Who is God, after all?

Some people believe God is an old fellow which is in heavens watching our every attitude and he will be ready to judge us as soon as we get ‘there’. Others think he is playing dice on our fate and having fun with the events, or that there is no God at all and we are fruit of chance. And you? What do you think?

Shakespeare in love with SAMBA!

The project Escola de Bamba promotes cultural values among public schools in Rio de Janeiro and the students are invited to create their ‘Samba Enredo’ for the Carnival. The result can be seen at the site http://www.rioeduca.net/blogViews.php?id=3120.

Shakespeare is the champion for this carnival.

NA DIALÉTICA DO AMOR, UM TRAÇO DE SHAKESPEARE NA SAPUCAÍ
“TO BE OR NOT TO BE: THAT IS THE QUESTION”
MINHA ESCOLA VEM CANTAR
PELOS TRAÇOS DO POETA REVELAR.

 

TANTOS PERSONAGENS
NOSSA PRÓPRIA IMAGEM
NESSA VIAGEM SHAKESPEARE A NOS GUIAR
BRILHA O ARTISTA GENIAL
NO PALCO DO MEU CARNAVAL.

 

MISTÉRIOS, FANTASIAS
ALÉM DA NOSSA VÃ FILOSOFIA
AMOR, SENTIMENTO QUE AGITA E ACALMA
LOUCURA QUE INVADE A ALMA.

 

NA LITERATURA COM SEUS VERSOS ENCANTOU
NO TEATRO A PLATÉIA EMOCIONOU
NO CINEMA E TV SUA OBRA EM CARTAZ
SERES ENCANTADOS, DEUSES OU MORTAIS
NAS ENTRELINHAS DA HISTÓRIA
NÃO ESQUECEREMOS JAMAIS
SE A VIDA IMITA A ARTE
NÃO QUERO TRAGÉDIA
VIVO EM COMÉDIA
PRA SORRIR MUITO MAIS
AMAR OU NÃO AMAR: EIS A QUESTÃO
NA PROVA DE FOGO
O AMOR VENCE O JOGO
O FINAL FELIZ É A LIÇÃO

 

UM TRAÇO DE AMOR NA SAPUCAÍ
PODE APLAUDIR
UM SHAKESPEARE ENCANTADO
COM OS CORAÇÕES TOTALMENTE APAIXONADO.

 

(Samba-Enredo Composto pelos Alunos da E.M. PROFESSOR MANOEL MAURÍCIO)

The history behind the picture

I can still remember when this picture was taken and how tired I was at the end of that day. Pictures always have a history behind them, much more interesting than the developed frame most of times. Working with kids is so physically demanding as it is rewarding, you get exhausted and paradoxically at peace of mind at the same time.  All I wanted in  that particular day was to go home for my well-deserved rest. Even though, some extra work waited for me in the shape of two students. To be honest, I had quite forgotten that a couple of students would be waiting for me in order to make the most important part of the recording of a short movie we were planning for a festival in which our school was enrolled for the second year. Well, one cannot be a teacher and limit oneself to write things on the board and have the students merely to copy them.

When I arrived at the computer room he was already there, exulting happiness for everything was ready for our session. Thiago was explaining me that he and his friend Juliana had already chosen the spot where they would perform and record the movie but she was late. They wanted to use the sports court because of the monocycle, but I was worried because of the illumination and the audio effects in such opened space. However, as all my strenght had been drained from me I kept silent, just listening to his explanations and he was so excited that I didn’t have the heart to disappoint him.

As he spoke my mind would go in and out of tune as a bad radio.I had been approved to study in London and was about to travel in a couple of days, we would have a very short time to finish the whole project, the students didn’t know it yet and all these things came in and out of my mind. I suddenly looked at him and he took the picture. I’ve just had half a second to remove my glasses.

When Juliana finally managed to arrive I sort of recovered part of my senses as if she had drawn both ot us out of a trance. She had been also drained from her strenght and was tired as most evening students always are. Anyway,  the very perspective of giving life to a project of her own was enough to operate a complete change in her countenance. I automatically followed them to the place and suggested some arrangements during the last rehearsal. She gracefully rode the monocycle circling the sports court to finally stop near the goal posts. Then,  she recited a poem entitled ‘Clown’ which is very famous in Brazil . The effect of her voice remained in my head for several days. What a sad life clowns have, for heavens sake!

The result of this and other adventures can be seen at http://vimeo.com/42798263, it is one of my favorite short movies produced by students.  In fact we had just a couple of days to edit and make the subtitles before my departure to London from where I did all burocratic work to send the videos to the festival ‘Creating with purpose’ promoted by Adobe Foundation. If there is one thing I love about my job is the possibility of fostering students’ creative powers together with teaching them some English along the process. That day I went home more than two hours later than I had expected to and I can’t remember the walking, I might have levitated.

The Visit

I visited the office of the Secretary of Education Alexandre Schneider this Thursday. There is no secret that the implementation of English language teaching for Ciclo I has always been my passion. I strongly believe in the potential of our children and the ability of  municipal network to offer English language instruction also for small kids. During 2010, we started a dialogue about what was then only a possibility. Now, dream come true. It is rewarding to see how much children enjoy their English lessons and how we are also learning from them. Positive experiences for the whole school community happening in all corners of the city and of course, new challenges for 2013. The Secretary who always follows our work has made ​​a post about one of our video productions on his Facebook page on the net. In the words of Alexandre Schneider:

“Beautiful video about pet adoption, created by two  9 year-old students of EMEF João Pinheiro, São Paulo. The year 2012 marked the implementation of teaching English to students from early elementary school. Today I received the visit of professor Rose Gimenes, from EMEF João Pinheiro school, who is  responsible for this and other activities. She is greatly committed to the implementation of English language for Ciclo I kids. ”

No space for a xmas tree? Sure?

 

Here you’ll have some tips on how to create a christmas tree without spending too much, perfect for small spaces http://www.minhacasaminhacara.com.br/arvores-de-natal-para-pequenos-espacos/.

Alice in Wonderland

On this day in 1862, Oxford mathematician Charles Lutwidge Dodgson sent a handwritten manuscript called Alice’s Adventures Under Ground to 10-year-old Alice Liddell as a Christmas present.

Alice in Wonderland has been inspiring beautiful artwork since then. We can find examples of how Alice can influence designers from all parts of the world as the creation of  Mayra Magalhães.

I love this story and one of my favorite passages is when Alice is lost and ask the cat for directions:

“Would you tell me, please, which way I ought to go from here?”
“That depends a good deal on where you want to get to.”
“I don’t much care where –”
“Then it doesn’t matter which way you go.”

So brilliant, so real. There are other quotations in http://www.goodreads.com/work/quotes/2933712-alice-s-adventures-in-wonderland.

I also found an amazing version of the tale written in Cordel which is a very popular literature in Brazil. You can find more information in http://www.loc.gov/folklife/Symposia/litcordel/bios.html and in case you are studying Portuguese Language I will recommend you the book.

The Green Grass Grew All Around

By my 6 year old student Geovana.

Puppets

You do not know if your students would like to speak a foreign language or not. Let them make their own puppets and try. You will be amazed at the ability of children to use the language and with the joy they amuse themselves with it.

Buying Books

I loved the idea of The Book Depository  sharing with us what books people are buying around the world. It was amazing!  The ones who love literature, just love, no explanation. Some may wonder what’s the point of looking at a map with names of books popping up all the time. However, I find it absolutely fascinating trying to figure out who those people are and why they’ve chosen this or that book. Were they motivated by personal interests? Is there any connection with current events in their countries? Media influence? Buzzword? Any connection with age? Profession? There is someone from Malta who bought Animal Farm , a fellow from Australia has just grabbed Waking The Tiger, whereas someone from Chile preferred Rede de Computadores and Ice Man was the favorite to someone in Poland, Cliffs of Insanity was just purchased  in Ireland, Art of the Japanese Postcard – Masterpieces  from Th Leonard A Lauder Collection (Hardback) has just been bought in Germany (might be gorgeous this one, I am curious). My choice was Once Upon a Time: on the Nature of Fairytale which I strongly recommend. That’s enough for a while, before they find out there is a crazy lady spying on their books, check the site, you might enjoy it  http://www.bookdepository.co.uk/live

Women’s Education

Why do they fear women’s education so much?