Sticky post
I’ve learned that people will forget what you said, forget what you did, but people will never forget how you made them feel. – Maya Angelou (or possibly someone else) If there ever was a quote that represented teaching young … Continue reading The Art of Teaching
So, for now, while shoes burn and talking heads discuss the economics of Nike’s ad, I’ll let my son watch these images as many times as he can, and I will believe in the potential power of those words. Continue reading Put the politics and burning shoes aside, an important message is getting lost
I have been at my school for long enough, and been to enough Meetings for Worship, that I knew they have the opportunity to be powerful. Today, I started to realize why. It can elevate us to a place of insight, pride and connection. Continue reading Power in silence
The end of this year has been a challenge, in a few ways. One is the fact that schools seem to love to squeeze in as much as possible into the last few weeks of school. Yet, at the same … Continue reading Problem-Solving Limbo
My mornings are pretty standard. 7:00 – 7:05: Arrive at school 7:05 – 7:15: Set up for early morning care. 7:15 – 7:30: Greet my early arrivers in the library 7:30 – 7:55: Dismiss groups to their designated spaces and … Continue reading A Small Powerful Moment
“While most sat in unsettled silence, a young girl smiled. It was the physical representation of a singular idea that couldn’t escape my mind – small love. Continue reading Small Love
What are the parents like at your school? Amazing. They really are. After 12 years of teaching and throughout my first year in an administrative role, this is overwhelmingly the answer. Unfortunately, it often takes some time to remember this if … Continue reading The importance of thinking slowly in schools
After reading George Couros’s blog On the “Real World”, which includes an amazing excerpt from an Alice Keeler post from 2015, I felt inspired. Alice sheds a new light on the ‘real world’ argument often given to or by teachers. … Continue reading The Ideal Real World
Wagner made me realize one of the reasons that I find these students so appealing – they cling to passion and play longer than most students. I have taught third and fifth grades, and most students have figured out how to play the school game by the time they have reached the age of 9. Young Originals, however, maintain their desire to find the humor and joy in the mundane. Continue reading Young Originals: The importance of passion and play, the challenge of purpose
We are constantly telling our children, our students, to prepare for the future, to stay focused on their work so that they will have the opportunities they deserve down the road. Yet, we also frequently think and want to say, don’t grow up too fast, cherish childhood before it gets away from you. So which is it, think ahead or be present? Continue reading A Learning Paradox: The battle of being present and preparing for the future
The Lost Teacher 