Smorgasbord Posts from Your Archives 2022- ‘Lucky Dip’ – #Family #Wildlife by Pete Springer

Since this series began in January 2018 there have been over 1000 Posts from Your Archives where bloggers have taken the opportunity to share posts to a new audience… mine.

The topics have ranged from travel, childhood, recipes, history, family and the most recent series was #PotLuck where I shared a random selection of different topics. This series is along the same lines… but is a ‘Lucky Dip’

In this series I will be sharing posts from the first six months of 2022

It is an opportunity to showcase your writing skill to my readers and also to share on my social media. Which combined is around the 50,000 mark. If you are an author your books will be mentioned too, along with their buy links and your other social media contacts. You can find out how to participate at the end of the post.

Today author and retired teacher Pete Springer shares a wonderful tribute to his father who was a wildlife biologist who passed his love of work on to future generations.

A Man Who Loved His Work by Pete Springer

My dad and son as they check out birds through the scope in Arcata, CA.

Life is a series of challenges. At some point, most people face career decisions. They may be earning the most money ever yet be unhappy because their job doesn’t provide happiness or satisfaction. Even though they’d probably like to do something else, they might not be able to change careers without taking a financial hit. Is that a tradeoff they’re willing to make?

One of the things I always tried to talk to my students about, even in elementary school, was the importance of choosing a career that gave them happiness. Getting paid well was a nice bonus, but their most important focus should be finding a job that brought them joy. Considering many of us spend one-third or more of our day at work, that seems like a no-brainer.

I formed this belief from watching my dad. When someone asks me to describe him, one of the first qualities that come to mind was Dad loved his work. He was a wildlife biologist working for the Fish and Wildlife Service. As I grew up, we worked our way from the east to the west coast. I was born in Washington D.C. (We lived in Laurel, MD, at the time), and we moved three times while I was going through elementary, middle school, and high school. Besides Maryland, we lived in Brookings, South Dakota; Jamestown, North Dakota; and Arcata, California.

Mom and Dad—the binoculars were always close by.

Each of our moves centered around Dad’s job. His team worked to restore the black-footed ferret population in North and South Dakota. Later, I started high school in California when Dad began working with a subspecies of the Canada Goose called the Aleutian Canada Goose.

The black-footed ferret is one of the most endangered animals in North America and the only ferret species native to the continent. Scientists believe there are fewer than 400 of them in the wild today. The biggest obstacle to the black-footed ferret’s survival is disease and loss of their habitat.

The black-footed ferret (Photo credit to Pinterest)

The ferret has many natural predators in the wild, including bobcats, coyotes, and badgers. They also are prey for larger birds such as owls, hawks, and eagles. Part of the problem with releasing captive ferrets back into the wild is that animals raised in captivity may lack the ability to survive in the wild. They are nocturnal animals and do much of their hunting inside prairie dog burrows.

Conservation efforts to grow the black-footed ferret population have involved raising young ferrets in captivity before releasing them in selective locations where they have active food sources. Wildlife biologists have worked closely with ranchers, who traditionally have fought against prairie dogs to create buffer zones where the animals can thrive.

The black-footed ferret (Photo credit to Pinterest)

Biologists believed the black-footed ferret was extinct in 1979, but some sightings occurred in 1981 in Wyoming. The black-footed ferret’s survival is tied hand in hand with prairie dogs as they are the ferrets’ primary food source.

Catching the black-footed ferret at night as a conservation method.

We moved to California in 1973 when Dad became a member of the recovery team for the Aleutian Canada goose, once considered to be a subspecies of the well-known Canada goose. The species is now known as the Aleutian cackling goose and seems to be a subspecies of the cackling goose. Though slightly smaller with shorter necks, they are often mistaken for the Canada goose due to their physical resemblance. They are one of the smaller species of geese, only slightly bigger than mallards.

Aleutian cackling goose (Photo from Pinterest)

The history of the Aleutian cackling goose is quite interesting. These geese were once plentiful in the Aleutian Islands, the 1,100 mile-long-chain composed of 144 islands southwest of Alaska. Most of the islands belong to Alaska, but a few are part of Russia. When Russian fur traders introduced the Arctic fox to the islands the birds nearly became extinct. After decades had passed of no sightings, a scientist found 300 cackling geese nesting on Buldir Island.

In 1967, the geese officially became an endangered species. This measure was the spark that led to a comeback in the geese population as wildlife biologists like my dad developed a recovery plan to restore their numbers. A significant step in their restoration was the trapping of Arctic foxes in the Aleutian Islands. The geese population grew steadily following the foxes’ relocation. In 1990 they moved from endangered to threatened status. There are well over 200,000 Aleutian cackling geese today and no longer considered threatened, so their recovery has been an enormous success.

Aleutian cackling goose—(Photo from Pinterest)

Aleutian cackling geese are migratory birds flying from the Aleutian Islands to as far south as Mexico, though most migrate to the Central Valley of California. The birds typically spend part of the winter in our area of northern California on Humboldt Bay. Many will stay here for about a month before flying further south to the Central Valley. Again, there are many geese in the area before they return north to the Aleutian Islands in early April. Aleutian cackling geese are endurance athletes, migrating as far as 3,000 miles.

While in our area, they typically spend the night on the water and fly over to the farmers’ fields by day. Their numbers have increased so much that some farmers and ranchers are concerned about damage to their fields. The birds are so plentiful that it is now legal to hunt them again. Spectators may see as many as 40,000 geese circling Humboldt Bay at sunrise if they’re up by dawn.

Aleutian cackling goose comeback story

Though a wildlife lover of all animals, Dad’s passion was with birds. I remember going out with him on bird counts in the Dakotas. We’d be up at the crack of dawn, traveling down the back roads of North Dakota. Dad would stop every half mile and have a couple of minutes to identify any birds he saw. I served as the data collector and recorded the list of birds Dad saw as he called them out. While I never developed the birding bug that both of my parents had, I remember it was a terrific way to spend time with my dad as a kid as we started those cold mornings with hot chocolate or chicken broth.

I learned a lot of things from Dad. While he was thrifty, he had a generous heart. He donated his time and money to causes that were dear to him. In that manner, I am very much like my father. While I never became as passionate as Dad about birding, I developed a healthy respect for nature. Above all, Dad was a man of principle. He taught me to find my voice and speak up if a business did not provide the service that I paid for. Dad was many things, but I’ll remember most that he was a good man.

My dad and son looking for birds. 

©Pete Springer 2022

My thanks to Pete for participating in the series and sharing this heartwarming tribute to his dad…  I know he would love to hear from you.

About Pete Springer

My name is Pete Springer. I taught elementary school for thirty-one years (grades 2-6) at Pine Hill School in Eureka, CA. Even though I retired over three years ago, my passion will always lie with supporting education, kids, and teachers.

When I came out of the teaching program many years ago, I realized how unprepared I was for what was in store for me in the classroom. My college education focused mostly on learning theory rather than the practical day-to-day challenges that all teachers face. Thankfully, I had some great mentors to lean on to help support me in the early part of my career.

I have made it my mission to pay it forward to the next generation of teachers. I was a master teacher to four student teachers, and I have several former students who are now teachers, including one who teaches at my former elementary school. That is pretty cool!

While I was teaching, I decided that one day I would write books for children. That ship is now in the harbor. I took some writing workshops, found a writing critique group, joined SCBWI (Society of Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators), and I recently finished writing my first middle-grade novel. I’ve always connected with kids, and this is my new way of teaching.

My debut MG novel, Second Chance Summer, just got professionally edited, and I will be querying in the coming weeks.

One of the reviews for the book that I can also recommend

Jacqui Murray VINE VOICE 5.0 out of 5 stars Teachers are friend, advisor, mentor, mom, and so much more Reviewed in the United States on April 27, 2021

Pete Springer’s memoir about his first years teaching is a delightful story for new teachers and will have experienced educators nodding along with him. His early experiences remind all of us of the joy inherent in teaching:

“This job required about as much brainpower as my tree planting experience.”
“This is the story of how I fell in love with teaching and the joys and challenges that this noble profession provided to me over the course of thirty-one years.”

He breaks the book into chapters every teacher will understand:

How did i get here
Setting up your classroom
Working with students
Working with colleagues
Working with your boss
Discipline

…and more. Aside from grading, parents, lunch duty, conferences, and yard duty, these are the biggest issues we teachers face. I’m a veteran teacher of thirty years and still I couldn’t wait to read Pete’s take on these timeless issues.

“Instead of saying, “Do everything my way, and you can become a successful teacher,” she was giving me her permission to find my way.”
“…storytelling was one of the most successful methods to get my students to pay attention.”
“…when we lose our calm, we are teaching them that it is okay to behave in this manner when something is not going right.”

Every new teacher will benefit from Pete’s daily experiences of what in the end results in a journey well traveled with more importance than most of us would car eto admit. Educational philosophies change. Favorite tools like iPads and Chromebooks change. What never changes is the fundamentals that Pete covers in this book:

“…tell the kids when I made similar mistakes growing up.”
“I do think that it is possible for parents or schools to provide too many rewards for kids.”

Overall an excellent book. If you’re a new teacher, I’d call this an essential read prior to your first day.

Read the reviews and buy the book: Amazon US – and:Amazon UK – Read more reviews:Goodreads – Website: Pete Springer WordPress – Twitter: @OfficerWoof

How to feature in the series?

• All I need you to do is give me permission to dive in to your archives and find two posts to share here on Smorgasbord. (sally.cronin@moyhill.com)
• Rather than a set topic, I will select posts at random of general interest across a number of subjects from the first six months of 2022. (it is helpful if you have a link to your archives in your sidebar by month)
• As I will be promoting your books as part of the post along with all your information and links so I will not be sharing direct marketing or self- promotional posts in the series.
• If you are an author I am sure you will have a page on your blog with the details, and an ‘about page’ with your profile and social media links (always a good idea anyway). I will get everything that I need.
• As a blogger I would assume that you have an ‘about page’ a profile photo and your links to social media.
• Copyright is yours and I will ©Your name on every post… and you will be named as the author in the URL and subject line.
• Previous participants are very welcome to take part again.
• Each post is reformatted for my blog and I don’t cut and paste, this means it might look different from your own post especially if you are using the block editor
• If I do share a post which contains mainly photographs I will share up to five and link back to the original post for people to view the rest.

N.B – To get the maximum benefit from your archive posts, the only thing I ask is that you respond to comments individually and share on your own social media.. thank you.

 

Thanks for dropping in today and it would be great if you could leave a comment and share the post… Sally.

 

Smorgasbord Posts from Your Archives 2022- ‘Lucky Dip’ – #Teaching #FutureInvestment Pete Springer

Since this series began in January 2018 there have been over 1000 Posts from Your Archives where bloggers have taken the opportunity to share posts to a new audience… mine.

The topics have ranged from travel, childhood, recipes, history, family and the most recent series was #PotLuck where I shared a random selection of different topics. This series is along the same lines… but is a ‘Lucky Dip’

In this series I will be sharing posts from the first six months of 2022

It is an opportunity to showcase your writing skill to my readers and also to share on my social media. Which combined is around the 50,000 mark. If you are an author your books will be mentioned too, along with their buy links and your other social media contacts. You can find out how to participate at the end of the post.

Today author and retired teacher Pete Springer reflects on the delayed rewards of teaching as he meets up with some former students making their way successfully in the world.

Teaching – An Investment in the Future by Pete Springer

Former Elementary Students Returning to Our School Before High School Graduation 

Some might think that teachers spend one year with students, and then the relationship ends for both student and teacher. I knew that is true for some, but for many teachers, we hold onto those bonds with our students for a lifetime.

I’m grateful to live in the same city I taught, and I frequently run into former students on my travels. I even taught some of my students’ children over the last few years of my career. One of the most mind-blowing aspects of teaching was to hold a parent-teacher conference with a parent who used to be one of my students.

It’s such a kick for me to find out what happened to my students. Are they married? Do they have children of their own now? I know it won’t be that many years before some of my students have grandchildren. What career path did they choose? Did any become teachers themselves? I take special pride in that. I even had the great fortune to teach with one of my former fifth-grade students in the last few years of my career. How cool is that?

Former Fifth Grade Student and Current Teacher, Kelly

When these planned or chance encounters happen, I treasure them. I still occasionally get a letter from one of my students telling me about something exciting happening in their life. I’ve attended birthday parties, graduations, weddings, housewarming parties, and more. I’ve hired past students to work for me. There are few better feelings in life than watching a former pupil succeed in life.

This raises the question of what defines success? I think it’s different for everyone, but happiness must enter the equation somewhere. Some may think of it as making lots of money and having many material possessions, but I believe the bar should be higher than that. Success to me means making a positive difference in the world somehow. The trick is for each of us to find our path in achieving that. It could mean being a good parent, volunteering with organizations that are doing important work, cleaning up your city, painting a mural, or the hundreds of other creative ways that we can help those in our community. One of the secrets I’ve discovered is that I’m happiest when helping others because it makes me feel good about myself.

Being a former educator, I value literacy. I joined the Humboldt County Children’s Author Festival Committee after I retired. This organization helps bring nationally known children’s authors to our local schools biennially to talk to kids about their books and writing. Children see these authors and illustrators and think, “I could do that too.” Since I’m writing children’s novels in retirement, it was a natural fit for me. Right now, I’m the only male on the approximately twenty-five-person committee, but that doesn’t bother me in the least.

Humboldt County Children’s Author Festival Committee (I’m the lone male—in the middle of the back row.) 

Two weeks ago, I had the good fortune of seeing two of my former students on the same day. First, I had breakfast with Veronica, who I taught in 4th grade. She is married with three daughters. I’m proud of her because she has an important job working with the developmentally disabled. I know she is a tremendous advocate for them because she is that type of person. Veronica’s oldest daughter is Juliana, now a college student. I felt privileged to teach Juliana for part of 2nd grade before her family moved out of the school district. I remember her as being intelligent and mature for her age.

Breakfast with Former 4th grade Student, Veronica 

Veronica’s daughter, Juliana, from 2nd Grade 

Later in the day, I dropped by and visited Mychal in town at his informational campaign gathering. He is running for Humboldt County Auditor/Controller in the upcoming election. I admire his desire to try and make a difference in our community by serving the public. It takes courage to run for public office, and I am happy to see that he is up to the challenge. I had the opportunity to teach Mychal for two years in fourth grade and then again two years later in sixth grade. He was a great all-around student. It meant a lot to me when he came by to my book signing at our old elementary school a few years back, and the least I could do was to return the favor.

Former 4th and 6th Grade Student, Mychal at My Book Signing 

Recent Photo with Former Student, Mychal—Now a Candidate for Humboldt County Auditor/Controller 

These encounters are what I call the delayed rewards of teaching. Watching children grow into responsible adults is the best. I’ve always looked at education as an investment in the future. How wonderful to see some of that investment come to fruition!

©Peter Springer 2022

My thanks to Pete for participating in the series and what a wonderful reflection on a lifetime of teaching to see students thriving and still sharing their lives with him.. I know he would love to hear from you.

About Pete Springer

My name is Pete Springer. I taught elementary school for thirty-one years (grades 2-6) at Pine Hill School in Eureka, CA. Even though I retired over three years ago, my passion will always lie with supporting education, kids, and teachers.

When I came out of the teaching program many years ago, I realized how unprepared I was for what was in store for me in the classroom. My college education focused mostly on learning theory rather than the practical day-to-day challenges that all teachers face. Thankfully, I had some great mentors to lean on to help support me in the early part of my career.

I have made it my mission to pay it forward to the next generation of teachers. I was a master teacher to four student teachers, and I have several former students who are now teachers, including one who teaches at my former elementary school. That is pretty cool!

While I was teaching, I decided that one day I would write books for children. That ship is now in the harbor. I took some writing workshops, found a writing critique group, joined SCBWI (Society of Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators), and I recently finished writing my first middle-grade novel. I’ve always connected with kids, and this is my new way of teaching.

My debut MG novel, Second Chance Summer, just got professionally edited, and I will be querying in the coming weeks.

One of the reviews for the book that I can also recommend

Jacqui Murray VINE VOICE 5.0 out of 5 stars Teachers are friend, advisor, mentor, mom, and so much more Reviewed in the United States on April 27, 2021

Pete Springer’s memoir about his first years teaching is a delightful story for new teachers and will have experienced educators nodding along with him. His early experiences remind all of us of the joy inherent in teaching:

“This job required about as much brainpower as my tree planting experience.”
“This is the story of how I fell in love with teaching and the joys and challenges that this noble profession provided to me over the course of thirty-one years.”

He breaks the book into chapters every teacher will understand:

How did i get here
Setting up your classroom
Working with students
Working with colleagues
Working with your boss
Discipline

…and more. Aside from grading, parents, lunch duty, conferences, and yard duty, these are the biggest issues we teachers face. I’m a veteran teacher of thirty years and still I couldn’t wait to read Pete’s take on these timeless issues.

“Instead of saying, “Do everything my way, and you can become a successful teacher,” she was giving me her permission to find my way.”
“…storytelling was one of the most successful methods to get my students to pay attention.”
“…when we lose our calm, we are teaching them that it is okay to behave in this manner when something is not going right.”

Every new teacher will benefit from Pete’s daily experiences of what in the end results in a journey well traveled with more importance than most of us would car eto admit. Educational philosophies change. Favorite tools like iPads and Chromebooks change. What never changes is the fundamentals that Pete covers in this book:

“…tell the kids when I made similar mistakes growing up.”
“I do think that it is possible for parents or schools to provide too many rewards for kids.”

Overall an excellent book. If you’re a new teacher, I’d call this an essential read prior to your first day.

Read the reviews and buy the book: Amazon US – and:Amazon UK – Read more reviews:Goodreads – Website: Pete Springer WordPress – Twitter: @OfficerWoof

How to feature in the series?

• All I need you to do is give me permission to dive in to your archives and find two posts to share here on Smorgasbord. (sally.cronin@moyhill.com)
• Rather than a set topic, I will select posts at random of general interest across a number of subjects from the first six months of 2022. (it is helpful if you have a link to your archives in your sidebar by month)
• As I will be promoting your books as part of the post along with all your information and links so I will not be sharing direct marketing or self- promotional posts in the series.
• If you are an author I am sure you will have a page on your blog with the details, and an ‘about page’ with your profile and social media links (always a good idea anyway). I will get everything that I need.
• As a blogger I would assume that you have an ‘about page’ a profile photo and your links to social media.
• Copyright is yours and I will ©Your name on every post… and you will be named as the author in the URL and subject line.
• Previous participants are very welcome to take part again.
• Each post is reformatted for my blog and I don’t cut and paste, this means it might look different from your own post especially if you are using the block editor
• If I do share a post which contains mainly photographs I will share up to five and link back to the original post for people to view the rest.

N.B – To get the maximum benefit from your archive posts, the only thing I ask is that you respond to comments individually and share on your own social media.. thank you.

 

Thanks for dropping in today and it would be great if you could leave a comment and share the post… Sally.

 

Smorgasbord Blog Magazine – Guest Post – #Life – I Wish I Knew Then What I Know Now! by Pete Springer

I am sure like me, there have been times when you have wondered what difference might have been made to your life, if your younger self had been gifted with the experience and knowledge you have accumulated over the years.

I invited several friends from the writing community to share their thoughts on this subject which I am sure you will enjoy as much as I did.

Today author Pete Springer shares his experiences in high school following a move to California in response to the prompt.

What I Wish I Knew Then by Pete Springer

Sometimes I feel like one of the luckiest people on Earth. I was born into a stable family with great parents and three terrific older brothers. I married a great lady, and we have an adult son who is making his mark in the world. We’re proud of the man he has become.

My career as an elementary teacher was rewarding, and I’m filled with pride as I watch many of my former students doing extraordinary things.

One of the things I’ve noticed about myself is that I tend to be more philosophical as I get older. Maybe that’s a symptom of having more time on my hands. It doesn’t necessarily mean I’m any smarter, but I do find myself thinking about some of the lessons I’ve learned.

If I could have one do-over in life, it would be my high school years. After a happy childhood, we moved cross-country to California when I was starting high school. Maybe it was the combination of being at an awkward age, moving to a new place, and not having the self-confidence to embrace new challenges at the time, but those years weren’t a particularly happy time. I wasn’t depressed, but I wasn’t joyful either.

High school was cliquish, and for a guy who didn’t fit in any of the groups, I found that I kept to myself more and didn’t have a lot of close friendships.

Around the time I turned eighteen, I made a thoughtful decision to expand my horizons and to get out of my comfort zone. No more playing it safe and always resorting to only familiar and comfortable things.

I found my true self during college. I tried new things with enthusiasm and put forth the best version of myself. Not every unique experience turned out the way I hoped it would, but I was no longer living in fear. Those feelings of empowerment made me feel better about myself, and people accepted me for me.

I went from a scared teenager to a confident adult—someone who could stand in front of a group of people and command their attention with an outgoing and fearless persona. Don’t get me wrong—I still am fearful in many situations, but I’ve learned that we feel best about ourselves when we embrace new challenges.

Why am I thinking about this today? Perhaps it’s because I’ve just accomplished one of my goals—the completion of the first draft of a middle-grade chapter book.

While I was teaching, one of my favorite things to do during a typical school day was to read to my students. Each day I got to be a performer and act out the voices of the authors’ characters. I could be brash, silly, humble, mean, or any other characteristic that I imagined the author intended. It was a rush to hook the kids into the plots and the characters. I always tried to leave them begging for more. “Don’t stop! Keep reading!”

Those phrases were music to my ears.

Pete didn’t just read to his class he also took his new baby son in for them to meet

When I was teaching, I made a decision that I was going to try and write a children’s book to recapture that feeling. Having taught many ages, I decided to target those children I was most familiar with—middle grades. After first writing a combination memoir/advice book for new teachers, I decided the time was right. I went to a writer’s conference, found a critique group, and I’m going for it. What started as a vision of 30,000 words became 50,000 when I finished the first draft.

I’m a realist—maybe this will never come to fruition, but I’m proud of myself for having the courage to go for it. Now I’ve moved into the rewriting and editing phases, and there’s still a ton of work ahead. While I self-published my first book, I’m inclined to try and go the traditional publishing route this time. I know—much longer odds and a lot more time to make it happen. (But hey, I’m retired.) If it doesn’t happen, at least I’ll have the satisfaction of knowing I didn’t stand on the sidelines, and I gave myself a chance. Perhaps this will be too preachy for some, but my advice as a sixty-year-old to that scared teenager is, “Don’t let fear hold you back.”

©Pete Springer 2022

My thanks to Pete for sharing his thoughts about this prompt and I am sure many can relate to his experiences of those formative years and how unsettling they can be.

About Pete Springer

My name is Pete Springer. I taught elementary school for thirty-one years (grades 2-6) at Pine Hill School in Eureka, CA. Even though I retired over three years ago, my passion will always lie with supporting education, kids, and teachers.

When I came out of the teaching program many years ago, I realized how unprepared I was for what was in store for me in the classroom. My college education focused mostly on learning theory rather than the practical day-to-day challenges that all teachers face. Thankfully, I had some great mentors to lean on to help support me in the early part of my career.

I have made it my mission to pay it forward to the next generation of teachers. I was a master teacher to four student teachers, and I have several former students who are now teachers, including one who teaches at my former elementary school. That is pretty cool!

While I was teaching, I decided that one day I would write books for children. That ship is now in the harbor. I took some writing workshops, found a writing critique group, joined SCBWI (Society of Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators), and I recently finished writing my first middle-grade novel. I’ve always connected with kids, and this is my new way of teaching.

My debut MG novel, Second Chance Summer, just got professionally edited, and I will be querying in the coming weeks.

One of the reviews for the book that I can also recommend

Jacqui Murray VINE VOICE 5.0 out of 5 stars Teachers are friend, advisor, mentor, mom, and so much more  Reviewed in the United States on April 27, 2021

Pete Springer’s memoir about his first years teaching is a delightful story for new teachers and will have experienced educators nodding along with him. His early experiences remind all of us of the joy inherent in teaching:

“This job required about as much brainpower as my tree planting experience.”
“This is the story of how I fell in love with teaching and the joys and challenges that this noble profession provided to me over the course of thirty-one years.”

He breaks the book into chapters every teacher will understand:

How did i get here
Setting up your classroom
Working with students
Working with colleagues
Working with your boss
Discipline

…and more. Aside from grading, parents, lunch duty, conferences, and yard duty, these are the biggest issues we teachers face. I’m a veteran teacher of thirty years and still I couldn’t wait to read Pete’s take on these timeless issues.

“Instead of saying, “Do everything my way, and you can become a successful teacher,” she was giving me her permission to find my way.”
“…storytelling was one of the most successful methods to get my students to pay attention.”
“…when we lose our calm, we are teaching them that it is okay to behave in this manner when something is not going right.”

Every new teacher will benefit from Pete’s daily experiences of what in the end results in a journey well traveled with more importance than most of us would car eto admit. Educational philosophies change. Favorite tools like iPads and Chromebooks change. What never changes is the fundamentals that Pete covers in this book:

“…tell the kids when I made similar mistakes growing up.”
“I do think that it is possible for parents or schools to provide too many rewards for kids.”

Overall an excellent book. If you’re a new teacher, I’d call this an essential read prior to your first day.  

Read the reviews and buy the book: Amazon US – and:Amazon UK – Read more reviews:Goodreads – Website: Pete Springer WordPress – Twitter: @OfficerWoof

 

Thank you for dropping in today and it would be wonderful if you could share Pete’s post.. thanks Sally

Smorgasbord Bookshelf – Meet the Authors 2022 – Personal Recommendations – #Dystopian #Thrillers Terry Tyler, #Poetry Colleen M. Chesebro, #Memoir #Teaching Pete Springer

In this first feature for the Smorgasbord Bookshelf I am sharing authors whose books I have read and can personally recommend along with one of my reviews for their books.

The first author today is Terry Tyler, whose depiction of Britain after pandemics in books written before the current Covid, are almost too close to the truth for comfort… but make compelling reading. With twenty-two books in different genres there is plenty to choose from.

Meet Terry Tyler

Terry Tyler is the author of twenty-two books available from Amazon, the latest being ‘Megacity’, the final book in the dystopian Operation Galton trilogy. Also published recently is ‘The Visitor’, a post-apocalyptic murder mystery set in the same world as her popular Project Renova series. She is currently at work on a psychological thriller that centres round an internet dating con, but has not yet finished with devastated societies, catastrophe and destruction, generally. Proud to be independently published, Terry is an avid reader and book reviewer, and a member of Rosie Amber’s Book Review Team.

Terry is a Walking Dead addict, and has a great interest in history (particularly 12th-17th century), along with books and documentaries on sociological/cultural/anthropological subject matter. She loves South Park, the sea, and going for long walks in quiet places where there are lots of trees. She lives in the north east of England with her husband.

A small selection of books by Terry Tyler

My review for Megacity June 2021

There is always anticipation when Terry Tyler announces a new release, and having read both Hope and Wasteland, the first two books in the trilogy, Megacity was eagerly awaited.

The author’s version of the future, following a mysterious and fortuitous pandemic, makes for thought provoking reading. The characters Tyler has cleverly crafted could be a member of your family or a neighbour, and it is easy to become invested in their lives and challenges. They are strong and often flawed but most of all they are memorable.

There is little you can do when those in positions of power have narcissistic and psychotic tendencies. They manipulate and deceive from behind a facade that is charming and enviable. Those who have been lied to all their lives and come from desperate living conditions, are perfect prey for these elite, and the price most of them will pay is beyond inhuman.

But there is hope, as those who defy the increasing institutionalisation, and eradication of free will, form groups and networks to spirit some lucky souls to freedom. Away from the technical tethers and government lackeys that watch and monitor every move and emotion in the Megacities. And it is the hope that the author weaves through the story, which keeps you turning page after page as you follow the lives of three victims of the new order.

There are moments when you shudder as you read to what lengths the depraved will go to achieve money and power. There are also times when you weep for the desperate plight of those who blindly accept the promises made offering them a better future. The one thing this book is not short on is emotion.

This is a thriller, a coming of age of a young woman caught up in the evil, affirmation of a mother’s love, the redemption of a lost soul, and the courage of ordinary individuals who are willing to stand up and say ‘No more’.

Although a version of the future that hopefully will never happen, it is a reminder to us all that we need elect the best and most honest leaders. Not an easy task when the public face shown to the world sometimes hides a dangerous truth.

I can highly recommend the trilogy, portraying a very different Britain to the one we are lucky enough to inhabit today.

Read the reviews and buy the books:Amazon UK – And : Amazon US – Follow Terry Tyler: Goodreads – Blog: Terry Tyler Blogspot – Twitter:@TerryTyler4

The next author and poet, Colleen M. Chesebro, is a mentor for many of us who aspire to write syllabic poetry and her weekly challenge has created a platform for us to practice the art of writing the various and intriguing formats. This guide to this form of poetry is a must read.

Meet Colleen Chesebro

Colleen M. Chesebro is a Michigan Poet who loves crafting syllabic poetry, flash fiction, and creative fiction and nonfiction. Colleen sponsors a weekly poetry challenge, called Tanka Tuesday, on wordcraftpoetry.com where participants learn how to write traditional and current forms of syllabic poetry.

Along with JulesPaige, Colleen is also a co-editor of “Word Weaving, a Word Craft Journal of Syllabic Verse,” at wordweavingpoetryjournal.com. The debut issue of this journal will publish in October 2021.

Colleen’s syllabic poetry has appeared in various other online publications. Recently, she created the Double Ennead, a 99-syllable poetry form for Carrot Ranch. Colleen’s poetry has poetry in various anthologies and journals including “Hedgerow-a journal of small poems,” and “Poetry Treasures,” a collection of poetry from the poet/author guests of Robbie Cheadle on the “Treasuring Poetry” blog series on “Writing to be Read” in 2020.

Colleen published “Word Craft: Prose & Poetry, The Art of Crafting Syllabic Poetry,” which illustrates how to write various syllabic poetry forms used in her Tanka Tuesday challenges; and a collection of poetry, flash fiction, and short stories called, “Fairies, Myths & Magic: A Summer Celebration,” dedicated to the Summer Solstice. She contributed a short story called “The Changeling,” in the “Ghostly Rites Anthology 2020,” published by Plaisted Publishing House.

Books by Colleen Chesebro

My review for Word Craft Prose and Poetry May 2021

I have enjoyed poetry from childhood and would write stories in verse from an early age. I was introduced to Japanese syllabic poetry when I began participating in Colleen Chesebro’s Weekly Tanka Challenge three years ago. At first hesitantly, but then as my confidence grew under her tutelage, I became more adventurous.

Word Craft: Prose and Poetry shares an expanded guide to the various forms of syllabic verse shared on the author’s website, and includes the history and provenance of the traditional and more modern versions. It is fascinating and also humbling that we are in this day and age, creating poetry with such a lineage.

This guide reminded me of how much I still have to learn about the intent of each form and their accepted applications. Nature and the self are prominent, but in some there is a freedom to express emotion, irony and humour. Most forms tell a story and the challenge is to do so with sometimes as few as seventeen syllables and within the framework of the format.

I was very honoured to have some of my challenge pieces included with the talented poets who have participated, and whose poetry brings such pleasure to those who read it in the challenge recap… and that includes the author who always explains the intricacies of a particular form then shows with examples for even beginners to follow.

I recommend this guide and collection for all lovers of poetry who will enjoy the poems shared throughout the book, beginners who are looking for a way to express themselves with brevity, and more experienced poets who are looking for a new challenge. For me as a writer of short stories and novels, writing syllabic poetry has been a great way to learn how to make a few words convey more.

Read the reviews and buy the books: Amazon US – And:Amazon UK – Goodreads: Colleen at Goodreads – Website Wordcraft poetry –  Twitter: @ColleenChesebro

The next author is Pete Springer who shared his experiences and wisdom as a teacher for over thirty years, in his memoir They Call Me Mom: Making a difference as an elementary teacher. Having read the book, it made me appreciate even more the impact a good teacher can have on a child’s future.

Meet Pete Springer

My name is Pete Springer. I taught elementary school for thirty-one years (grades 2-6) at Pine Hill School in Eureka, CA. Even though I retired over three years ago, my passion will always lie with supporting education, kids, and teachers.

When I came out of the teaching program many years ago, I realized how unprepared I was for what was in store for me in the classroom. My college education focused mostly on learning theory rather than the practical day-to-day challenges that all teachers face. Thankfully, I had some great mentors to lean on to help support me in the early part of my career.

I have made it my mission to pay it forward to the next generation of teachers. I was a master teacher to four student teachers, and I have several former students who are now teachers, including one who teaches at my former elementary school. That is pretty cool!

While I was teaching, I decided that one day I would write books for children. That ship is now in the harbor. I took some writing workshops, found a writing critique group, joined SCBWI (Society of Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators), and I recently finished writing my first middle-grade novel. I’ve always connected with kids, and this is my new way of teaching.

My debut MG novel, Second Chance Summer, just got professionally edited, and I will be querying in the coming weeks.

My review for the book February 2021

This memoir of a teacher with over thirty years experience, is an interesting snapshot of the American education system, particularly the elementary school years for 5 to 10 or 11 years old. This is a key period in a child’s life and so important that the skills for learning and development are absorbed during these years.

Pete Springer provides a step by step guide to creating the best environment within a classroom, for learning and as a place of safety and respect. Clearly a dedicated teacher, but also an observer of human nature, Springer provides a manual for new teachers, including how to achieve a rapport with both students and their parents. Importantly of course, creating lesson plans that stimulate and educate, and how to use effective and empathetic methods when dealing with behavioural and discipline issues.

The book it is not just about teaching a curriculum set out by a state education board, but also developing relationships in and out of the classroom with key people in a child’s and a teacher’s life. As the author points out, children come from a multitude of backgrounds with varying family circumstances and one size does not fit all when it comes to treating them as individuals or those in their lives.

With anecdotes of life in the classroom with young minds trying to be one step ahead of you, overeager parents, and absent ones, and differing teaching methods being supported by successive administrators, it is not a 9-5 job. Especially when you are a dedicated educator intent on sending well taught and well-adapted children on to secondary school.

There is much to enjoy by the casual reader looking for an informative and entertaining read, with memories of their own early years rising to the surface, not all as positive as in the classes of Pete Springer.

I do think it is an excellent guide to those who are considering teaching as a career or have just begun their training. Also new teachers trying to find their own style, and a way to connect with their students effectively and the others involved in their lives.

Parents, and to a degree grandparents, would certainly benefit from understanding the complexities of the work of a teacher. Whilst this is written from the perspective of the American education system, children of this age around the world require the same level of dedication and commitment to their well-being.

The author includes some wonderful stories of students (with their names changed) their parents and incidents that will entertain. It is heartwarming to learn about past students who keep in touch, even when they too have become parents with children passing through Springer’s classroom. All of which underline what a caring person and teacher these children were lucky to have in their lives.

Read the reviews and buy the book: Amazon US – and:Amazon UK – Read more reviews:Goodreads – Website: Pete Springer WordPress – Twitter: @OfficerWoof

 

Thanks for dropping in today and I hope you will be leaving with some books… Sally.

Smorgasbord Blog Magazine – Guest Posts – #Influencers – A Tribute to One of My Role Models by Pete Springer

Recently I shared a short series on people how I considered an been a positive influence in my life, either by teaching me to read and write, that dreams can come true, that human kindness comes in many forms or by helping me transition into a responsible adult.

Of course our parents and other members of the family have a direct impact on who we are today, but for me in addition there are those who came and went in my life, but whilst there, changed the way I looked at life in general and my own future.

This series is about the person you feel has had the most influence on your life and has shaped the person you are today, and what you have achieved. That might be in reaching personal goals or to do with your career.

This is of course also a marketing opportunity for your blog and books, and a showcase of your writing skills.

At the end of the post I have shared the links to my recent series so you can see how it might look when posted.

To kick off this new series, a post from Pete Springer which was shared on his blog earlier in the year and is the perfect example of a tribute to a role model or influencer who has made a difference to your life…

Happy Birthday to One of My Role Models—Val Arizzi

Bravery is usually associated with those who potentially risk their lives each day for us, such as soldiers, police officers, and firefighters. There is no question that we should be grateful for their sacrifices to help keep us safe, but bravery can come in many forms besides those professions.

Some of the most courageous stories that I know of involve immigrants. How fearless do you have to be to come to another country, not speaking the language, knowing very few people, all hoping to improve your family’s life?

One such story involves that of the Arizzi family. Virgilio Arizzi left Genoa, Italy, in 1955 with a dream to create a new life for himself and his family in the United States. He settled in Elk River and went to work for the Senestraro family, who had previously come to America from Italy, on their dairy farm. Two years later, in December of 1957, Virgilio’s wife, Elvira, and their three kids, Ermanno (10), Valerie (6), and Isa (3), sailed across the Atlantic Ocean from Genoa to New York City. The two-week sailing trip was miserable for the entire family as everyone suffered from seasickness below deck in the ship’s hold. It was also not a pleasant trip because of the crowded conditions and poor food. Ermanno had taken some English lessons before the family’s departure, and the family relied on his limited English skills to get by during the trip.

The Arizzi Family (Back row—Virgilio, Ermanno, and Elvira.)
(Front row—Val and Isa)

Val Arizzi (what a cutie!)

After coming into New York Harbor, (Ellis Island was closed at the time), the family took the train from New York City to San Francisco with other stops along the way. While they no longer had to deal with seasickness, conditions were frigid, traveling on the train in December.

Reuniting with their dad in Elk River, Ermanno and Valerie attended school in California just one month later. Brave? Yes. Gutsy? Yes. Unthinkable? No, because this was a gamble that many immigrants were willing to take. For the Arizzi’s, it certainly proved to be a good bet. Virgilio went to work for the Senestraro family on their dairy farm in Eureka (Elk River) for many years, and he and Elvira lived a happy life, raising three terrific kids who have gone on to make their mark in the education world. Ermanno was an Ag teacher at Eureka High School for many years. Val taught for a short time at St. Bernard’s and then worked at Humboldt St. Isa still works for North Coast Children Services.

Virgilio and Elvira came to America not speaking any English, but in the late 1960s became American citizens when they passed the citizenship test.

I’m telling this story because, without their bravery, Valerie (Val) would not have become an influential person in my life. Val is celebrating a milestone birthday today, and I want her to know how much I appreciate what she did for me.

Moving from rural North Dakota to California when I was starting high school was a bit of a culture shock for this naïve teenager. I was indeed a fish out of water when I first arrived. Walking into a new high school when I didn’t know anyone was a bit intimidating.

Sometime in my early high school years, Val came into my life as a youth minister for CYO (Catholic Youth Organization). As an impressionable teen, I needed the positive influence that she provided as I found my way. She was a spunky lady with a big personality. I liked her immediately. She had an infectious laugh and was fun to be around. We teased her lovingly, and she could dish it back just as well.

Val and Pete

One of my core beliefs is that we all need role models in our lives, and Val was that for me. People can be leaders in many ways—Val led by example through her actions. I don’t remember all her lessons, but I recall her making me feel good about myself. Val’s actions remind me of one of my favorite quotes by American poet and civil rights activist, Maya Angelou, who once said, “I’ve learned that people will forget what you said, people will forget what you did, but people will never forget how you made them feel.”

When I graduated from high school, I was still searching for what I wanted to do with my life. Being around people like Val made me think about working with kids. One of my first educational experiences was as a camp counselor at the same summer camp I attended in high school. I was suddenly in charge of a different group of elementary-age kids each week. It was an enormous responsibility for an eighteen-year-old to be out in the woods on overnight hikes with kids who may have had little to no experience camping before.

I went on to become an elementary school teacher for thirty-one years, and I’d like to think that I was a good role model for my students. I wasn’t a perfect teacher—far from it, but my students knew that I cared and would do whatever I could for them.

My first class (5th and 6th grade) I’m the young-looking guy at the top center.

One of the fun discoveries I learned when writing this article was finding out that I share another connection with the Arrizi’s. I got the opportunity to teach two of the Senestraro boys, Seth and Jesse. They were two of the smartest and nicest students one could ever hope to teach. They have gone on to do important things in their lives. Seth is a dentist; Jesse is a nurse.

I exchanged text messages with Seth when I was about to write this article. He recalled Virgilio living on the farm until his passing and saw him all the time growing up. Seth remembered hearing that Ermanno was a role model in FFA for his stepdad and his uncles. The connections get amazingly deep as Seth got to visit his grandpa’s village in Italy a couple of years ago and met lots of the Arizzi cousins and distant family members. It is a truly remarkable story that from this isolated tiny village of a few thousand people, many Italian families reconnected in Humboldt County in northern California.

When we get a chance to influence someone’s life positively, we should take that opportunity. The metaphor that I think of is that we are like relay runners in a race. Someone hands off the baton to us, and we run with it for as long as we can. We give it our all until it’s time to pass it on to the next runner. I’ve passed on that baton now to my students, and I want them to run like the wind. I wish my good friend, Val, the happiest of birthdays and thank her for carrying that baton to hand off to me.

(left to right) Pete, Val, my amazing wife Debbie, and our dear friend, Joyce

©Pete Springer 2021

My thanks to Pete for sharing this wonderful tribute to Val Arizzi who clearly had an amazing influence on his life and career.

About Pete Springer

I’m a retired elementary teacher (31 years) who will always be a strong advocate for children, education, and teachers. My favorite thing to do as a teacher was to read to my students, and now I’m following my heart and writing children’s books for middle grades.

One of the five star reviews for They Call Me Mom

Jacqui Murray VINE VOICE 5.0 out of 5 stars Teachers are friend, advisor, mentor, mom, and so much more  Reviewed in the United States on April 26, 2021

Pete Springer’s memoir about his first years teaching is a delightful story for new teachers and will have experienced educators nodding along with him. His early experiences remind all of us of the joy inherent in teaching:

“This job required about as much brainpower as my tree planting experience.”
“This is the story of how I fell in love with teaching and the joys and challenges that this noble profession provided to me over the course of thirty-one years.”

He breaks the book into chapters every teacher will understand:

How did i get here
Setting up your classroom
Working with students
Working with colleagues
Working with your boss
Discipline

…and more. Aside from grading, parents, lunch duty, conferences, and yard duty, these are the biggest issues we teachers face. I’m a veteran teacher of thirty years and still I couldn’t wait to read Pete’s take on these timeless issues.

“Instead of saying, “Do everything my way, and you can become a successful teacher,” she was giving me her permission to find my way.”
“…storytelling was one of the most successful methods to get my students to pay attention.”
“…when we lose our calm, we are teaching them that it is okay to behave in this manner when something is not going right.”

Every new teacher will benefit from Pete’s daily experiences of what in the end results in a journey well traveled with more importance than most of us would car eto admit. Educational philosophies change. Favorite tools like iPads and Chromebooks change. What never changes is the fundamentals that Pete covers in this book:

“…tell the kids when I made similar mistakes growing up.”
“I do think that it is possible for parents or schools to provide too many rewards for kids.”

Overall an excellent book. If you’re a new teacher, I’d call this an essential read prior to your first day.  

Read the reviews and buy the book: Amazon US – and:Amazon UK – Read more reviews:Goodreads – Website: Pete Springer WordPress – Twitter: @OfficerWoof

Some guidelines.

• If you look back at your life, who would you say had the most influence on who you are today or your life’s achievements?
• It might be a parent, grandparent, or other relation, perhaps a teacher, employer or someone who you only encountered for a brief period, but changed the course of your life in a positive way.
• It might be someone you have never met but influenced you in another way such as by their actions or a book that you read by them. This is a tribute to that person.
• It can be a post your have already written or one that is unpublished.
  
• If already published just send me the link.
• I will top and tail the post with the usual links and a recent review etc.
• This is an opportunity to show off your writing skills and to encourage readers to follow your blog or buy your books…dress to impress.

What I need from you sent to my email sally.cronin@moyhill.com

If you are have been promoted here before.

I just need your word document 1000 to 1500 words and two or three photographs to break up the text.. perhaps of you at that stage in your life or one of the person who you are writing about.

If they are an author then an Amazon link so I can copy the cover of their book or books with a link.

If you have not been featured on the blog before

• In addition to the word document and photographs for the post I will need your information.
• A profile photograph, up to date biography, social media links for website or blog, Facebook, Twitter, or Linkedin.
• If you are an author your Amazon Author page, Goodreads and Bookbub if you are there too.

Once I have received your post

• I will schedule and let you have the date.
• On the day of publication I will send you a link for the post.
• It would be great if you could share your post on your social media.
• I ask that all comments are responded to individually as it does make a difference to the number of times the post is shared.
• When shared on social media I will tag you if you are on that platform and it would be great if you could thank the person who has shared the post..

I am looking forward to discovering the amazing people who have inspired you and sharing them here in this series… get in touch… thanks Sally.

 

Look forward to hearing from you soon… Sally.