"Not I ",said the dog,.. "Not I", said the cat....

Funny what rattles around in my head...all week, I've had bits and pieces of old children's stories pop into my mine and out my mouth!

I'm drawing...demonstrating to my second graders how to draw a Chinese dragon's face...head on! I'm explaining shapes and placement of eyes, nostrils and of course HIS REALLY TERRIFYING TEETH....then out it comes..."Grandma, what great big teeth you have,"...the better to EAT you my dear! giggles and chuckles and a few ohhhhhhh from my little wild ones...I have way too much fun!

We're in the third week of a cultural study using the Chinese New Year as a focus. Every class begins with a bow and "Nee How"...Hello...with Happy & Prosperous New Year "Gung Hay Fat Choy" added in. Together we talk about the dragon parades and lion dragon dances, the significance of Peony flowers to announce spring, special ceremonies to honor the elders of the family and something else that I hope to pass on to my little artists. "The obvious connections we have with all cultures no matter how far away they live, how different their skin color or language spoken; we all celebrate our love for family and our country. Every opportunity I get to explore a new environment (whether it be a new neighborhood near my home or another state or soon another country) I find I always have family, friends and home as the catalyst to connect and start a conversation.

I preach to my little ones, "We are more alike than different, take the time to look for those things first."