Thoughts a LaSweeney

Christmas time.

2009-12-11T18:48:00.000-05:00

Merry Christmas, wishing you and yours hope, joy and peace in this season of love.

Welcome New Opportunities

2009-09-07T09:32:00.002-04:00

As a new school year begins tomorrow, I welcome the opportunity to learn new things, meet new people, face new challenges and facilitate the learning of others.

Off to Assateague Island, Maryland

2009-07-07T08:14:00.002-04:00

We are off to Assateague for our annual family camping trip. There will be quite a few of us: 23 Smyths, and a bunch of Lambert cousins...should be fun. It's a beautiful place.

KUDOS FOR AUGUST MARTIN HS

2009-06-15T11:55:00.001-04:00

Visit msnbc.com for Breaking News, World News, and News about the Economy

April Showers

2009-04-20T12:07:00.002-04:00

We are now ready for the homestretch. Time to redouble our efforts with those borderline kids, help them to achieve all that they can and move forward in the educational journey. I know I feel tired and unmotivated, but I need to muster my energy to encourage and assist those people I can to make a difference in the lives of those we meet. April Showers bring May Flowers.

Why Blogging?

2009-02-03T17:13:00.003-05:00

Why Blogging?

The link above is a blog entry from Ann Davis on her rationale for blogging and the responses posted to the entry. I think this is a good entry point for our folks as we begin a study group around 21st century literacy this spring. Anne's blog is at http://anne.teachesme.com/

Taking advantage of Special Needs kids....again!!

2009-01-06T11:22:00.004-05:00

I just read the latest federal update to Special Education law regarding de-certification of students receiving services. Check it out here:
http://www.vesid.nysed.gov/specialed/publications/policy/consent-fedregs-109.htm.
Basically, if a parent puts into writing that he/she no longer wishes that his/her child receives services, the providing agency will cease provision. No due process hearing, no impartial, no final IEP meeting. The school will simply put in writing that they will cease provision of said services.

In the perfect world, this seems logical. In the perfect world parents are the first teachers and in the perfect world parents always know what is best for their children. Unfortunately, I don't live in that world. I live in a world where the parents often look to the school to ensure that their child is being treated fairly and getting what he/she needs to be successful at school. I live in a world where parents face many many challenges themselves and despite their best intentions, can't always do what is best for their children. I live in a world where parents can be manipulated by authority figures to make decisions that may not be in the best interest of their children.

I feel that this is another attempt to take advantage of the most challenged members of our society. Once again, I believe it comes down to money. It's expensive to educate these kids who, have special needs. It's difficult to find instructional strategies that will benefit them. It's rough going working with these "crazy kids". Teaching is not for wimps.

Joy in mY life

2008-12-23T22:12:00.005-05:00

Marisa is a part of a most wonderful choir at Baldwin High School. We had the privilege of hearing them perform on 12/22. Additionally, we heard the Symphonic Band and they were phenomenal. This was one of the best Christmas Gifts.

A Season of Hope

2008-12-02T06:10:00.004-05:00

We wait in hope...from darkness and sadness, wholeness will come. This is the promise of generations. How can I prepare? I'm trying to do small things with great love. I'm trying to remember that it a begins in my own backyard. You can download daily advent readings at http://www.advent2008.com/advent.php?id=18

2008-11-05T21:35:00.001-05:00

Get a Voki now!

2008-11-05T21:32:00.001-05:00

Wow!

2008-11-05T13:23:00.000-05:00

An historic election...Barack Obama is elected president and the campaign season is finally behind us. He has inherited a world that is suffering desperately...economically, physically and spiritually. In the face of all this, a tiny voice whispers...never, ever, ever Give up!

That's the voice that I hope my colleagues hear when the day has been too long, when the kids have provided challenges that seem insurmountable. Never, ever, ever give up! We can change education one class, one student at a time if we believe in the power that we all have within us.

HALLOWEEN

2008-10-31T11:29:00.000-04:00

It's HALLOWEEN and it's got me in mind of those who have gone before us...my dad in particular. In the mind of trick or treat...he'd never trick, only treat those he crossed paths with in the course of his life. Generosity and kindness were the hallmarks. I'm grateful for all that he taught me about how to be a teacher. Like reminding me that I may be the only concrete support in my students' lives, so I need to be there for them every day. I learned that if you get upset about it, you pay twice! and I learned, "thank G-d it isn't medical bills.

The other day, I got lost in Queens, NY and came upon the house where my dad grew up and where they lived when I was a baby. I'd been meaning to go by that house for the longest time and Wednesday brought me there. It seemed smaller than I remembered. I remember thinking the little terrace was somehow up in the sky. I remember going over there to help my dad paint when getting it ready for a tenant. I remember being able to walk up two blocks to a deli to get a bologna sandwich for lunch. I remember the closets were huge and you could probably live in one of them.

I remember my Nanny, Eileen Smyth, who lived there. She taught me to read. She baked and we used to watch A Family Affair with Buffy, Jody, Uncle Bill and Mr. French.

My dad came from good roots and passed on the best of the good stuff to me and I am grateful

Salem

2008-10-28T12:55:00.000-04:00

We had a tremendous opportunity to do some serious family time with our cousins a few weeks back. It's interesting to find how much we have in common although we grew up separately. There seem to be certain core elements that have transcended the generations. These elements enabled me to have a level of "comfortability" almost instantly despite the long time since we last had met.

Alternate Side of the Street Parking

2008-10-28T05:54:00.001-04:00

I just heard that alternate side is suspended today. It's funny...if you're basically in a hopeful mindset..that something as simple as alternate side suspended can give you a happy feeling. I drive to different schools each day and alternate side of the street parking is always a consideration. But the bottom line is...there is joy in the every day.

Great Friends

2008-10-25T17:30:00.000-04:00

Great friends, hard to find, hard to lose...don't take them for granted. Not too original or clever, but true nonetheless.

Fall Fridays

2008-10-24T05:49:00.000-04:00

The weekend arrives, the weather changes...and life is good. Grateful for family, for friends, for having a job, for being healthy, for having had my dad for 39 years, for having siblings as great as mine.

Check This Out

2008-10-23T20:58:00.001-04:00

2008-10-23T20:54:00.000-04:00

What are you grateful for??

2008-10-23T06:10:00.000-04:00

Another day that i woke up...healthy family...i have a job....the cleaning lady comes today...i am working at one of my favorite schools today...i like my coworkers and no longer dread going to work...i like my coworkers...

2008-10-23T05:40:00.000-04:00

November in October...it's a little cool. There is still gratitude to be found, memories of summer, bright sun, crisp air.

Fall, Shorter Days and etc.

2008-10-22T11:26:00.000-04:00

Summer is definitely coming to an end. I know this because it was dark as I made my way to the train yesterday at 6:45 AM. School is back in full swing, work is back in full swing and it's easy to feel overwhelmed. I suggest, taking a minute to remember that the power is in each one of us to create our day, remember to breathe deeply a few times a day, consider our place in the universe and try to help at least one other person each day.

Sad days in Rockaway

2008-01-14T08:01:00.000-05:00

Happy New Year NYC!

So far it's been a sad new year for some in Rockaway. One of my former students, Ronnie Smalls, age 22 was killed by a police officer in early January...of course,when you aim a loaded gun at a police officer after running away from him, you generally wind up getting shot and that's what happened to Ronnie. Bad choices. Sad thing is that maybe someone could have made a difference for Ronnie. Maybe he could have gotten out of Hammels and GIB if someone had tried to teach him some skills instead of a whole bunch of useless, academic stuff.

Another crazy happening in Rockaway--two kids, one 13 and the other 15, murdered an 18 year old young man in Redfern.

makes you wonder

2007-11-24T09:00:00.000-05:00

How can we keep teachers in the system if we keep blaming them every tine something goes wrong? Last year over 4100 teachers left NYC schools for reasons other than retirement. That's a lot of teachers. Now with 55/25 legislation pending, we face another huge exodus. How do we make teaching in NYC an appealing proposition??

Schools today

2007-11-11T18:26:00.000-05:00

Ahhhh schools today. They are quite different from when I went to school. But you already knew that...Schools today are Social Daycare agencies. We provide two meals a day, childcare, social development and on top of that try to prepare our children for the future. No easy task and not a task for the weak hearted.