handwritten on August 28, 2019
The best metaphor to describe teaching is a bulldozer of love. You aren't necessarily ready to go but regardless you and your beautiful students are suddenly picked up by the bulldozer and carried to a new land with new resources and new treasures and new things to find as you sift through the dirt to find the gems you know are hiding somewhere. And just as quickly as you land, another scoop brings you to a new hill with new challenges and a new place where the dirt is different than the dirt before and the treasures are also different. In fact, maybe they are hidden deeper this time.
Sometimes in the dirt, somtimes on top of the hill you find yourself trying to rest only to get gently...
handwritten on August 26, 2019
If you are a teacher beginning a school year (a new one at that)-this post will resonate with you. If you are perhaps a student beginning yet another new school year-this post may perhaps resonate with you too.
I want to share a little story because, as someone who has 9 million windows on my screen all at once, my brain never ceasing to bounce in about three million directions, it is important to just sit back and embrace that feeling of "lost" as we begin again.
This was a story from last week that I forgot to share and thus I find that it being the "begin again" day for many tomorrow, allow me to share. I have many new students this year and quite a handful who are still learning...
handwritten on August 24, 2019
If you haven't found yourself near a body of water in some time-I understand. Life becomes busy. However, a body of water is like a flask of unspoken thoughts and dreams, and so I suggest that you trot down somewhere (it can be a lake or a fountain or even a river.) Essentially, you want to find yourself where you can see your reflection. And just for a moment, look down into that flask of dreams and contemplate where you are now. Remain present. Then, focus on where you intend to be heading in maybe a few hours or a few days, a few months even a few years. I think sometimes just seeing our reflection in such a vast space funnels through our dreams and the dreams of others with greater...
handwritten on August 20, 2019
We had a bit of a professional development tie-dye frenzy today. As teachers, we pride ourselves on thematic beginnings. Thus, our theme for this year is in honor of a donut chain in Pittsburgh entitled Peace Love and Little Donuts. We entitled our theme for this year "Peace. Power & Positivity."
Ironically, I have been quite obsessed over color and color hues and combination of colors and how vibrant colors are or the effect one gets from more subdued colors. My grandmother, who has a very difficult time seeing these days, always remarks upon the fact that she wishes she could see more colors in the world.
And so the combination of tie-dye and donuts on the surface level tells us to...
handwritten on August 19, 2019
We had our annual kickoff to school and due to the fact that this year and last year have been "The Year of Fred" particularly in the city of Pittsburgh, we had Mr. McFeely come talk to us and inspire us before officially beginning our school year. I found it quite special that the man whom I used to love on the Mr. Roger's show moved to the Fox Chapel area twenty some years ago and all three of his children attended school where I work. He talked about Mr. Roger's Neighborhood and the importance of teachers who inspire.
I have heard countless quotes of wonderment throughout my years. However, there was a quote today from Mr. Roger's himself (though through the mouth of Mr. McFeely.) The...
