HappyinGreen

So brother is supposed to land in Pittsburgh from San Diego at 5;10 pm. We'll meet all three of us - Haim, Ivry and me as a "hurrah" in Oakland whenever that will be. I don't have to worry - the house is vaccumed, dusted and Haim will cook tonight's meal. We're (my coauthor and I) are 3/4 away from sending the manuscript to Corwin Press. Our plan is to rest until December 29th and then go full-steam ahead and send it to our prospective editor on December 31st. That is our plan. So many times we work to fulfill those desires as part of our mission. This is one mission that I know is right.And it will be in his inbox come December 31st.

So on that hopeful note, I'm waiting to spend some quality time with my brother. He already expressed a desire to be a part of soon-to-be four year old Ivry's life. I've made things extra special for him: made sure he got our clean (!) bedroom, with sweet-smelling sheets and roses to brighten up a room that faces cement.

It's been over a year and a half since we've seen each other and much has happened even though we speak on the phone often. Still, it's super awesome that we have this opportunity to feel connected in a cold uncertain part of the world known as the Diaspora after living in a traditional type lifestyle in israel for many years. Together we'll skype to Katzrin, Israel (in the Golan Heights) where our parents live and experience the rising surge of a home-like state of being just like old times years ago. 

When I dust away the cobwebs of thoughts, I know we'll have a good time. We have our altercations but we've bonded and tonight is our time to find that cobweb that hasn't been dusted. Every get-together is a homecoming.

Merry Christmas.
Happy Chanukah.
May you have a happy new year full of eternal peace and many blessings.

Dorit

Tomorrow is Thanksgiving and we do have much to be thankful for.

I realize this is our second Thanksgiving which we are spending without family. NYC is a hassle to get to for just two days, and being carless, it makes no sense to be stuck in an airport with the prices of flights being what they are *sigh*.  Another hassle.

Israel of course, is just too far away. Brother is in Santa Barbara with relatives.

So we've opted (perhaps out of choice) to stay in a warm cozy (I love cozy) albeit small apartment in the Squirrel Hill section of Pittsburgh with my little guy (Ivry - almost four) and my big guy (Haim - almost 50!)

Tomorrow at this time, I'll be dreaming Laura Ignalls Wilder in our kitchen and probably shopping for last minute Thanksgiving supplies.

Our refrigerator will be full as will our bellies. Ivry will look at the shredded carrots and say "It's a leaf pile!" and over cranberry and apple aroma, I'll be wishing the distances between my friends and family wasn't so far.


So I put my sometimes shadowy and lonely self in the lavender and allow the Thanksgiving spirit to emanate from my grandmother's boiling turkey dish, the last one she gave before she died.

I have many things to be thankful for - but that is another post.

Other people have eaten from that dish - other hands fished out the remaining turkey bones and leftovers.

The Pilgrims of yore did too. Not from that dish. They used clams to dish out their food. I know this because I have this old (1971) book from Scholastic "If You Sailed on the Mayflower..." I kept it all these years thinking .. "I'll use this book one day for my family. I wonder if someone else has this book. It's such a gem. Old books. I've been rereading it all these years.

I xeroxed a few of the pages for  Haruka, a Japanese student who we'll be hosting from the Pittsburgh Council of International Visitors. We'll show her the American tradition of Thanksgiving as I know it. I forget that for others, it is the making of the new memories, the one I know as a child.


Wishing you all a pleasant and peaceful Thanksgiving.

Blessing and peace,
Dorit

Dear teaching community:

Tomorrow we celebrate Thanksgiving . I would like to take this moment to say "thank you" to this teaching community for your support and wish you and your families "a Happy Thanksgiving."

And on this special day, I always give thanks that I'm part of a writing/teaching community.

As the creator of the New Teacher Resource Center, please check out the two Thanksgiving Specials - I'm extending the deadline so you'll still have time to enter. You don't want to miss out on these books!

Please check the special giveaway here.

http://newteacherresourcecenter.com/?p=374

Oh and while you're there, register to receive your FREE ebook and FREE bimonthly Ezine containing specials, news, information, and other teaching tips.

I've also just posted about my latest teaching report on effective classroom management tips.

-Dorit



(x-posted with my journal and first year teachers)

My last paycheck I received just before I took off for a 19 year journey to Israel that would bring me back, full circle to the US. That Year was 1989. I worked for CTI Messengers in downtown NYC delivering small packages via the subway and my bike. I owned the streets of Manhattan, knew how to time my three-subway ride in twenty minutes from Fulton Street in Lower Manhattan to East forty second. Boy, I was a pro.

The image you see in front of your (and my) very own eyes is the paycheck I received from CCAC Allegheny Community College a few days ago - a grand total of $432.00 and some pocket change for teaching an ESL written composition class for two days a week, an hour and a half each time. I am loving it! My students are from East and West Africa, Pakistan, various provinces of India and some other areas of the world I can't remember now. The feedback has been positive and students are affable and earnest and motivated. It is a definitely refreshing break from twelve years of the Israeli classroom. As I noted recently to a friend, I keep expecting that an Israeli student will step into the classroom, raise his/her hand as in salute, then cry out my name, do something to disturb the classroom of today so deliberately so that I can't teach.  They are VERY direct and verbal. It is no wonder that they have the appellation "chutzpanim" (im relating to plural of students) But none of those scenarios I've built in my head in fact happen with my students, leaving me to conclude that my cultural reality in the US is very different than what I have experienced for the last 12 years as an ESL teacher.

I also received a paycheck from the Pittsburgh BOE as a sub. I sub at least a few times a month to get to know the educational system and how things are run. I'll save my comments in the meantime to myself until I can clarify certain things. Twelve years of teaching in israel is different than a few days subbing in the US. Y'know?

So back to the paycheck issue - I am now a US taxpayer of Uncle Sam - all over again. I don't mind so long as I am learning and growing. Even in today's crazy economy, I must not be afraid. I WILL NOT succumb to fear. It is paralyzing. it's hard though not to. But the media does a damn good job of relating to it as such.

And a few updates:

1.I just joined Suzanne Lieurance's Build Your Business Write. I participated in her Working Writer's summer boot camp, and it just boosted my confidence to take my writing to a completely different level. You can hear my testimony about on the left side link of my new teacher's blog . Just scroll down a bit.

2.I've just purchased six months worth of my own domain name usaing bluehost - newteacherresourcecenter.com Yay! I'll have my own domain name which I'll be setting up probably tomorrow when I'll choose a new template "face" for the website using wordpress. My writing coach will help me organizing and setting up parts of that so I won't feel completely alone.

3. I'm also very excited with my marketing efforts until now. It has been a satisfying experience and I'm learning not to be intimidated from the technical issues that have been popping up as a result of the process. So far I've been able to successfully:

1. establish two of my own informational products including a FREE bimonthly ezine and ebook
2. post three times to my blog.
3. send already a FREE ezine to my 65 new and seasoned teachers on my mailing
4. establish a mailing list
5. network with teachers all over the world
6. submit articles to the EZine article directories thus increasing traffic to my blog

4.Today I got a nice congratulatory email accepting  my personal essay "Taking Control of the Cultural Classroom," for publication. It will be published by Adams Media Company (the same company that publishes A Cup of Comfort series) in an anthology of new teacher stories in the spring.


Anyhow, I've celebrated the Jewish New Year with the birth of my new website. Let's hope the New Year rings in business!
 

Hey teachers,

I'd love to receive feedback on my new ebook "Succeeding with Mixed Ability Classes"

If you are interested in receiving it, please drop me a line so I can inlcude you on the list for sending testimonials.

Email: sasson 92 at gmail dot com

Many thanks!

Dorit Sasson
"Take Control of the Classroom" -
The New Teacher Resource Center - your one stop for all your new teacher needs
http://newteacherresourcecenter.blogspot.com

Hey gang,

I'm just adding to the pot of gratefulness. I've been seriously out of touch. It's time for an update.


I've decided that I cannot write at home on the weekends - so I've retreated to the Squirrel Hill public library. I'm grateful for silence and quiet and friendly librarians.

I'm grateful to my prospective editor at Corwin Press, who, after two revise and resubmits, is allowing us yet to resubmit a third because he believes in what we have to say.

The Chabad community in Squirrel Hill was very helpful to me during my kidney stone surgery and made sure Ivry was taken care of and I was well fed and watered. A wonderful doula accompanied me to the hospital and stayed with me the whole time. I am truly grateful to her for helping me cope better with the pain. 

Again the Chabad community made me feel very welcomed after my sprained ankle last year during Rosh Hashana. So I was able to enjoy my dip in honey and taste the sweetness . To my Jewish friends and community, may you have a sweet New Year.

I'm grateful to have a teaching job at the Community College (CCAC)- I wish I had more classes but I know someone is looking out for me. So I'm grateful for that. But on the other hand, my phone is constantly ringing from the Pittsburgh Board of Education. They constantly need subs.

I'm grateful for blue skies and intermittent rain. We need a balance of the two. I get too depressed when there is prolonged cloudiness.

I'm grateful to the UJF people who are taking Ivry and I out to Simmons farm tomorrow. We don't have a car and while we miss having one, we just can't afford having and maintaining one especially with the low economy. so we get to go apple picking and see foliage. Yay! We are craving for this kind of trip.

I'm grateful to my mother's social worker and tax accountant who beat the holes of bureaucracy when it comes to renewing my mom's Medicaid and updating me and my brother with important financial information. That is truly a blessing.

I'm grateful to the writer's group at Squirrel Hill who  is so supportive with comments and cares about helping me progress and grow as a writer. Thank you group!

I'm grateful to my the presence of my coauthor - She is currently buried under school work but we have a good collaborative relationship going!

I'm grateful to the caretakers of my son at the JCC - they are truly great with my son and I/we am happy!
See updated pictures at http://ivrydavid.blogspot.com

I'm grateful to my online writer's group from the Suzane Lieurance writer's boot camp - they are my fellow soliders and we continually march and support each other!
Hear my testimony at http://newteacherresourcecenter.blogspot.com

Finally, I am grateful to the every day opportunities of my writing and what the day brings.

There are so many more blessing of which I am truly grateful for.. so maybe in another post.

Thank you for reading this !

Have a good weekend.

Today marks the one year anniversary of our arrival in the States from Israel. Exactly.

It's a milestone... for all of us...Haim with his work, Ivry learning English and adjusting to life in America and the children at the JCC. (Jewish community center)

In the course of a year, Haim and I deepened our family relationships as we adjust to America from a tiny little kibbutz out in the middle of nowhere..

As far as writing and teaching goes...


1. I've been accepted as a national workshop presenter for teachers.

2. My coauthor and I have a manuscript under discussion on English language learners with two educational publishers.

3. I'm pumping up the freelance writing business with the addition of a new blog for mentoring new teachers - http://newteacherresourcecenter.blogspot.com. I hope to eventually provide a mentoring service  for school districts.

4. I'm enjoying the freelance life and  working with a writer's coach who has taught me to believe in myself and to focus on my goals even when the going does get tough. (and it does)


Just a year ago, I sat in an air-conditionless Israeli EFL classroom wondering how and when I would return to the classroom. Now, I'm not so sure.

When I catch moments like watching rain or thunder clasp the sky and the purple rain drips from the venetian blinds, I know I've missed the feeling of the pen to the paper.

Enough of diaper changes or figuring out which bus I need to take to get to a mother's meet-up, or trying to squeeze Praxis studying with weekend planning.

When hubby finally comes home, I think to myself: "ah, let's get right down to it!" I lay my head on the pillow, turn on the AC, turn off the lights, light a scented candle and just chill a bit. My thoughts quieten and steer me for the night journey ahead - will I take to the pen or will I simply think? I've been in this scenario many a time. I become a eighteen year old with some pocket change, wild in some ways, domestic in others. Still wound up by silly images of Winnie the Pooh with a jar of honey stuck on his head and laughing eerily at the the next thunderbolt striking the sky.,

Of those images, I can write.

 

Can't start the new week without mentioning that our four day getaway to New York was hot, hot, hot! We spent most of the time at my mom's apartment in front of the cool A/C. We did manage to go to Abingdon Square park and Hudson River Park "the beach" but that was it. The WIFI at Wesbeth was erratic and unpredictable but mangeable. 

It was nice to see my mom and her caretaker and familiar things like the security guard and the exterminator who knew me as a little girl. It's amazing what five minutes of seeing somebody you knew for so long can give you such a sense of belonging.I'm truly grateful for that.

Ivry watched the construction of the townhouses being built across from Westbeth with cranes loading and unloading and a massive display of people at work putting our books of building in motion. A  three year old paradise.

It was still nice to be there, watch the Wheel of fortune and enjoy the company of folks that I can safely call "Grandma Yvette" (Grandma Carmen's caretaker) and "Grandma Carmen" (my mommy). My mom's Alzheimer's does not allow her to give Ivry hugs and kisses, but Ivry was so cute and sweet and ran up to Grandma Carmen's knee and kissed it and ran back to me and said, "I kissed Grandma Carmen!"

I'm posting pictures of those days of New York City - memories will take those days over.

You can find them here
www.ivrydavid.blogspot.com since I can't post them here. 

Yesterday, I received the final email confirmation from my coauthor which I wanted to hear: she will send the book proposal to our propspective editor at Corwin Press.  How sweet!

It's hard to believe that what started as a dream back in Israel, has evolved into subsequent drafts, 50 to be exact.  

I  put the dream in motion as a new immigrant in Pittsburgh, writing on my own in the Squirrel Hill library in Pittsburgh from my laptop along with files of the teacher's life, then collaborated with a coauthor after a talk with my editor. Now, our editor will see the fuits of the process: two proposal chapters, a resource file and a chapter synopsis - come tomorrow morning.

It has been a journey.

We have chapters 3-4 to revise and another one to fully write.

Now, the waiting time begins.

I only found out about Patti Bown's death  (pronounced Bowen) a  few days ago.

She was a legend. 

In 1980 she improvised what would become Westbeth's famous theme song in honor of its then, 10th anniversary: "We're doing it, doing it, Westbeth..." I can see and hear her now. 

That is what most people would remember and know. I knew she was famous, but only in Westbeth. I didn't know
many other facts like:

-She studied with Ray Charles and many famous others.

-She played on Broadway.
-She never married.


Her jazz music filled the hallways of Wesbeth.

When she moved to the third floor where my mom lives, I hardly saw or heard her. But on the other hand, I was hardly at Westbeth.

We will be in New York City from June 7-10th. There is a memorial service at St. Peter's Church on June 8th, which I hope to attend. There will be a list of jazz performers from all over New York City.

Her gallant spirit will be with us always.

She loved me, my brother and all the 70s and 80s Westbeth kids.

She will be forever missed.

Dear Tired Teachers!

A lot of you are expressing tiredness from wrapping up the school year. I know the feeling. I wrote a few articles keeping you all in mind. Feedback is welcomed!
Hope these help.

Blessings,
Dorit
http://newteachersupport.suite101.com

I always get around to these things rather late. Hmm, let me see, where was I? 

 
What were you doing 10 years ago?

I was finishing my second year teaching Israeli elementary students English, taking some master level English literature, education and linguistic courses, writing a bit of poetry here and there. Yup, nerdy stuff.


What are 5 things you need to do today?
1. Have a nap. :)
2.  work on either one of my two book projects
3. Plan my work schedule for this week . My coauthor and I want to send the two chapters this week!
4. Decide on what I need to take for next week's writer's retreat. Yay!
5. Chill

What are some snacks you enjoy?
Mint chocolate ice cream, coffee from Israel, fruits, 

What would you do if you were a billionaire?
Faint first

What are 3 bad habits?

Biting my nails. *groan*
Avoiding a workout.
Not thinking highly enough of myself.

Name 5 places you have lived.

1. Greenwich Village, New York City
2. Albany, New York
3. Many kibbutzim in Israel
4. army bases scattered all over Israel
5. Pittsburgh

What are 5 jobs you've had?
1. assistant for a blind college student
2. messenger for CTI Messengers
3. apple picker
4. counselor for Americans visiting Israel
5. army officer 
6. ESL/EFL Teacher


Who do you want to tag?
Anybody !!!!!!!

Now, after I've emerged from my winter's sleep, I am awake, wide awake to connect with spring.

There's only concrete and cement around me - the little grass we find and indulge while eating canned pear slices in a nearby park. The word "memorial day" never took precedence  before emigrating for Israel, but now I've experienced war and terror on personal and emotional levels years later, I think I know what the word really means. Two of my students died in that last war.

My son fishes for critters and worms, and finds one and I correct him, "it's an ant."


Why didn't anybody tell me how hard it would be adjusting to life back in the United States. Why is it so hard? 

I think it's hard because starting over is so hard. 

As my son digs his heart away, I try to avoid digging the moment. But with the prices of international flights steadily rising, I try to maintain a decent skype relationship. And I write. And read. And wait.

This week was all about "firsts." I'm excited by the opportunities rolling by, works in progress, and opportunities to be made. 

We had to cancel our NYC plans due to Haim's work. Hopefully, we'll get to go to see my mom in May. By now, I'm already edgy to see a more familiar face, to walk along the Hudson River and see the NJ shore. Friends and family included. To take Ivry where our hearts desire. Man, I wish I could hop on a number 1 train - anywhere!

1. This week I voted in the PA primaries for the first time. I always sent an absentee ballot from Israel for the last 18 years, but this was the FIRST time I voted on American soil and it felt DAMNED good! (I left for Israel when I was barely of voting age, thus the excitement) I remember the community room of the artists community building in Greenwich Village where I made films, listened to Spencer Holst tell us stories, (I miss him so much) helped my Dad with the Greenwich Village Halloween parade floats together with the famous Ralph Lee (MY! Those were GRAND TIMES) and my brother took karate. This same community room held voting machines and people pulled levers up and down. Does anybody remember those days? 

It was weird entering a synagogue presenting my card and proceeding to the computer terminals - all of which were practically empty. Just a few touches on the screen and I felt giddy. My whole body practically shook. Then I cast my vote and all was well.

2. Passover. We went to two seders - one community sedar and one family seder, both Chabad affiliated. They have shown great support helping us settle down. As the youngest, Ivry didn't participate in saying the four questions on the second night, but it was still a special time. We aren't used to the two seder thing as Israel has only one.  Just like the voting thing, my memory stops at 1985, when I last participated in grandmother's two seders in Far Rockaway who was Orthodox. 

Ivry brought his own Elijah cup and was proud when holding it up. Cute.

3. My coauthor out from Washington state and myself sent off a new chapter synopsis to Corwin Press. We have yet to hear from our prospective editor, but we are picking up speed with regard to revising chapter one. She is rooted in US perspectives, which will help with the writing process. Our collaborative online relationship has become meaty as we are looking now at content and it has become a very interesting process.

4. I signed up for a writer's coach! I feel it's really what I need to help bring my freelance writing to the next level. I enjoy this work from home lifestyle; it suits my personality well and I am doing a lot of networking, sending queries and writing, but I need more. 

5. I read to my writing group the first chapter of the WIP "Tomer's Story" (tentative title) about a 14 year old American (Greenwich Village, where else?) boy who spends a year on kibbutz (our kibbutz in the Upper Galilee, where else?) and has difficulties adjusting to the israeli culture and learning Hebrew. (sounds familiar) I think I'm finally get the plot at an angle where I feel comfortable exploring Tomer as a character. My writing mentor sent me these character outlines which should be helpful when further delving into story.

Tidbits: (still can't manage with LJ cut and paste thing)

1. Haim has request an additional leave of absence from the kibbutz as he is a kibbutz member. I'm rooting for him as far as job promotion goes. My Dad however is SO convinced that Haim can get a job doing what he is doing now but back in Israel. Duh... we searched jobs high and low for Haim for 2 years and left no stone unturned. It's painful to leave a beautiful pastoral kibbutz countryside for a new life but when parents do not support you, or their reactions are so shortsighted all due out of worry and concern, it makes the situation even worse. Haim is approaching fifty. We're lucky that he found a job here, as well. A little support, parents, please?? In fact, I was talking about it with Elan last night, my bro, who lives out in San-Diego and he was so surprised by my Dad's reaction, former ex-patriate of America, left Israel himself for the golden opportunity in the fifties as we are seeking now. "If anything..." Elan said. "He should be supportive by Haim's commendable achievements?" It's true - for an Israeli (Kibbutznick) to adopt so quickly to the American culture, rack up sales in excess of thousands of dollars monthly for the food chain, is nothing short of amazing. A true success story. *sigh* Parents just don't get it. I hope I'll never be so damn critical of my son when he grows up. Swear it.

2. Ivry's verbal ability is nothing of amazing. Today he said: "Mommy, it's not my fault!" (never mind the issue as to why) I have these conversations with kids twice his age in the park. He is growing up to be a sensitive, considerate, humane, spiritual, understanding, curious little boy. I love him to death. He IS the light of our lives. 

Anyhow, that's all for now. Sorry for the long post. 

Have a good weekend, folks!




  
 

I have taught the Holocaust for 12 years now. I am far from being considered an expert from a teaching point of view. There is so much that goes on during these lessons. For example, when my students came back from the walk to life in Poland trip, they could identify with every horrific image that I started reading in Night.

Teaching the Holocaust through themed based literature using Elie Weisel's Night was the best route by far in terms of stirring a powerful discussion with the students as it was more of an inductive experience.  I got them into a discussion about the difference between the phrases holocaust survivor as is said in English (an active phrase) and someone who SURVIVED or, nitzol sho'a as we say in Hebrew which is passive for someone who was SAVED from the Holocuast. This was interesting. They realized that there wasn't one  "right" phrase, and that I didn't have the answer about why one language uses an active phrase and the other a passive. Has anyone ever thought or experienced this?

I once heard survivor speak and I will never forget what she said. She said that she was not a Net-sol Shoa (Hebrew for someone who was SAVED from the holocaust) and that she experienced every moment of horror. Instead, she sees us, the next and future generations, as Netzole Shoa. We were spared or saved from having to go through that horrific experience. She survived and was not saved.

Here is my blog about one of the teaching experiences using Night.

http://newteachersupport.suite101.com/blog.cfm/beyond_the_classroom



-Dorit

 

 For almost 1.5 years now, I've been writing for suite 101,
I work one-on-one with an editor, receive lots of helpful advice from forums. It's a huge writer community. They do have open opportunities, if you're interested.

I post articles and blogs 2-3 times a week as a feature writer for New Teacher Support. I post also for Middle East travel, Jewish beliefs and Language Support as well. It's a very supportive online place to work.

So I've decided to take my writing to the next level. 
I guess you can say I'm my own writing coach ... for now.

The plan is to eventually build a website, generate income from some of my passive website and have at least 12 pieces circulating in the magazine industry. I've laid out a marketing plan that I can begin to stick with, and applied to some freelance gigs. I've been accepted to one... with headquarters in Israel, of all places! I know this is hard work; leaving the comfortable women's niche of teaching was a serious trade-off but I figured that hard work and persistence is just part of the package deal. And we'll see where it takes me.

So getting to the good news...I've just received word that I have been given almost a full grant to participate in a week long children's writing retreat in June at the Highlights headquarters in Honesdale, PA. I'm excited!  Those full board workshops are not cheap.

I know I'll miss Ivry; we'll have to make arrangements as we don't have family, just a few dependable neighbors. A week is a very long time for a three and a half year old to be away from his mommy, but this is real investment in my future. I'll be surrounded by professional writers, editors, and agents and this is just what I need to pump up my writing.

Wish me luck!

 After months of research and writing, there is a faint glimmer of light at the end of the tunnel.

Yesterday, my prospective editor emailed me about my book proposal I sent exactly a month ago.

He wants to discuss it further over the phone. It looks like a revise and resubmit scenario. I couldn't ask for a better gift. This is the confirmation I was looking for and legitimizes all that hard hard work.

Sometimes that glimmer is hard to see and sometimes, we don't even believe there's reason to dream.

Well, I am here to tell you that they can happen. Never underestimate the power of persistence and hard work.