions and researching to find answers. ("The World Looks Different from a PBL Perspective.") Last year, one of my friends, Julia Myers, posted photos on Facebook of a family trip to Montana, and I was intrigued by one particular photo. I wrote a blog about how we collaborated to find out additional information. (“What Can We Learn from a Photo?”)

When we traveled to Las Vegas earlier this month, I saw a sign on Fremont Street outside the Golden Gate casino and researched to find more about this piece of history. I learned that the first telephone number in Las Vegas was “1” and that the first paved road and stoplight in LV were on Fremont Street. I know that when I return to visit (my son and grandsons live there), I am going to look for more pieces of history about Downtown Las Vegas.

This is the plaque that sits at the spot where the first telephone was installed in 1905.

Yesterday, we drove down to the Fisherman’s Wharf area in San Francisco, and decided to visit the San Francisco Maritime Museum. While there, I learned about two people whom I would never have known about before. The first is Hilaire Hiler, the artist who was commissioned to do the artwork at the Maritime Museum. I often wonder what inspires artists and how they come up with their ideas. One room is covered with sea-themed murals of vibrant colors. The other, a room which he titled, “Prismatarium," shows a color wheel on the ceiling. His theory about the relationship between color and the human psyche is certainly novel. 

The photo above shows the artist who was commissioned to work on the murals at the Maritime Museum. Notice the  colors of the murals which cover the walls of  one room in the Museum.

At the Maritime Museum, I also learned about Kenichi Horie who, at the age of 23, made a solo voyage in a 19-foot sailboat from Japan to San Francisco. The voyage took 94 days. The story of his journey is amazing and is captured in a book and was made into a movie. Since then, Mr. Horie has traveled solo across the Pacific in solar-powered, pedal-powered, and wave-powered boats, some of which were made from recycled materials. Clearly, he is a visionary! 

This is the Mermaid , the boat that Kenichi Horie sailed in on his 94-day voyage. He gifted it to the San Francisco Maritime Museum. As you can see, it’s not very large. Can you imagine being in that vessel for 94 days in the middle of the Pacific Ocean?

This is the journal Kenichi Horie kept while on his voyage. Everything is in Japanese, but I was struck by how neat his penmanship is. Beautiful handwriting!

Finally, I noticed this home and the sign when Randy and I were walking to breakfast one morning, and I went back to take a picture. I wanted to know more about the person who built this home. After I posted these photos on Facebook, one of my FB friends shared a link to a newspaper article about Captain Cavlary’s death so I was able to learn more about him. He was quite an accomplished steamer commander. Isn't it wonderful to be able to research our questions about people and events?

I love these old-style homes in San Francisco! That sign intrigued me; the house is 140 years old.

There are so many opportunities to ask questions and research to find out information about what's around us. All it takes is a bit of curiosity. Lifelong learner - that is what I strive to be!

Dear Jace and Jayden

Dear Jace and Jayden,
Grandpa and Grandma really enjoyed spending time with you last week on our last trip. I always feel that these trips are much too short and this one seemed to be more so because you were still in school. Nevertheless, I love that we got to share some quality time with you.

While we were with you, our 41st United States President, George H.W. Bush, passed away. I learned that he wrote letters to his grandchildren, letters that they cherish to this day. I decided that this would be a great time to write you a letter, too, and share some of my thoughts with you both.

Jayden mentioned that I remind him of Mama Bear in the Berenstain Bears books. Did you know that  your Dad, Uncle Jarand, and Uncle Jordan loved those books? . We read and discussed each one when they were published because they all were very applicable, addressing problems like messy rooms, too much TV, and sibling rivalry. I guess that thinking I am like Mama Bear is not a bad thing; she just wanted the best for her little bears.

After sharing time with you last week, I thought I’d suggest two bits of advice. I imagine that these could be themes in a Berenstain Bears book.

First, BE RESPONSIBLE. I know it’s hard to keep track of your things when you go from your Dad’s house to your Mom’s house. That’s why you need to figure out how to be responsible for your things for school and for activities like soccer and tennis. Maybe you will make a list for yourself or maybe you will get all your things ready the night before or maybe you will have another system that works for you.  Being responsible will help you tremendously as you get older. Start developing good habits now and you will be ahead-of-the-game.

Second, BE KIND. I asked you to share with me how you were kind to someone that day. Remember when I read you “Wonder?” When kids were kind to Augie, they realized what a neat kid he was. You might not realize it at the time, but a kind word or a compliment to someone can make a difference for that person and turn a bad day into a good one. You will discover that once you start being kind to others, your kindness might start to spread to others. Wouldn’t it be wonderful if everyone were kinder to others?

Take care and do your best. I can’t wait until we see you again in a few weeks!

Love,
Grandma

Giving Thanks 2018

I considered not writing a blog for Thanksgiving. This year has been challenging with the unexpected passing of our second son, Jarand, in May. As I reflected on this past year, though, I realize that there is still much to be thankful for.

I am thankful for my family who has helped me to be strong in this most difficult of times. My husband Randy and our sons, Justin and Jordan, have been a source of strength. Together, we help each other by recalling events and memories of Jarand, the son and brother we knew and loved. Jarand has also given us an opportunity to build awareness of Chronic Kidney Disease, and we hope that by sharing his story, we can help others. Jarand passed peacefully in his sleep; we had spoken with him the night before and ended our conversation with “I love you.” I am grateful for that last conversation with him.

I am thankful for Randy, my husband and soul mate for nearly 42 years. Like all married couples, we have had our ups and downs, but through it all, we have remained best friends and supported each other. This was especially true these past few months which were, undoubtedly, the most challenging experience in our marriage. I am proud of Randy for all he has accomplished for our State throughout his professional career, and I look forward to spending more time with him now that he will be retiring at the end of the year. 

I am thankful for Justin, our oldest son, who is a great Dad to our grandsons. When Jarand decided to move to the mainland to be closer to his nephews, Justin helped him get settled. I know that Jarand missed Hawaii but with his big brother’s help, he was able to acclimate and thrive in his new home. I am proud of the way Justin is raising his sons. They are respectful and so much fun to be with! I am a Proud Grandma.

I am thankful for Jordan, our youngest son, who is serving our country in the Air Force and recently returned from a deployment to Afghanistan.  We are so proud of him! After working with military families for so many years as the principal of Daniel K. Inouye Elementary School, I know there can be many challenges. Yet Jordan is upbeat and independent, and I am confident that his military experience has helped him as he plans for his future.

I am thankful for my family and friends who have been there for me during these past few months. They share their own memories of Jarand, and their many stories and photos help us to heal. We realize what a special son we had, and although we will always miss him, I am proud to know that Jarand had such a positive impact on so many people.

I am thankful for everyone at Daniel K. Inouye Elementary School. After serving as their principal for so many years, they were my second family. It was not easy to retire, especially when I was still enjoying my job and the people I worked with, but I know that it was the right decision. Retirement has allowed me to relax and enjoy the simple things in life that I didn't even realize I was missing.

Despite the curve ball that life threw at us this past year, I realize that there is still much to be thankful for. May you all count your blessings and have a wonderful Thanksgiving.

This was the last selfie of our family, taken on New Year's Day 2018.

Resilience

I’ve been doing quite a bit of yard work since I retired. I find that it’s no longer a chore like it used to be when I was working. In fact, it’s relaxing and when I see the fruits of my labor, well, there is a sense of satisfaction. The yard is definitely not perfect, but it’s neater than it just was a few months ago! 

I’ve been watching this weed grow out of a rock. My first inclination was to pull it out, but I decided to observe its growth to see what would happen. I see it as a sign of resilience and individuality. While other weeds grow where the conditions are more amenable to their growth, this weed has chosen another growth path. It’s as if he is telling me, “Who said you need dirt to grow?” 

Isn’t this how some of our children are? There are some who need to be different, as if to prove that they CAN do it. They are individuals who have chosen to be different from others. We sometimes discourage them and try to steer them to the path we think they should take. . 

Let's remember that weeds and people can flourish in the most unusual places!

Where is the Respect?

I was watching a candidate forum and the question came up about whether a candidate agreed with the policies of the President. The candidate went on to dodge the question by saying that she respects the office of the President.

I have tried not to make this blog political, but I have decided that if I keep quiet, it might be assumed that I don't have an opinion. I do. I, too, respect the office of the President, but when that person is so disrespectful to others, it is very difficult to justify that behavior.

As a school principal, our staff didn't always agree with our decisions, but the rational way to deal with that was to have open, collaborative discussions to try to resolve our differences of opinion.We may not have come to a win-win, but treating others' ideas with respect is essential to move forward on our vision for the school. Imagine if I ridiculed or put-down our staff for sharing their ideas. There would be a negative ripple effect with staff and students. If the principal treats the staff with disrespect, we would soon see the staff treating the students with disrespect. Then students would be disrespectful to the staff and to their fellow students.

Improving the culture of the workplace is a goal that schools constantly work on. When the adults like each other, they will more likely work together as a team to support the students. A negative school climate is toxic, and teaching and learning will be negatively impacted.

At a school, it starts at the top with the principal and trickles down to the staff and students and the school community. As a principal, if I ever resorted to name-calling or ridiculing someone, there would have been a complaint then an investigation, and I would likely be removed from my position.

As adults, it is up to us to teach our students right from wrong. Studies show that social-emotional learning is essential to developing positive behaviors in students, and that is why schools make time during the day to teach students to advocate for themselves, to treat others respectfully, and to work cooperatively with their peers. And yes, we need to have discussions with students when they question the disrespectful behaviors of their leaders. We need to teach them how to disagree respectfully without resorting to name-calling or ridiculing those with different opinions. It is important for us to honor our students' opinions and to let them know that they can speak up when they disagree with someone's behavior or name-calling, even if that person is the leader of our country.

Are You Bored Yet?

It's been a little over three months since I officially retired after working for 45 years as an educator -- 27 years as a classroom teacher and 18 years as an administrator. A common question I'm asked these days is "Are you bored yet?" to which I respond, "No." "Well, what do you do all day?" is the next question. Hmm . . . let's see, I go to the gym, I take our dog out for walks, I work around the house or I work in the yard. I read or I write. I have appointments. I plan for upcoming events. People look at me a bit strangely as if they're thinking to themselves, "That sounds so boring!"

Today marks the end of the first quarter for public schools in Hawaii. If I were sitting around the house with nothing to do, I would definitely be feeling it now. I loved my job right up until the day I retired. I loved the people I worked with; I loved the students; I loved the challenges; and I really loved making a difference in people's lives. But once I retired and turned the responsibility of leading the school to the new principal, I chose not to look back with regret. 

I made a resolution of sorts that every weekday, I would do at least one chore so that on the weekend, I can relax. So every day, I do something like vacuuming, weeding, doing laundry, going through cabinets or drawers and purging or organizing, washing the car, cleaning windows, or working in the yard. I figure that after a few months, I should be caught up and after that, it should be easier to maintain.

After completing my task-of-the-day, I am free to do whatever I want until Randy comes home from work. Sometimes I binge-read. I've read so many great books since I retired! Other times I go shopping although I don't really need much of anything now that I'm not working. I might pick up my Mom and take her somewhere; she is almost 91 years old and lives by herself so I know she enjoys the company. I realize that for once in my life, what I do is my choice and not dictated by by schedule as a student or a wife or a parent or a teacher or a principal.

There may be educational opportunities for me in the future. I will think carefully before making a decision. As a lifelong educator in Hawaii, I believe I still have something to offer. For now, though, this retirement has been exactly what I needed.

Back to Blogging

Since my retirement, I was having a difficult time blogging. I promised myself I would continue to write. I’ve had some ideas for topics and I actually got started, but I was not inspired to continue and deleted them. Today, I read George Couros’ blog, “3 Ways Blogging Has Helped Me Grow as a Learner,”and I knew that I needed to get going again because blogging has been a way for me to reflect and to continue my learning.

Like George, I started blogging to experience what it would be like for our students. ("What Was I Thinking?") At the time, our students were being asked to do more persuasive types of writing as part of the Common Core State Standards. It was hard to keep going. I tried to blog regularly, but a set schedule didn't work out for me. Since I started six years ago, I've averaged about two per month. Some are better than others, and I am hopeful that readers were able to think about what I had written and apply it to themselves.

Now that I've retired after 45 years as an educator, I find myself continuing to read about teaching, leading, and learning, but I realize that as time passes, I may find new interests and new ideas to advocate for. After all, isn't that what retirement should be - the ending of one journey and the beginning of another?

During the last few months as a retiree, I've been able to binge-read books that I somehow didn't have the chance to read when I was working. I go to the gym and walk my dog regularly, something that is good for both of us since he is also getting older. I continue to purge (this will take a long time; we've lived in this house for 36+ years) and I've been able to get my hands dirty as I work on weeding and trying to be a gardener (this is definitely a work-in-progress as I have not been successful yet). It has been so relaxing!

Retirement came at the right time for me. I had prepared for it mentally and emotionally. I loved being the principal of Daniel K. Inouye Elementary School, and I still miss the people and the challenges, but it was time. I don't regret my decision at all, and I know the school continues to move forward in a positive direction under their new leadership team.

Those who read this blog know that we lost our second son recently ("Aloha, Jarand"). His passing made me realize that life is fleeting; we never know when it is our time. In the beginning, it was difficult for me to talk with people about how Jarand passed, but now, I see if as a responsibility to let others know how Chronic Kidney Disease can be prevented through early screening. This was not something I planned on doing in my retirement, but as a life-long learner and an educator, I believe this is something I need to do.

So as I write this blog post, my first in over a month, I realize that I do have something to write about. It may no longer be exclusively about education, but hopefully, writing will provide me with the venue to reflect and to continue to learn in the process. Thank you, George Couros, for getting me back to blogging!