Mama Bracelets: Go Ahead...
Mama Bracelets: Go Ahead...: "Saving money. Learning about jewelry. Keeping up with Mama Bracelets. Once a month we will gladly send you our eNewsletter. Not only..."
Mama Bracelets: Step Up for Autism (2011)...
Mama Bracelets: Step Up for Autism (2011)...: "Autism Awareness Bracelet 30% of profits go directly to 'Step Up for Autism' Bringing us all closer together Autism is defin..."
MCC Summer Reflections: Turning the Pages...
MCC Summer Reflections: Turning the Pages...: "Tests. That's what the doctor ordered. Test her nerves, test her muscles, test her enzymes. The first test we wanted to get completed was t..."
MCC Summer Reflections: One and Done...
MCC Summer Reflections: One and Done...: "A man is walking down the street in the middle of summer. It is a city street with several apartment buildings on top of store fronts. ..."
MCC Summer Reflections: Road Trip...
MCC Summer Reflections: Road Trip...: "Lindsay and I love to take road trips. There's a certain coziness in the prospect of gathering the supplies needed to live in the car for..."
MCC Summer Reflections: What Would Ella Say?
MCC Summer Reflections: What Would Ella Say?: "She waited for over an hour. She played with books in the waiting room and ate her snack. She watched another child put a puzzle together. ..."
MCC Summer Reflections: My Reasons Lie Inside...
MCC Summer Reflections: My Reasons Lie Inside...: "It's funny what the world can do, it's strange the turns life throws at you. I wonder what will happen next, news comes to me; talk, phone..."
MCC Summer Reflections: Quiet Time...good book; good friend...
MCC Summer Reflections: Quiet Time...good book; good friend...: "There's something about children when they read. It's the same for when they sing. I don't mean when they prance around the house singing..."
MCC Summer Reflections:
MCC Summer Reflections:
They rest.
Their days are filled with play, tant...: "They rest. Their days are filled with play, tantrums, good choices, bad choices, politeness, and everything in-between. They rest now. ..."
They rest.
Their days are filled with play, tant...: "They rest. Their days are filled with play, tantrums, good choices, bad choices, politeness, and everything in-between. They rest now. ..."
MCC Summer Reflections: There's Three of Them...
MCC Summer Reflections: There's Three of Them...: "This week is marked by anticipation. We wait. We wait to take Ella to have her MRI on Thursday morning and then from there we wait until..."
MCC Summer Reflections: All for One & One for All
MCC Summer Reflections: All for One & One for All: "We took Ava, Henry and Ella to the park today. I put on the baby back-pack and had Ella riding high while Ava & Henry shared the double st..."
Mama Bracelets: A*U*T*I*S*M
Mama Bracelets: A*U*T*I*S*M: "'Autism is diagnosed in about 1–2 per 1,000 people worldwide; however, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reports about 9..."
MCC Summer Reflections: Our Puzzle Pieces Fit...
MCC Summer Reflections: Our Puzzle Pieces Fit...: "I've worked with kids since 1994. I've met hundreds of children, scores of parents, many siblings, and a host of extended family members. ..."
Mama Bracelets: Step Up for Autism (2011)...
Mama Bracelets: Step Up for Autism (2011)...: "Autism Awareness Bracelet 30% of profits go directly to 'Step Up for Autism' Bringing us all closer together Autism is defin..."
Mama Bracelets:
Mama Bracelets:
Overall Mama Bracelets has saved our customers a...: "Overall Mama Bracelets has saved our customers an average of $9.48 per order when they used our coupon codes! People who had not signed..."
Overall Mama Bracelets has saved our customers a...: "Overall Mama Bracelets has saved our customers an average of $9.48 per order when they used our coupon codes! People who had not signed..."
MCC Summer Reflections: Ella's Embrace...
MCC Summer Reflections: Ella's Embrace...: " Ella and I took a walk today. I held her close to my body and as she embraced me she let the wind blow on her face, squeals of delight ..."
Mama Bracelets: Australia & Father's Day...
Mama Bracelets: Australia & Father's Day...: "Did you know? 'In Australia, Father's Day is celebrated on the first Sunday of September and is not a public holiday. YMCA Victoria conti..."
MCC Summer Reflections: A Fine Line...
MCC Summer Reflections: A Fine Line...: "Henry loves his stroller. It's not really his but he has taken ownership of it anyway. If he feels like it he'll share it with Ava & Ell..."
MCC Summer Reflections: Special Spot for Special People...
MCC Summer Reflections: Special Spot for Special People...: "The thoughtfulness of Ava is expressed in her drawings. She spends many hours of her day at the family room table, with papers placed in ..."
MCC Summer Reflections: Conscience Speaking...
MCC Summer Reflections: Conscience Speaking...: "During the school year I would enter my house to the sounds of kids running up to me, excitement taking over the atmosphere. Often they wo..."
Mama Bracelets: Happy Birthday Ella...25% OFF Entire Order!
Mama Bracelets: Happy Birthday Ella...25% OFF Entire Order!: "The Casten's (owners of Mama Bracelets ) are celebrating their 3rd child's 1st birthday for the entire weekend of June 10-12 with a Mama..."
MCC Summer Reflections: Ella S. Casten
MCC Summer Reflections: Ella S. Casten: "She'll melt every heart she meets... Ella Sabine Casten, born on June 10, 2009. Ava and Henry were c-sections. According to our doctor, ..."
MCC Summer Reflections: Henry M. Casten
MCC Summer Reflections: Henry M. Casten: " He's one of a kind, that boy is... Henry came into this world on Oct. 20th, 2008. Lindsay and I were determined to have our second b..."
MCC Summer Reflections: Ava R. Casten
MCC Summer Reflections: Ava R. Casten: "She captured you, didn't she? Ava was born on July 5th, 2007. Lindsay & I were so excited that we were starting a family. I remember w..."
Mama Bracelets: $50 Gift Certificate Giveaway when MB reaches 500 ...
Mama Bracelets: $50 Gift Certificate Giveaway when MB reaches 500 ...: "Mama Bracelets will give away a $50.00 Mama Bracelets Gift Certificate to one of our lucky fans after we reach 500 Facebook Fans ! Of cou..."
MCC Summer Reflections: Lindsay R. Casten
MCC Summer Reflections: Lindsay R. Casten: "She gorgeous, huh? I think so... Lindsay R. Casten (maiden name Gibson). I suppose I could write an entire book on Lindsay...as I said in..."
Mama Bracelets: Did You Know? [Father's Day]
Mama Bracelets: Did You Know? [Father's Day]: "'Father's Day is a celebration of fathers inaugurated in the early twentieth century to complement Mother's Day in celebrating fatherhood a..."
MCC Summer Reflections: Michael C. Casten
MCC Summer Reflections: Michael C. Casten: "This picture was taken in our kitchen in Naperville, IL. Lindsay and I have lived here for 5 years and we have 3 children (Ava [4 yrs old]..."
MCC Summer Reflections: The Casten Family
MCC Summer Reflections: The Casten Family: "So, summer has started. I guess I should introduce my family to those who do not know all (or any) of us. From the left: Me (Michael), ho..."
The Parade...
Ten years ago at this time, I sat in the same chair, in the same room, taking in the same view. I was typing the same type of letter to a group of parents. It was my first year as a teacher and I had no idea what was in store for me a decade later.
A veteran teacher once gave me an analogy of teaching and time spent as a teacher. She told me that teaching is like watching a parade. The difference between new teachers and seasoned teachers is the perspective they have. New teachers watch the parade from the street, standing in front of a tall building, seeing each “float” (student, lesson, etc) as it passes. As the teacher spends time in the classroom year after year, they watch the parade from different “floors” of a building. A seasoned teacher watches the parade from the roof. A seasoned teacher can see the parade from beginning to end, watches all of the “floats”, and sees where they came from and where they are going…an overall, encompassing view if you will.
This year was first time I felt that I watched the “parade” from the roof.
Nine-months ago I sat with your children. We laughed on the first day. I saw their true selves on that very first day for they were comfortable where they were. I was too. From that day on we kept the humor alive. Not only that, we kept the learning alive. We learned about reading, writing, and arithmetic; we also learned about ourselves.
This group was an incredible mixture of free-spirited people with natural leadership qualities and strong personalities. Each one of them began this year as individuals…basically looking out for themselves. A trait that I admired. They learned, however, ways to work together as a team, as a group of people with a common goal…I admire that even more.
It was amazing to witness how the many personalities, so many of them alike, found their way in the classroom. Each of them allowing the others to have their “time in the sun”. The strength of their personalities could have created an atmosphere that would not have been conducive to learning and getting along---the opposite happened. They let each other have room yet relied on each other for guidance and support.
Watching their parade from the roof-top was truly a pleasure to behold…I saw them as they began their journey…I watched them as they supported each other during hard times in the journey…I watched them as they celebrated their journey—learning, playing, and caring for one another.
A veteran teacher once gave me an analogy of teaching and time spent as a teacher. She told me that teaching is like watching a parade. The difference between new teachers and seasoned teachers is the perspective they have. New teachers watch the parade from the street, standing in front of a tall building, seeing each “float” (student, lesson, etc) as it passes. As the teacher spends time in the classroom year after year, they watch the parade from different “floors” of a building. A seasoned teacher watches the parade from the roof. A seasoned teacher can see the parade from beginning to end, watches all of the “floats”, and sees where they came from and where they are going…an overall, encompassing view if you will.
This year was first time I felt that I watched the “parade” from the roof.
Nine-months ago I sat with your children. We laughed on the first day. I saw their true selves on that very first day for they were comfortable where they were. I was too. From that day on we kept the humor alive. Not only that, we kept the learning alive. We learned about reading, writing, and arithmetic; we also learned about ourselves.
This group was an incredible mixture of free-spirited people with natural leadership qualities and strong personalities. Each one of them began this year as individuals…basically looking out for themselves. A trait that I admired. They learned, however, ways to work together as a team, as a group of people with a common goal…I admire that even more.
It was amazing to witness how the many personalities, so many of them alike, found their way in the classroom. Each of them allowing the others to have their “time in the sun”. The strength of their personalities could have created an atmosphere that would not have been conducive to learning and getting along---the opposite happened. They let each other have room yet relied on each other for guidance and support.
Watching their parade from the roof-top was truly a pleasure to behold…I saw them as they began their journey…I watched them as they supported each other during hard times in the journey…I watched them as they celebrated their journey—learning, playing, and caring for one another.
Mr. Casten
June 3, 2011
Copyrighted material of Michael C. Casten
Mama Bracelets: Calling Dr. Kelly; your CPA is on the line!
Mama Bracelets: Calling Dr. Kelly; your CPA is on the line!: "A beautiful graduation gift for two sisters, each unlocking the path of their dreams. These Mama Bracelets Key Rings will be given to ..."
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)