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Writing Your Life Story Blog

Here's where you find out what's new at Your Life is Your Story.

May 20, 2019

Zoo Day Field Trip

It is pretty typical for schools to do field trips to their community zoo. Here in Albuquerque it's one of our end-of-the-year traditions. Today was the day and it is always fun to check out the exhibits, the amazing diversity of wildlife and to see the kids from pre-K to 5th grade react to it.

One of the things that I enjoy about zoo trips is the experience and strengthening of relationships you can make with young people. Grandparents (I am one of two young grandchildren) get it. Seeing life through the eyes of a child allows wonder to be experienced. That is something we all need forever in our lives.

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May 11, 2019

Moms Move Mountains

Tomorrow is the Mother's Day holiday in the United States. Moms move mountains. That's figurative speech, but if a mother had to literally move a mountain, even one stone at a time to protect their child, I wouldn't bet against her.

Let's face it. Mothers are incredible and what they can and will do for their children and families is hard to quantify.

Despite the way we often hear about the world these days and the state of families and values, I still think the value of a mother needs to be recognized, appreciated and praised.

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May 11, 2019

Your-Life-Your-Story - My Life Story Blog Archives, Marach-April, 2019

An archive of previous My Life Story blog entries from March to April, 2019 regarding personal history, life story writing and more.

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Apr 09, 2019

Intergenerational Story Sharing Between Chicago Seniors and 8th Grade Students

There are those who say that the young people of today don't care about the stories of their elders. Maybe that's true for some, but a group of 8th graders from St. Robert Bellarmine School in Chicago's Jefferson Park found out that many elderly people have lived fascinating lives with great stories to tell. These students engaged in an educational experience as they interviewed residents of Central Baptist Village in Norridge.

They brought new and old school technology to interview and capture the stories. There were tablets and computers, but also notebooks and pens.

Continue reading "Intergenerational Story Sharing Between Chicago Seniors and 8th Grade Students"

Apr 04, 2019

Plant Seeds Now for Future Story Sharing

It is Spring time and while many of us are preparing gardens and yards for new growth it might also benefit us to think about how we should be tilling the soil of our personal history. There are countless stories for us to recall and share with our families. It is just as likely that there will be some great experiences and stories in the future that are worth preserving.

If you are planning a vacation think about how you might want to pass along highlights of your travels. When I was a kid people took pictures that were converted to slides and we'd watch family slide shows as we reminisced about the trip to Disneyland, the beach or to our grandparents house in Arizona.

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Mar 24, 2019

Teaching About Immigrant Stories

The stories of people who have come to America over the years are important for many reasons. Everyone has a story. Discovering those stories and teaching about the lessons of struggle, desperation, hope and opportunity that were - and still are - a part of the human journey teaches us a lot.

In my 5th grade class each year we do a project about immigration. We discuss many things. We learn about why people leave their homes and travel to foreign lands. We also learn how they do it. Each student does a project about a famous immigrant to America so that they can learn about the wide variety of people who came to this nation seeking a new life, whether they are coming for refuge or opportunity. The kids get excited when they learn about some of these people and their stories. Many don't realize how many movies stars, athletes, scientists, writers, and "movers and shakers" of history came to America from some other place.

Continue reading "Teaching About Immigrant Stories"

Mar 07, 2019

They Called Him "The Kid"

What's in a nickname?

Some nicknames come out of common usage. For instance, a parent may just call one of their kids "boy" or "girl". In a loving way, you know, like girl! Get over here!

I know of someone who calls one of her sons "Baby Brother" and one of her daughters "Yady". But she actually didn't come up with the names, it was other family members who called them that and it stuck. That's kind of how nicknames work. Someone starts it and it catches on.

Billy the Kid, a famous western outlaw, did much of his carousing in New Mexico. I live here in "The Land of Enchantment" and New Mexico was truly the wild, wild west back in "The Kid's" day. There is a new movie just coming out about Billy andhis nemesis, the sheriff, Pat Garrett. It's coincidentally titled, The Kid.

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Mar 06, 2019

Your-Life-Your-Story - Back Issues Index

Index to back issues of the Your Life is Your Story free ezine newsletter

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Feb 25, 2019

Still Celebrating African-American History Month

We are in the last week of February, the shortest month of the year, but one of the deepest months in terms of celebrating people who have impacted our world in many incredible ways. African-American History Month happens each February and perhaps it is an opportunity for you to learn more about some of the people who have changed our world with their contributions.

As a teacher I like to think that we can learn from peoples' lives, regardless of the color of their skin, and in any month of the year. Still, I applaud that we have a month dedicated to the extraordinary contributions of African-Americans. One of my favorites is Maya Angelou. She was a marvelous writer, dancer, actor, poet and humanitarian.

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Feb 20, 2019

Opportunity Declared Officially Dead

Opportunity is dead...but not before going way beyond the expectations of NASA and scientists who study Mars.

The rover was sent to Mars in 2003 and landed on January 25, 2004. Immediately it went to work studying the Red Planet and sending back bountiful amounts of interesting data. The rover was expected to work for 90 days, but it ended up being 15 years. What does that tell us? That with machines as well as human lives, we don't often know how much time we've got.

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