It's a new month! Every time you post, tweet or comment in the month of July, you'll be entered to win some tasty treats and a contribution to the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society in your name. There are four Fridays in July, so you can be entered up to 12 times this month!
Be sure to record your participation on this widget so your vote will be counted!
Every time you post, tweet or comment in the month of June, you'll be entered to win some tasty treats and a contribution to the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society in your name. This is the last Friday in June, so get your entries in!
Be sure to record your participation on this widget so your vote will be counted!
Those of you who followed us last year will recall that these Positivity Playlists are my FAVORITE Freeky Friday topics. I love discovering new music, and there's no better kind of music than the feel-good kind. The theme of my positivity playlist this summer is "moving forward". It's a pretty crazy time for me - out of school, moving into a real apartment, preparing for a full-time job - and I find that music is the best thing to help remind me that forward motion is essential, no matter how bittersweet it may seem. So what's on my positivity playlist?
Mumford and Sons - The Cave
Some people might think this song is sad. Those people would be wrong. Mumford manages to capture all of the emotions that are involved with triumphing in the face of adversity, which is essentially what moving forward is all about. Whether it's coping with an addiction or ending a long relationship, this song can pretty much apply to everything. I typically love music for the lyrics, but what I love most about "The Cave" is how the music builds with the emotions involved. The beginning is quiet, timid, confused, but the song builds to a loud, energetic force - the listener has no choice but to grow in the same way.
Freeking awesome lyrics: 'Cause I need freedom now / And I need to know how / To live my life as its meant to be
Fun. - Carry On
I know Fun. is super trendy right now and typically the hipster in me tries to shy away from that kind of music, but I cannot deny the power of this album. The whole thing is a positivity playlist! Like most of my favorite songs, this one came into my life at an apropos time - while I was finishing up my last semester of grad school - and this album on loop is pretty much the reason I graduated. This song is particular is an anthem for anyone who has ever experienced anything in their past that they would like to move forward from. The message is clear: we've all been there, and your only choice is to keep moving forward.
Freeking awesome lyrics: May your past be the sound / Of your feet upon the ground / Carry on
The Muppets - Rainbow Connection
Ohhhh I love the Muppets. And there's just something about "Rainbow Connection", isn't there? Something wishful, dreamy, almost distant about it. Apart from this being one of my absolute favorite songs to sing ever, "Rainbow Connection" keeps my head in the clouds in the most delightful way. While I am determined to move forward, this song brings a light to the future instead of focusing on overcoming darkness of the past. Whether it's love or work or friendship or life, there's just something about "Rainbow Connection" that applies to us all. Don't believe me? Type it into YouTube and see just how many people have covered it. I, however, prefer when Kermit sings it. I tried to find a video of the 2011 movie version, but it just wouldn't load for me. Vintage will have to do!
Freeking awesome lyrics: I've heard it too many times to ignore it / It's something that I'm supposed to be
What's on your positivity playlist this summer?
In case you forgot, anyone can get Freeky on Fridays! You can participate in three different ways:
Write a blog post using the badge html above, then comment on my post with a link to your post
Every time you post, tweet or comment in the month of June, you'll be entered to win some tasty treats and a contribution to the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society in your name. There are still two more Fridays in June, so you can be entered to win up to six more times!
Be sure to record your participation on this widget so your vote will be counted!
I've never met a city that gets so into summertime as New York City does! While the heat is not my favorite weather to explore in, I can't help but get caught up in the summer hype. The absolute best thing about NYC in the summer is that everyone is outside - and I mean EVERYONE, from the tourists to the food trucks, flooding the streets, each and everyday. There are obvious summer activities, like the legendary Coney Island Mermaid Parade and Shakespeare in the Park, but there are plenty of other fun and quirky NYC summer funtivities that I never knew existed until I moved here.
Like outdoor movie series! Several parks, including Bryant Park and Brooklyn Bridge Park, run summer movie festivals, free and open to the public. Some are more family-oriented than others (any guesses as to the movie playing in the above photo?), while some focus on classic films. These movie series are a fun way to get outside, get together with friends, pack a picnic, and enjoy a flick - regardless of whether or not you've seen it a dozen times. Too hot for you outside, you say? Never fear! The Museum of Jewish Heritage is hosting a Mel Brooks film series in their cozy, air conditioned building. You can bet I'll be checking out a bunch of these this summer!
Another great summertime tradition in NYC is the Jazz Age Lawn Party, which is held during two separate weekends every summer on Governor's Island. Now, Governor's Island is cool to begin with - it's open every weekend from Memorial Day to Labor Day and is chock full of history, nature, and special events - but this Gatsby-esque weekend really takes the cake. Hosted by Michael Arenella & his Dreamland Orchestra, this two-day concert and festival invites guests to journey back to the 1920s with old-fashioned cocktails, a pie recipe contest, a classic car show, and vintage portraits. I mean, they even have Charleston lessons. This summer's Jazz Age Lawn Parties are this weekend (June 16 and 17) and again August 18 and 19.
My third and final favorite summertime activity is drinking on rooftops. New Yorkers know we have a shortage of ground space, but we have an abundance of space up in the air! There's plenty of rooftop bars and lounges only open during the summertime, but my favorite has to be the Metropolitan Museum of Art's Roof Garden. The Met's roof offers beautiful views of Central Park and classic uptown architecture, which is only heightened by its current showpiece, Tomás Saraceno's Cloud City (pictured above). Visitors are invited (with free tickets) to peruse the structure and take in the trippy views through the sculpture's reflective surfaces. The Roof Garden also offers light snacks (read: overpriced sandwiches) and frozen cocktails - all available virgin, of course, in case you'd like to bring the young'ns.
As you can see, there's PLENTY to do in NYC in the summertime! What's your favorite local tradition?
In case you forgot, anyone can get Freeky on Fridays! You can participate in three different ways:
Write a blog post using the badge html above, then comment on my post with a link to your post
Every time you post, tweet or comment in the month of June, you'll be entered to win some tasty treats and a contribution to the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society in your name. There are three more Fridays in June, so you can be entered to win up to nine more times!
Be sure to record your participation on this widget so your vote will be counted!
Well, Freeks, it's been a hell of a year! A lot of amazing things happened around me, but I think I can sum it all up in one sentence: In 2012, I learned how to be a teacher.
It all started with my student teaching placement at a public school in Manhattan. This school is unlike any other I've ever seen - it brings together students who are Deaf, hard-of-hearing, CODAs (hearing students whose parents are Deaf), "SODAs" (the school's nickname for hearing students who have a Deaf sibling), and hearing in one learning environment. We also have a high population of students with disabilities. Keep in mind that it's still a New York City public school, so these kids don't come from the same happy pre-fab suburban upbringing that I came from. They are typically lower on the socioeconomic spectrum, come from historically disadvantaged minority groups, and may not have a solid educational background either from their previous schooling or their parents.
It has been the hardest job of my life - a diverse population leads to a greater challenge of differentiating every activity and providing equal access to everyone, regardless of age, ethnicity, hearing status, language modality, IEP status, etc. On top of that, my cooperating teacher is one of the most difficult people on the planet (I say that with nothing but admiration). From my first day there, I was writing lesson plans, planning the curriculum, organizing powerpoints, working with the kids, and teaching. Now, I've lectured before. But until I got to this school and met my CT, I didn't know just how little I knew about TEACHING. I thought it was all about being an expert in the field - I didn't know how little my own knowledge or skills with the language mattered. A wise man once told me that master teachers do 25-35% of the actual work; the rest, they turn onto the students. In addition to student-centering everything from vocabulary practice to in-depth critical thinking projects, I also learned just how involved in these students lives a great teacher needs to be. During parent teacher conferences, I watched my CT ask about parents' health, students' performance in other classes, and siblings I had never met. The standard was set. From basketball games to school trips, I embraced the school culture and committed to these kids. And they embraced me back. I love my students. I am genuinely invested in their lives. And along the way, I've done a pretty bang up job teaching them ASL.
The conclusion to one of my favorite observation lessons - captioned for your convenience.
In the midst of working my ass off, I managed to write a nearly 70-page thesis about foreign language anxiety, finish a full course load of classes, and graduate from Teachers College, Columbia University. Again, none of this would have been possible without the continued ass-kicking encouragement provided by my CT and my program director. There were a few other people to blame for my success, too. My cohort was tight knit, and we made it through together.
So of course, this all leads to one more thing - after student teaching for a year, writing a thesis, and graduating, I have accepted an offer to teach full-time at a private school in Brooklyn! The school caters exclusively to students with learning disabilities, and I'm really excited to continue my efforts towards creating a fully-accessible classroom. The faculty seems so nurturing and supportive, the kids seem just as crazy as my public school students, and the school really believes in their ASL program! I know I couldn't have made it this far without the support of my cohort, mentors, family, and friends, and I am eternally grateful to the people who have been here for me the past two years! Celebrating my successes with you has been some of the best few weeks of my life. Thanks to you all, I am going to be a teacher. How could that NOT be the best thing that's happened to me all year?!
But special credit needs to be given to one person in particular: my cooperating teacher. So Anthony, if for some crazy reason, you ever end up reading this, thank you, from the bottom of my heart, for making me who I am today. You tested my limits, drove me crazy, and caused me a nervous breakdown or two, but you taught me just what I am capable of: editing iMovie projects while lesson planning for the entire week, with some kind of baked good in the works and a craft beer in my hand. Under your guidance, I have learned how to be a teacher. Thank you.
What's the best thing that happened to you this year?
In case you forgot, anyone can get Freeky on Fridays! You can participate in three different ways:
Write a blog post using the badge html above, then comment on my post with a link to your post
Every time you post, tweet or comment in the month of June, you'll be entered to win some tasty treats and a contribution to the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society in your name. There are four more Fridays in June, so you can be entered to win up to twelve times!
Be sure to record your participation on this widget so your vote will be counted!
Those of you who have been reading this little blog for a while may remember a series called "Freeky Friday" that my sister blog and I did last summer. This series aims to celebrate and promote the message of Freekware, a clothing company that's all about positivity and individuality. Freekware is very near and dear to my heart, as it's my cousin Mark's legacy. His sisters took over the company when he passed away in 2005, and it continues to expand to this day. Best of all, the proceeds benefit the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society, in order to help other courageous badasses like Mark.
Freekware is about more than my family (those lovely people pictured above), and it's way more than just a clothing line...it's a lifestyle. Spread the Soul. Share the Strength. Embrace who you are and be proud to be a Freek!
Do you wanna join the Freeks? Just share some positivity every Friday by answering the prompt that we provide. Your first mission:
What's the best thing that's happened to you over the last year? Get creative with your answer! It can be something you experienced, something you witnessed, something you participated in, something you realized...the possibilities are endless!
Blog your answer Friday, June 8th, and be sure to insert this badge into your post. We've included the html for your convenience!
That same widget will appear on each Freeky Friday post, so you'll have plenty of chances to show how you participated! Oh, and you're probably wondering why you need to record your participation. Did I mention that Freeky Friday is a giveaway?! Each month, one lucky winner will receive a special prize, as well as a donation to the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society in their name. So go ahead and rack up as many points as you can in that widget...each point counts as an entry!
I can't wait to read all of your blog posts this Friday!
