learning – Page 25 – Soapbox: The Way I see Things

Different, Different, Same

“But here’s what’s at the heart of things. Here’s what makes me confident that we’ll be okay this year despite everything being turned upside down.” #D30Learns #WhyITeach

This. This photo. It sums things up. Every year since my older guy started kindergarten, I’ve brought my kids to the local breakfast place for a traditional first-day breakfast. Over the years, we’ve toggled it a bit. For a while, I worked in the same district they attended, and our annual ritual celebrated a beginningContinue reading “On First Days”

Putting a Pin In It

*this post is dedicated to J.O., who never ceases to inspire me, and who also reminds me how important it is to be the best version of myself* Here I am, back after what is way too long a hiatus from writing. What’s kept me? Inertia, pure and simple. I wasn’t in a space orContinue reading “Putting a Pin In It”

Who’s Going to Win?

Sometimes I wrestleWith which side of me will winMy full attention Is it the cynic,Fatigued with unrequitedEffort, time and heart? Or the optimist,Ever on the lookout forSimple signs of joy: Letters from students:The real live ones, right from theReal live true mailbox; A dog, so loyalShe insists on herding meTo my couch corner So sheContinue reading “Who’s Going to Win?”

Tug-of-War

Right now, I’m wrestling. I’ve gotten such a good thing going with posting online, with writing every day, with cultivating a writing community around me. It’s made me a better writer. It’s made me more confident. It’s allowed me to shed the yoke of perfectionism that keeps me from putting my work out into theContinue reading “Tug-of-War”

Send-Off

Because I do not knowhow to leave well enough alone Because the shedding of one obligationoften just meansit is time to don another And because there will neverevereverbe a timewhen I feel I havedone enoughwhen I feel I am enoughfor my students I have begunanother venture:offering to be pen palsto thosewho cravehumaninteractionthrough REAL LIVE LETTERSinContinue reading “Send-Off”

This Is Just To Say*

I have turned inthe paperthat was formy class and whichyou were probablywonderingwhen I’d finish Congratulate meit was my last oneso happyand so done *after William Carlos Williams Yes, today I hit “send” on the final term paper of my second graduate school degree. And while I wasn’t originally planning on making it the subject ofContinue reading “This Is Just To Say*”

How is it Possible

How is it possible that I’ve gone four full days without writing something new? At the beginning of March, I committed to myself that I would write every day. And to tell the truth, I’ve been pretty great about maintaining that commitment to myself. So what gives? It’s not a lack of time. Although workContinue reading “How is it Possible”

What’s in a Question?

Today I was walking and talking with my niece from California. I love that we can still find a way to spend time together, albeit separated by two time zones. I’ll be honest. Whenever I speak with her, it’s a recharge of my spiritual batteries. She’s a wonderful person and I always feel better whenContinue reading “What’s in a Question?”

Life with Teens, Exhibit R

Teenagers are cats. Try and chase them down. They’ll scurry off into their respective corners with a hiss. Better to stay the course knowing that at some point, they’ll come out on their own terms. Mostly for food, but sometimes you get lucky. Today started with a heated argument over the Monty Hall problem. TheContinue reading “Life with Teens, Exhibit R”