Popping Up in May

Hello, Friends.

April showers bring May flowers. We are also hurtling to the official end of our 2023-24 school year. Our classes officially end on May 17 with our Kid's Conversation. 

There is gold in each of the class notes for the week. Be sure to look at them. 

Festivals

Festivals are an important part of the summer in the United States. While Indiana has its share of fun events, there are plenty others to enjoy.

Festival Guides and Reviews is a great place to start looking for funnel cakes and fun near and far. This will take you to the Indiana page, but search around to see what other states have to offer.

In Indiana

The month of May is a wonderful time to be in Indiana. There is something for everyone! And, (hint, hint) I plan to be at most of these.

The Indy 500 Concerts, parades, running races, and so much more. Get out to the track. Get down to Speedway. Get down to downtown Indy. Get down to Indycar racing!

500 Festival begins May 1! Get hyped up!

Indianapolis 500 track schedule and tickets. This is not just a one day event!

The Vera Bradley Outlet Sale May 1-5 is a great excuse to go to Fort Wayne. Tickets are $6.00 +fees during the week and Saturday and Sunday are free. 

Indy Film Fest is a great way to see new films. In person screenings are about up but on line/virtual are available through May 5. Regardless, films are screened throughout the year at different venues, so check the schedule and enjoy something other that Netflix. The Facebook Events Page is the best, up-to-date resource.

Primary elections are May 7. Hoosiers weigh in on who they want to see on the ticket in November. This IndyStar article gives you the lowdown on the presidential candidates and Indiana key issues and voting rules. While the presidential candidates are set, the governor seat is still up for grabs. This IndyStar article 

Blue River Highland Games Head to the Shelby County Fairground, 500 Frank Street, Shelbyville, Indiana May 18, 2024, 9:00 AM-4:00 PM and enjoy some extreme sports Highland style. Spectator tickets are $5 for adults and kids over 12 years old. and $40 to compete. 

Carmel Art of Wine: Buy a pass and get a glass. Enjoy sips of wine from the local and not so local vintners while enjoying live bands. 

Take a Break

Americans do not like to stop and smell the roses. We keep on trucking (and tramping and trudging) through the day. Multitasking is another point of personal pride. Watch a game while creating a crochet masterpiece or studying for a class. Walk the dog (drive, work out) and listen to books on tape. Our multimedia lifestyle keep us going. Exposure to information is not learning (or retaining). Interaction is key to connecting. Then, give the material time to sink in. Creative work is done while resting and allowing your mind to wander. Daydreaming is an important part of filing away what you know and creating avenues for access and use. Here are 15 Reasons Why Daydreamers Are Better Learners. Summer is a great time for dreaming. There's homework for you!

Meetings and Classes

International Friends officially wraps up all meetings the week of May 17. Why do we take a break? Why don't we have workshops over the summer? American school culture breaks over the summer. Parents are busy programing sports and events with and for their children. People take vacations. That being said: look forward to "meet ups" in the park or "see you at" events around town.

Our school pizza party is Thursday, May 2. Everyone is invited. Come and celebrate the end of the year.

Our last English and American Culture class is Thursday, May 9. Zoom with us on the day to evaluate our exciting year and set the course for next fall.

American Sign Language: Tuesday, 5:00-6:00 PM EST (UTC -5), Zoom

We met signed Amazing Grace. Our toddler friend brough us plastic food and we were tested to remember our food words in a new context.

April 30: The song of the day: What a Wonderful World. Here are two translations.

International Bible Study: Monday, 8:00-9:00 PM EST (UTC-5), Zoom

We talked about Genesis 2. 

Verses and notes:

Genesis 2:9 Two trees: life and knowledge. We wondered why these trees were placed in the garden. 

Genesis 2:15 We are free to choose and we know the difference between right and wrong; remember choices have consequences.

Genesis 2: 18 Adam had God and the animals for company, but he needed fellowship with other people. Names are so important: 

Why the Choice of Your Child’s Name Matters So Much

Jewish Naming Traditions 

Genesis 2:19 God hands creation over to mankind to manage and care for. While humans are creative, we are tasked with maintenance and order.

We only read and commented on the first half of Psalm 44. God fights for us. We can rely on Him!

April 29: Genesis 4 and 5 and the second half of Psalm 44.

American English and Culture: Thursday, 9:00-11:00 AM EST (UTC-5), Zoom

We talked about our progress on our songs. Christopher Monroe shared a little bit about his company XVII, inc. The premise is to create and promote encouraging thoughts in 17 letters. He rattled off 100 of sentences and phrases. It is amazing what can be conveyed in a small space. He shared one of his free verse "poems." We each had a different takeaway from this piece both in hearing and in absorbing. Limits, edges, and guidelines are an important part of setting expectations when we communicate. There are some that come with a language and culture, and there are others that we set as a part of our situation and relationship.

May 2: End of Year Pizza Party and Open Mic 

10:00 AM-12:00 PM EST (UTC-5)

In-person and on Zoom 

Cornerstone Lutheran Church

4850 East Main Street, Carmel. Enter Door 6

Bring your original song to share.

Come even if you don't have a song to share and cheer on the songwriters.

Kids' Conversation and More: Friday, 5:30-6:00 PM EST (UTC-5), Zoom

We talked about how we use technology in our different schools. We found out that kids in other countries do not get a cell/smart phone until much later than kids in the United States. We found that kids in other countries do not rely on technology for research and for submitting papers and reports. American kids, even in the earliest grades, are given iPads for exercises, test taking, and text books. There is a trend toward not allowing smart phones and devices in the schools in the United States. The premise is that there are too many distractions via social media and texting communications. Getting back to face-to-face interactions. This Ed Week article tries to convey both sides of this argument.

May 3: Popular culture is the set of beliefs and artistic output (songs, literature, movies, paintings or other artifacts, games and past times, food, clothing styles) in a culture or society. American culture, Western culture, Japanese culture all have unique aspects of culture that people love to share. Then there are international sensations like Taylor Swift. Swifties (as fans are known) inhabit countries all over the Earth. Pop culture is a big business. PopCon is a convention that helps people

What is the pop culture in your country? What is American pop culture? What is the impact of these things on the economics of your country?

Words and Phrases

around town: out and about

there's(or that's)...for you: an emphasis or exclamation point that points out something as particularly good, bad, or a common

keep on trucking: persist, persevere

live (bands, musical performances): in person not prerecorded

lowdown: jucy details

that being said: a conversational transition

past times: how people spend leisure time and money

set the course (a pun here): plan a plan

stop and smell the roses: relax and enjoy a moment

there is gold: good information

up-to-date: most current

PopCon

Good bye April. Hello May!

Hello, Friends.

There are some weeks and weekends when the end of the year crunch eats up all the time. This was one of those weeks. It was a reading week for college students: that is reading all the papers that are due before finals. Checking grammar, concepts, communication. These are things we do every day. As students, there is wiggle room. For the rest of us, our communication is part of our relationships and livelihood. 

As you wrap up the school year, keep your mind on the purpose for these and other classes: to be able to live life to the fullest!

Meetings and Classes

International Bible Study: Monday, 8:00-9:00 PM EST (UTC-5), Zoom

We started Genesis with the first chapter. The creation story is one of great beauty and as we took our time reading and listening, we were struck by the beauty of the story. God speaks creation into being and not in an order that our human minds would consider. Repetition sets the tone, consistency, cadence, and sense of peace and calm. God creates and assesses. 

Psalm 1 is a psalter style song and provided a great ending to our study. Technically speaking, David places his advice to not follow, stand with, or follow evil. We talked about how it is easy to get swept up in a moment when in the company of others. 

April 22: Read Genesis 2 and 3. We finish creation and read about the fall. Read Psalm 44.

American Sign Language: Tuesday, 5:00-6:00 PM EST (UTC -5), Zoom

We picked up new words like comfortable, chair, happens, and dear (as a title). We learned You Are My Sunshine. We sang along with Amazing Grace. 

April 23: Pick a song, any song and translate it for us.

American English and Culture: Thursday, 9:00-11:00 AM EST (UTC-5), Zoom

This week we talked about our song writing journeys. Some of us have jumped right in and are making great strides. Others are thoughtfully considering paths (some of which have nothing to do with song writing). To reiterate: this exercise is crafted for you to collect and showcase all that we have covered over this year. Grammar, pronunciation, cadence, playing with words, and then taking your unique work out for others to enjoy. 

April 21: Workshop. Bring your songs to class and test them on your colleagues. Work with your colleagues to tighten up phrasing and check your work. Do your rhymes and rhythms work? Is the phrasing flowing?

Kids' Conversation and More: Friday, 5:30-6:00 PM EST (UTC-5), Zoom

We learned a bit about the agricultural provinces in Japan and primary crops. We talked about how the upper grades of school is handled in the United States vs. Japan and Brazil. Students change classes beginning in Middle School and in High School students have choices and selections called electives. 

April 26: What are the practices for using and having personal technology in your schools. In the United States students 

Words and Phrases

practices: customs

wiggle room: leeway, latitude, room to negotiate

Kicking It Up a Notch

Hello Friends,

Time has flown by since we first started meeting.

April Showers bring on those May Flowers. 

Working together for hours and hours.

Friendships growing through Zooming and face-to-face greetings.

Where are you since we started? Where are you now? We are pushing the envelope these last weeks by pulling out the stops to use the raw materials we acquired through the year to create songs in our English and Culture Class.

We are circling back to the beginning of the Bible and seeing where everything started. We are also studying Psalms which are songs of praise or laments or both.

Comparing and contrasting our home countries and the U.S. is a great topic of information for our Kid's Conversation Classes. 

Translating is imperative for expanding understanding and adding vocabulary for our ASL and our service to our deaf community. Signing songs and rhymes keeps us in tune.

Join us in these last weeks of challenge!

Look Out For...

The next eclipse. NASA has the scoop.

Indy Lego Fest: A LEGO Fest Is Coming to Indianapolis, IN And It Promises Tons Of Fun For All Ages

Raw Materials For Inspiration

Accents In America

7 Southern U.S. Accents You WON'T Understand

7 Difficult Accents You'll NEVER Guess

Three Word Stress Patterns to Know

On Being: Poetry Unbound

Take it to the next level:

Center For the Performing Arts in Carmel

• Intro to Stand-Up Comedy
• Stand-Up Comedy Practicum

• Songwriting Class

Storytelling Arts

• Indy Story Slam April's theme is karma
• Indy Story Slam June's theme is gardening

Say It Out Loud!

• How to Master the Art of Storytelling
• How to Be a Great Public Speaker

Meetings and Classes

International Bible Study: Monday, 8:00-9:00 PM EST (UTC-5), Zoom

We read about Jesus' resurrection as retold in Mark16. Our discussions pointed out that it is often hard to accept amazing and good news from our friends and colleagues. We talked about how hard it could be when we are confronted with predicted events mainly because life does not always meet what we envisioned. We discussed how we cannot make someone believe the truth. It is a blessing to see, it is a blessing to have ears to hear...and to believe.

April 18: We are going to enjoy the poetry and keep in line with our apex projects by reading a Psalm a week. We begin with Psalm 1. Enjoy this version set to modern music;

We are going beginning with Genesis 1-2. These chapters describe creation and how everything began.

American Sign Language: Tuesday, 5:00-6:00 PM EST (UTC -5), Zoom

We interpreted some nursery rhymes. Spoken American English trains pronunciation through quirky and fun stories that carry the beat of the language as well as matches uncomfortable sounds in a swinging, singing, fun way. Then we try to sign them using ASL. We discovered that physically connecting words can be just as awkward as reciting them!

Jack and Jill went up the hill to fetch a pail of water. But, Jack fell down and broke his crown and Jill came tumbling after.

Rain, rain go away. Come again some other day. Little [insert your favorite name here] wants to play. Rain, rain go away.

 April 16: "Singing" along always helps us to grow our skills and our community

American English and Culture: Thursday, 9:00-11:00 AM EST (UTC-5), Zoom

As promised (or maybe warned!) it is time for our April apex project: writing a song. Have fun bringing everything we did together in one project. Bring your history, vocabulary, and ideas. Bring on your problematic words. You can jump write in or you can ruminate on the process.

How to Write Song Lyrics In 7 Steps from Master Class can give you more information to boost your confidence.

Basic Song Structure Explained from Fender provides components in a song. 

How Long Should My Song Lyrics Be? from Indy Song Makers cuts to the chase to tell the raw numbers. Most songs contain two (and up to six) verses or stanzas that have four (up to eight lines) and a chorus that is repeated as needed.

And to help you get beyond survival mode: What's the Hardest Part of a Song to Write? from Indy Song Makers can talk you out of the tree.

And then you can make a successful and popular song with lots and lots of repetition. We love that part! Think of the Beatles (Let It Be)! Elizabeth Hellmuth Margulis: Why we love repetition in music | TED Talk

Tips: 

• Start with a tune you know well; any tune is fair game. You don't have to write your own music (but if you have a tune, please use it!).
• List rhyming words. They can help your write the next line or phrase.
• Pick a topic or story to tell.
• Repetition is your friend. Everyone loves the chorus because they can sing along!
• Can't find a good rhyme? Go with a sound or a repetitive word. Those rockers love baby, man, no.
• Most songs contain two verses and one chorus. Each verse often has four lines (but can have up to eight).

April 18 and 25: Songwriting Workshop. Bring all your American English and Culture skills and your personality and personal story to the table and write a song. Bring your work to class for collegial encouragement, help, and support  

May 2: Open Mic to showcase your work at our End of the year party.

May 9: Reflect on the year. This year posed some wonderful learning expectations and opportunities to explore new ways to learn and grow. As a school, we tried many new techniques to provide everyone with experiences to move above and beyond. This was a Master Class! As staff, we saw amazing advancements. Join us to debrief and help set the course for future learning.

May 16: Last meeting. Where? On Zoom? Somewhere else? Stay tuned!

Kids' Conversation and More: Friday, 5:30-6:00 PM EST (UTC-5), Zoom

Coming back from break was exciting because our Japanese friend started Middle School. In Japan, kids start the new school year in April unlike the States and Brazil which start in August or September. We compared classes and the break down of schools. Japan and Brazil have similar groupings: grades 1-6 (primary and elementary), 7-9 (middle), and 10-12 (high). Here is how they compare to U.S. levels:

 April19: Our Japanese friend will tell us about spring agriculture in Japan. Here is a great overlay map that demonstrates the position of Japan in comparison with the U.S. Do you thing 

Words and Phrases

apex: reaching a goal or culmination of work 

jump write in: ha ha ha ha, get it?

overlay: a graphic or idea in comparison with another

problematic: giving you trouble

Hello April! Let Your Creative Juices Flow!

 Hello, Friends.

Indiana has been cold and warm and the liony winds of March have shaken the trees awake. This edge of winter/edge of spring time of year has us all itching to plant our gardens. It's too soon! Conventional wisdom: Don't put in your garden until Mother's Day.

April showers bring May flowers. When the weather is dark or when tears come, good days follow.

April 1 is April Fool's Day. It is a day to play pranks and tricks.

April 9 is Eid Al Fitr or the feast that ends Ramadan

April 15 in National ASL Day

April 22 is Earth Day

April 22-30 Passover

April 26 is Arbor Day; plant a tree

More on the Eclipse

Get ready for the eclipse. Schools are off or are taking half days. 

City of Carmel Official Site

Planting Your Garden

An AI search (Copilot with GPT-4) generated this response:

In Indiana, the optimal timing for planting vegetables depends on several factors, including soil temperature and the specific crops you want to grow. Let’s explore the best planting windows for various vegetables in the Hoosier state:

1. Early Spring (Mid-March):

   • Peas: Plant seeds for peas. You can choose from several new bush varieties or opt for vining varieties that require some form of trellis or stake. Expect to harvest peas around mid-May.
   • Potatoes: Plant seed potatoes during this time¹.

2. Late April to May (Zone 5):

   • Cool-Weather Crops: Vegetables like kale, green peas, carrots, and radishes can be planted during late April or May. These crops thrive in cooler temperatures.
   • Brussels Sprouts, Parsnips, and Artichokes: These cool-season crops have a longer growing period and are suitable for the colder areas of Indiana².

3. Late April (Last Frost Date):

   • Quick Vegetables: Radishes, leafy greens, carrots, chard, beets, and turnips are perfect for the cool season. Start them from seeds, and you’ll be able to harvest their yields as the weather warms up³.

4. Throughout the Growing Season:

   • Refer to the Indiana Vegetable Planting Calendar: Purdue Extension provides a comprehensive planting calendar that outlines specific planting dates for various vegetable crops based on soil temperature and plant tolerance. You can find detailed information in their publication⁴.

Remember that local conditions and microclimates can influence planting times, so it’s essential to adapt these guidelines to your specific location in Indiana. Happy gardening! 🌱🍅🥕

This fun map indicates climate/temperatures.

Staying Safe

“The world is a dangerous place to live, not because of the people who are evil, but because of the people who don't do anything about it.” ― Albert Einstein

Keeping yourself (and your family) safe is more than taking action against meanness. Sometimes it is just about making good decisions in the right time.

Communication in key. How do you communicate when you are not able? Emergency bracelets/necklaces communicate health and medical concerns and allergies, but only if you wear them. These trendy looking popular bracelets from Amazon be the answer for our active, younger friends and family. 

On another note, getting involved is key. Here are some sites to help you learn more and do more:

New StigmaFree Fishers provides resources for taking control of your life and/or help others get involved or overcome 

Meetings and Classes

We are Spring Break this week. See you later alligator!

International Bible Study: Monday, 8:00-9:00 PM EST (UTC-5), Zoom

The plan was to read Mark 15 and 16. We did not accomplish this plan. We read Mark 15. We got to see the "passion Jesus" with new eyes.

Revelation 22: 11-13 Speaks about letting events play out and people act according to their beliefs and character. Jesus embodies this during his trial.

Pilot does not what to go against the popular position. He does not want to weigh in on the religion or beliefs of constituent groups, so he "washes his hands" of responsibility.

Jesus does not give the answers or behave how the people want. He knows what is necessary and what he has to do. Jesus embraces his mission. 

Specific thoughts and observations on specific passages:

13: Jesus shoulders all the sin from all time. At his crucifixion he had to be separate from God and his godliness. Yet as God he is able to carry this weight assume the consequences. He anticipated this since the beginning of creation and now he is living it. As a man, this should and is unbearable.

31: Is Jesus passive? Jesus has the long view. In the people's eyes and in the eyes of evil, Jesus looks like he is losing, but in God's eyes the long plan is being fulfilled. Instead of fear and sadness, we are comforted.

34: Jesus pleads and questions God the Father. How very sad to be that parent and watch your child suffer, even when you know that he is equipped and prepared for the moment. God knows and has experienced what we face.

April 8: Mark 16 Easter and Jesus' resurrection

American Sign Language: Tuesday, 5:00-6:00 PM EST (UTC -5), Zoom

Met to share some new words and tell each other about things happening in our lives.

April 9: Bring your news and new words. 

• Sign your creative work for American English and Culture? 
• Pick a story or poem and sign it for us.

American English and Culture: Thursday, 9:00-11:00 AM EST (UTC-5), Zoom

The last week of March and our professional language considered options and choices and presenting ideas. The United States is the land of opportunities. How do you consider and prioritize? We had great discussions and the opportunity to talk about organizing our work on the fly.

April is National Poetry Month. We are kicking it up a notch and putting our poems to music. 

April 11: Share your work, fine tune, and collaborate.

April is our month to be creative and explore what we have been learning in a creative way. We talked about singing and cadence and pronunciation. Now it is time to put your money where your mouth is and create a song. Setting your words to tunes pulls everything we have done this year with a creative project. 

• Pick a tune, any tune. Don't stress about this because it seriously doesn't matter.
• Pick an overarching topic to sing about.
• Start writing...realize that this like a puzzle and will be filled with trial and error. Maybe your rhyme does not work, so the phrase needs to be reordered. Maybe the cadence does not support your tune so pick another word.

HAVE FUN WITH THIS!

Here is an example meditating on thanks and gratitude set to Bach's Minuet in G Major

Kids' Conversation and More: Friday, 5:30-6:00 PM EST (UTC-5), Zoom

We had a nice meeting. Some of our Friends were having a family reunion at grandma's house. We compared some Easter fun. Every home celebrates in a different way or does not celebrate at all. Our Friends have tests in school every week. Preparing for tests sometimes means cramming because when there are several tests, prioritizing study time is necessary. We all decided that study/sleep helps us remember. We also said we struggle with remembering what we learned. Did we even learn it to begin with? That was something we found we all struggle with. 

April 12: Show up and catch up!

Words and Phrases

catch up: talk to each other to find out what is happening/current

embraces [his mission]: fully engaged in something physically, and in heart and mind.

family reunion: a meeting and celebration of family members

itching to: eager

liony: nope, it isn't in the dictionary. I am using creative license here to add a "y" to a word and magically transform a noun into an adjective! Want to know more? English-Zone.com MAKING ADJECTIVES WITH Y has a quick and dirty cheat sheet.

on another note: to change the subject

see [something] with new eyes: get a different perspective

shoulders: takes on a job or responsibility

show up: appear and engage