handwritten on February 13, 2020
2 miles: I always marvel when I connect with my fourth and fifth grade students in other school related activities...just how fast time goes by and just how fast a soul blossoms.
A lot of the reason why I do what I do through writing and speech making and poetry and student council is simply to stay connect to the student as they begin to make their way up through elementary school and eventually transition to middle school.
As I was talking to a few of my third graders from last year, I took a minute to marvel in the amount of changes I saw within those hearts that first entered my classroom precisely one and a half years ago. And the difference is simply unbelievable. Personalities...
handwritten on February 12, 2020
3 miles: My principal did a lovely job with professional development this week. In fact, I do believe it was the first time in a long time where the staff came together to talk about the emotional demands of what we do, while also putting into perspective what other teachers have to deal with whilst also thinking about the difficulty in raising children and work-life balance, finding joy in difficult times and then taking our own feelings into account.
There were certainly some tears, a few triumphant moments and feelings of understanding. There were other teachers who added in perspective about being different places and the challenges faced there as well. Our newest phrase as a faculty...
handwritten on February 11, 2020
3.5 miles: As adults, many of us loath the fluff surround and around Valentine's Day. Many of us see it as a single day where surface level "loves" are faked and bought like chocolates or necklaces or materialistic items. And I have to say, up until I became a teacher, I really could have passed on this day as well until I realized that in an eight year old's mind-this holiday is in fact the most beautiful day in the world.
Have you ever seen a child pass out cards with a smile so large it could light up the world?
Or make sure that the individual they gave the gift to actually does like it?
Or help another navigate the bags in the classroom because that individual is having a hard time...
handwritten on February 10, 2020
3 miles: Last night, my husband fell asleep before myself as I was still on the couch finishing up a few items. All of a sudden I heard a "wait" and then "make sure you stich that together nicely" and "finish the flap." For those of you who know my husband, he is in his residency. However, what is even more beautiful about him is he rarely ever talks about the stress of his job but it certainly is there. It's there because I can see it in his silent eyes when he comes home and tonight-literally through his dreams. We all, as beautiful humans have different ways of coping with our stress. For me, my ultimate duty has always been to somehow sneak the stress out of another. I can always tell...
handwritten on February 8, 2020
Over this weekend, it was certainly clear that words are powerful creatures. They have the ability to lift us up or make us feel ostracized in just a single sentence. And I think though they are powerful tools through writing but must be used wisely. Because what can be a cause for celebration can turn into something quite different. And always remember that as clear as the words might be in your mind, they have room for multiple interpretations from the other individuals in the room who are reading the story in a different place with a different story in mind.
