Lainie Levin

The Monday Morning After: Expectations

What happens when you combine horrific news, intense sorrow, a night of unsettling dreams, a Monday morning where everyone in the family oversleeps, and school the week before winter break? A day where I have abso-LUTE-ly no idea what to expect. What will the mood of the kids be? Will they have heard the news?Continue reading “The Monday Morning After: Expectations”

What I Can’t (and Can) Understand: A Teacher’s Reflection

It’s 11:22. So far this weekend I’ve easily spent five hours on school stuff – by the standard of most weekends, a light load. Perhaps I have a light load, but a heavy heart. Lunchtime on Friday was when I heard about Sandy Hook. We teachers talked about the events at the table and taughtContinue reading “What I Can’t (and Can) Understand: A Teacher’s Reflection”

Getting in the Game

I confess, I drove to hockey tonight with trepidation. Last time was fun, but I did spend the whole time trying to re-learn how to skate. As much as I know that learning takes time, and as much as I’m ready to do what it takes to build my skills, I worried how many timesContinue reading “Getting in the Game”

Learning Curve

So this week, I did it. I dropped the other shoe. Skate, if you will. Because tonight I went to my first instructional hockey lesson. Call it a precursor to mid-life shenanigans, if you want to. For me, it’s more the end of a long period of hemming and hawing – I’ve been playing hockeyContinue reading “Learning Curve”

My Turn

So. For the past several weeks I’ve hosted an informal writing group in my room. Not just for kids who are good at writing. Kids who are passionate writers. Voracious writers. Put-that-pencil-down-already-and-come-to-breakfast writers. The group hosts about 10 second through fifth graders who come on and off, although I have a core of 5 whoContinue reading “My Turn”

Shangri-La

You know what this stuff is, right? To the uninitiated, it’s just a big old mess of math supplies. Well, actually, you’re right. That’s what it is. But really? That’s not what it is. You see, I’m a teacher. The desire for new school supplies runs in my veins. The yearly school supply order bringsContinue reading “Shangri-La”

Sage Advice

I couldn’t resist sharing this. The school psychologist, social worker and I team up to lead a social group called self-science. It’s sort of like a cross between character ed and gifted ed. The group explores what it means (and doesn’t mean) to be a smart kid, and how to navigate some of the speedbumpsContinue reading “Sage Advice”

Life as a Missing Piece (Learning to Roll)

So there were many of you who read my earlier post, and you’ve asked me (or may have been wondering) how it’s going. What’s the latest? Have things changed? Not really. Am I happy with the way some things are? No, but it’s the way some things are. Do I leave school happy each day?Continue reading “Life as a Missing Piece (Learning to Roll)”

Signs of a Day Well Spent

Eraser shavings covering the carpet My desk, littered with student work A student (the same one telling me two weeks ago that she was “bad at math”) asking for more math homework — pretty please?

And a New Year Begins…

…complete with smiling faces and all. So where does that put me now? Once again, I am re-energized by the eager young kids in front of me. I stood today out on the playground and again in the hallway as the students entered school today. The mood was positively electric and completely contagious. Maybe itContinue reading “And a New Year Begins…”