Sept. 2011: Belonging

The Year of the Dragon: In With a Mighty Roar!

I’m partial to signs. I make an effort to follow them and to encourage children to do the same. After all, they are there for a reason.  From traffic signs to store signs to product labels or billboards, we are surrounded by signs.  In language development, we call these signs environmental print, and they are often the first words that children learn to read. Stop.  El Rey. Animal Crossing.

Signs also come in other forms, somewhat more symbolic, mystical or suggested. Body language is an essential sign, and if you have ever not paid attention to its importance, you know what a mistake that was.  Cloudy- grey skies: sure looks like it’s going to rain.   Finding lost coins can be a sign, though somewhat difficult to act upon:  Find a penny, pick it up, all day long you’ll have good luck; find a penny, let it lie, all your troubles pass you by.  I’ve always struggled with weighing better luck against fewer troubles.

The stars, sun and moon are most significant signs in all cultures; their paths mark our time, and their energy and location are believed to have quite the effect on our moods and personalities.  I’m not here to advocate or negate the celestial signs, but I do want to celebrate one great event that is happening based on them: IT’S THE YEAR OF THE DRAGON!

This Chinese New Year brings in the year of the Dragon, and I can’t think of a better sign than to be a Dragon during the year of the Dragon!  Let’s encourage our students and each other to take this year in with a mighty roar, ready to learn and achieve more, run faster, play harder, read more books, make new friends, sing louder, laugh more often, and take more risks. 

It’s the year of the Dragon.  Let’s make the most of it!