Uncategorized – Page 29 – Soapbox: The Way I see Things

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…”

On Returning to my Classroom

Okay, so usually? Each August? When you ask me about the start of school? I start getting goosebumps. Literally. Just get me started talking about new school supplies, about seeing happy faces that first day of school, of going back to that wonderful structure of learning rules and routines, of thinking about the incredible senseContinue reading “On Returning to my Classroom”

A Long, Long, Day

So THIS would be why I didn’t have kids come down to my room today: Even though the water itself was gone within a couple of hours, I was not sure whether or not I would make it back into my classroom to TEACH. I’m still not sure. So, I tried to grab whatever IContinue reading “A Long, Long, Day”

Why I Got Up Today

Actually, if you had asked me at about 7:30 this morning, I couldn’t have told you. I was tired. Crabby. Feeling overworked, overweight, over-scheduled, and under-appreciated. In need of that last hug from my boys, hoping that extra squeeze could set me on the right path for the day. Close, but not quite. On toContinue reading “Why I Got Up Today”