The Cube: Full Throttle

Wow...it's 7th period...passing period actually...and a brief reprieve...a calm before the inevitable storm. We've hosted 13 classes today...THIRTEEN classes!!! Not to mention the 200+ kids who enjoyed lunch here, worked on independent projects, checked out weekend reads, or simply just came to be for awhile. It's been fun...amazing really. One SMARTboard and the conference room TVs have all been utilized as projectors, teaching aides, and make-shift news screens. The MakerSpace supplies constructed 18th century civilizations and drew BabyMamas and Daddys. (I'm not sure what all that's about, so don't bother asking). The FlexLab was a revolving door of students finishing Flowers for Algernon projects and working on math models. A few teachers found a quiet landing space in the Castlebucks Cafe during conference periods, and many have enjoyed the bounty of the Cafe's coffee supply.

My head is spinning...quite literally.

Four times today teachers said to me, "Wow! You really have a full house in here!" as they looked around in wonder.

Kids love it. Teachers love it. I love it.

I'm verklempt actually...sincerely. I've blinked back tears.

This...THIS...is what I dreamed about when I became a school librarian--a revolving door of teachers, students, administrators, and visitors just coming to check it all out. It's fun! It's overwhelming! It's exhausting! It's absolutely amazing!!

Here's a taste...albeit small...of today's happenings in The Cube...

 

Experience New

We just launched our first display in our new space:

Experience New: Walk a Mile in Others’ Shoes!

I thought with the new year and being in a new space and all that theme of new was apropos––be it though somewhat cliché. We’re focusing on memoir and narrative biography—storytelling at its best…storytelling that elicits a “NO WAY!!!” response …but then “yes way…” because it’s totally true...and it's unbelievable!

It seemed like a no-brainer at the time, but now that it’s up--surrounded by generously donated faculty shoes that have obviously walked a mile or two--I think it profound. It is a cliché…think you have it bad? Just walk a mile or two in their shoes…something we as teachers, parents, friends have said to attempt to cheer someone up, pull them out of the pity pit, offer a pat on the back…but the hidden message here is:

E*M*P*A*T*H*Y

Surface-level fun, it’s a weighty display. Filled with struggles for basic human rights; searches to find oneself among a world of imposters; battles with illnesses, families, societies…

It’s a display that calls the reader to enter the struggle, join the search, take up the cause.

It’s a display that, truly embraced, can teach more than what’s contained within the curriculum or tested at the end of the year.

EMPATHY.

We’re all attracted to it; few offer it.

Schedule some empathic practice time. Come to The Cube. Pick some new shoes. And get to walkin’.

empathy.

Walk the road less traveled. In this RSA Short (less than 3 minutes), Dr. Brene Brown offers insight on the differences between empathy and sympathy.