Author: 4ckn8

Today I’m feeling thankful for the bucket fillers in my life who motivate me to be a better person.  You know the people I’m talking about.  They’re positive and encouraging.  They live their best lives and help you do the same just by being around them.  My bucket was filled several times this week as I got to spend time reconnecting with colleagues and friends at two different annual...

I’ll admit – I struggled on the Fourth of July. I’m a “matcher”. I like it when things work, when they fit together, when all makes sense in the universe. And for the life of me, right now some things aren’t matching up – specifically, basic concepts I teach kids with the reality of our societal behaviors. Before I go any further, let me clarify – this rant is not directed at...

It’s summer, which means I get to press the reset button.  I also have the opportunity to rest and enagage in my annual “sort, clean and pitch” ritual.  It’s amazing how much stuff can pile up over time.  The fear of becoming a hoarder regularly motivates me to clean out “the old” in preparation for “the new”.  Of course, it’s hard for me get rid of stuff without some reflection. It’s been...

Not sure what I was thinking when I booked my flight to Colorado today.  Departing at 6:10 AM made for quite an early morning.  Luckily, I got a window seat in the very first row with an open middle seat and plenty of leg room ready to settle in for my quiet take-off to touch-down nap.   As it turned out, the trip was not quite as uneventful as I had hoped. The adventure started with a full...

It was a week of extremes for me. Highs and lows – we all have them. Pulling a muscle in my lower back wasn’t pleasant. I discovered how interconnected our bodies are. Yes – when one part suffers, the whole system suffers. We also had home-project-contracted-work drama that was emotionally draining.   Luckily, things balanced out with some high points, as well. I experienced the...

For most, school’s out of session for summer – which is a beautiful thing.  I believe I speak for most teachers when I say that by the time the bell rings on the last day of school, we are all in need of a break.  If for no other reason, I need a break just to purge all of the clutter. It is amazing the amount of stuff one teacher can acquire throughout the school year.  I discovered this when...

As another school year comes to a close, now is a great time for educators to celebrate successes.  However, the problem with doing so is that we don’t always see the results of our efforts right away.  Oftentimes our efforts are either laying the foundation or simply adding to the work of other teachers.  And since our end goal is to develop healthy, well-adjusted, educated kiddos who can...

Teachers, if you haven’t noticed, the winds of change are blowing, ushering in summer and all manner of crazy restless and challenging behaviors. Though our students might not be able to articulate it in words, they sense the change and are reacting as expected. Routines help ground us. When we get in the habit of doing things a certain way, our brains can predict and anticipate what’s coming....

Since we celebrate the moms of the world today, it seems like the perfect time to reflect on motherly instincts and how they manifest through behavior.  My guess is you can relate to some of these mom behaviors we see in schools: Moms who return home to fetch a project, costume or lunch the child forgot Moms who tie shoes, zip jackets, unpack backpacks, or carry their children to class Moms...

Have you ever heard your voice on a recording and been surprised?  “Do I really sound like that?”  It is safe to say the way we see ourselves is rarely how others see us.  We all have a blind spot – and I first learned that lesson in graduate school.  As part of a class assignment I was videoed while being interviewed.  Afterwards I had to watch the recording and write a paper on what I...