66 million years ago, or so the story goes, dinosaurs roamed South Dakota. (Actually, I was not there, so I cannot verify this fact.) However, I hear that our often- barren land was then covered with water. I have even heard that our climate was almost tropical with palm trees–proving once again that I missed my time. It all makes me wonder if this climate change story of 2014 might possibly be true? But, I digress…

Flash forward to 1976, the Medicine Bow ranch of WY, when 2 young men, ages 17 and 18, whom I had never met, knocked at the door of our isolated ranch about midnight and stayed for several months. We had many laughs and tears together. Dawn, age 5, and Bo, age 2, adored these two young men, Darwin and Bob.

Flash forward to 1977, Cascabel Ranch of AZ, and Darwin and Bob showed up again about midnight and stayed several more months. (I wish they would call first–oh, yes, that’s right: We didn’t have a phone on that ranch.) Dawn and Bo were thrilled, and so were we. They stay several more months. Lots more laughs; no tears this time.

Flash forward to 1994, Wink Ranch of SD, and here is Darwin in our community again. Only now he is working on a ranch about 50 miles North of us, and eventually goes on to buy the ranch.

Today, September 10, 2014, we drove to Darwin’s and Patty’s (his wife) ranch for the Lakota blessing of the dinosaur skeleton, which was discovered on his ranch. Yes, the skeleton really is now named, Darwin, the Dinosaur. And, one day you may be lucky enough to visit a museum.

Darwin, the Rancher

Darwin, the Dinosaur

Darwin and Patty

We arrived about 3 p.m. at Usta, SD, now a ghost town, but once a rollicking post office and bar. A caravan of 20 pickups drove West into the afternoon sun to see the bones.

I will never forget the beautiful children running and climbing, and carefully avoiding the flagged areas of bones.

4 Kids Playing on the Hill

Dean and dear Ali

Joan and dear Ali

We waited for the Lakota leader to arrive–it was worth every minute. He spoke with us about the past, present, and future on a glorious windless day. When he began the smudge ceremony (fresh burning sage) to purify and preserve the area, we were captivated…but, not as much as the little children were, who were drawn to the smoke and the rhythmic Lakota language of prayer just as the sun was setting.

Lakota prayers.
Thank you to Gnene Fordyce for this photo.

Best Gig in the World: Teaching/learning with international teachers in Mallorca. Our class of 24 active and engaged teachers represent many languages, cultures, and countries. This program is a part of the Global Education program of TCNJ (The College of New Jersey).

More photos can be found on my Facebook page.

ZOOBURST, zooburst.com
Many teachers use storytelling to generate literacy; and, many use various authoring processes to build books with students. Others have moved to digital storytelling. However, ZooBurst is the only digital storytelling software, of which I am aware, which enables teachers to create 3-D digital stories with students of all ages. Check it out.

BROKEN WATER PIPE IN PREVIOUS BLOG POST
And, for those of you wondering about the previous blog post (the broken waterline in the large washout, with Wink slogging through the deep water to put the two pieces of PVC pipe together), I hear that a trencher and a backhoe have finalized that project…for now.

You may have heard of all of flooding and erosion near our ranch. For example, the primary East/West road (Highway 34) is closed, as the erosion is weakening the road. The detours around add 75 to 100 miles, which is not always a happy surprise to motorists.

We, too, have had some problems, some of which were posted on FaceBook (June 18, 2014).

However the purpose of this blog post is to share a very specific problem, and how we solved it. Near one of our dams, the spillway eroded and broke a major waterline, which goes to the truck washout. Wink, who was 4 weeks out from 5 broken ribs, 2 fractured ribs, and collar bone broken into 5 pieces, was sure he could get down into the water and join the two pieces of pipe. Here he goes into the depths, which he says will be about a foot. You’ll note that I was guessing 6 feet. So, that did not work.

Let’s go to Plan B, which included crawling back out of hole, taking off the hip waders, sliding back down into the cold water, and walking through the chest-deep water until he came to the broken pipe again. Next we had to get a homemade iron ladder, 2 steel posts, post-hole pounder, and some pieces of wire for tying it all together.
The Fix

Isn’t ranching romantic? This fix may last until our next big rain, which may come tonight.   Voilá. The Fix

Today I read that Secretary of Education, Arne Duncan, dismisses those who question Common Core and Smarter Balanced Assessments as simply “lots of drama, lots of noise.” (http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/answer-sheet/wp/2014/04/18/arne-duncan-dismisses-critics-lots-of-drama-lots-of-noise/)  Simultaneously, my phone was ringing, and I was hearing from families and teachers.

It seems to me that the tide is turning. The ground is shifting. The momentum is mounting.  We are approaching critical mass.  I have heard all of the clichés, as have you.  But, something significant is taking place. It does not matter where I go (grocery store, schools, church, any public event), someone wants to talk about Common Core, Smarter Balanced Assessment, and/or how to opt-out.

If you can take one more cliché, I think the genie is out of the bottle.  I have thought for a long time, that when the mandated testing process actually starts in various states, and families can see the heartbreak in schools today, something will change. The testing season has begun, and the families and teachers, who talk to me, are in agony.

I’ve read of very sick kids in various states still being required to take the tests; I’ve read about pediatricians telling about the symptoms they are seeing in children during these tests; I’ve listened to countless teachers and families share the pain of their experiences.

However, it is the nightmare of testing for one little girl this week, which so clearly is a microcosm of what is happening in schools today.  Let’s call her “Susan.”  In her brief span of years, life has already dealt her more pain than any little child should ever have to experience.  However, her teacher this year slowly and lovingly has been restoring Susan’s fragile identity.

Two full days of tests were scheduled, but within the first hour, Susan broke into tears and began sobbing. The teacher walked her out of the classroom and tried to assure her of how valuable and wonderful she truly is. Next, the teacher, as required, had to walk her back to the computer to finish the test.  It was a traumatic experience for all in the room.  Susan and her classmates have enjoyed a particularly successful school year.  Lots of learning and lots of love.  The year had been all that anyone could possibly wish for children. And, yet, the beautiful year seemed to disappear with the Susan’s tears.

More test prep for another test begins next week.

Now, maybe this is just “lots of drama and lots of noise” for Arne Duncan, but I assure you: This is lots of needless pain.  Please remember that there is absolutely no empirical evidence to support the use of Common Core and the accompanying tests.  This is a massive educational experiment being tested on kids throughout the nation.  Try to explain that to Susan.

The latest WinkWorld (March 2014) has gone out to my readership list. In addition, it is linked to FB, Twitter, and Google +. I apologize, in advance, for any duplicate postings via social media.

Topics mentioned in the latest WinkWorld include (a) updates on my professional work the last year; (b) a new book review I did of Sonia Nieto’s “Finding Joy in Teaching Students of Diverse Backgrounds: Culturally Responsive and Socially Just Practices in U.S. Classrooms,” published in Multicultural Perspectives from NAME and Routledge; (c) and, why I’m learning to spell septuagenarian.

If you would like to be on the readership list for WinkWorld, just go to http://www.joanwink.com/winkworld-sign-up/

You can read the March WinkWorld here.

Hello Friends,

I have made some major changes on my webpages, which will hopefully feel seamless for you. Previously, WinkWorld was an html newsletter with only one-way communication. It will now be a blog with two-way communication.

I will continue to post WinkWorld about 8 times/year, but also I have added a new little interactive blog-spot (The Latest from Joan) on joanwink.com. My purpose is to share interesting ideas, which happen to be lying around on my desktop or my desk…or perhaps, even in my head or heart. I will continue to focus on learning and life.

The transfer to a new host site will take place this week. It is possible that we could have a few little glitches on the website for a couple of days, but by next week all should be up and running.

I will link the little blog-spot to Facebook, Google +, and Twitter for easier access.

From the bottom of my heart (and harddrive), I want to thank Susan Henley Spreitzer, excellentwebs.com and Denise Wurm, accentonwords.com, who have made this webpage transition possible. Troy Hall of Black Hills State University has also provided me with great support. #Grateful.

Joan’s Contact Information
www.JoanWink.com
joan@joanwink.com
On Facebook, Google +, and Twitter, I am listed as Joan Wink. (I am a LinkedIn dropout.)