handwritten on February 7, 2019
Today was an incredibly busy academic day. By the time 2:15 rolled around, my students were exhausted. However, as promised, we began our small Science Chapter dealing with Energy (Kinetic and Potential.) We began with a little game regarding the difference between Kinetic and Potential Energy and then worked together as a group on a skateboard simulation program on the smartboard. By designing the skateboard "track" so to speak, students were able to discuss where the kinetic energy was the greatest or lowest and why. They were incredibly excited. However, they were even more excited when I introduced the "roller coaster energy" STEM project where students would be creating their own...
handwritten on February 6, 2019
For those of you who know me, I dedicate a lot of my after-school time at The Urban Impact Foundation which happens to be located in the Northside of Pittsburgh. I may be a bit biased, but I do not believe there is a more beautiful organization out there helping students grow. I have met the most unique individuals through this volunteering experience the past few years. I think it is safe to say that The Music Department at this foundation is my second family. This is now my third year volunteering, and it has truly been neat to see my students grow from young elementary students to middle school students and even high school students. Even more so, it is always neat to receive new...
handwritten on February 5, 2019
I have an afterschool friend. She is about fifty years old, and she is always ready to give me about twenty hugs before saying hello to me at 5:00 at the copy machine. This beautiful friend, ironically was at my YMCA training many years ago, when I first secured a summer job teaching at one of my former elementary schools. Though a chaotic experience, it was still a good one at that. It prepared me for the beautiful, yet messy classroom ahead and taught me some excellent life lessons. I remember sitting next to this woman. As we completed a YMCA training together, I could not help but wonder why she laughed at everything I said. Was she laughing at me? Did she find me funny? Perhaps she...
handwritten on February 4, 2019
Isn't it ironic these days that probably the one thing we do not allow due to time constraints (or perhaps the one thing we tend to ignore) are questions. I always think to myself, "Another question? I will answer it later." And it is funny because as adults, we tend to ask less questions, ponder less and worry more. Perhaps if we answered the question right away, it may relieve our worries.
Regardless, kids are the best at asking and even answering questions. When we are younger, we want to know everything about everything, and I think this is a beautiful thing. Because the more we ask, the more we find out. The more we ask, the more passionate we become regarding the world around us. The...
handwritten on February 3, 2019
On my Sundays every week, I tend to keep a pretty consistent routine. I travel to Aldi, pick up my groceries for the week and then usually unpack and begin to cook. For me, I am in awe of the crockpot. The crockpot is simply a pot of pure whimsy and magic. Every time I place something inside, I feel like the love grows until the crockpot is overflowing with present and future joy. Unless of course you make the same recipe weeks and weeks in a row. When I was first starting out, it is possibly I made the beef stew one too many times. As my brother remarked with a "Oh my. Beef stew. How original." Magic loses its magic when overused. I'm sure by now many of you probably think to yourself: "...
