Sonic Inertia (364)

Soundwaves approaching, rapid fire staccato, Jazz, Soul, Blues surrounding the even keeled silence. Keys: black and white edging their way into a vision. Fingers just above, ready to pounce. Shiny brass gleaming in the foreground. Stage small, crowded with musicians. Hum of the crowd tickling the senses. It is a mirage of semblance. A wisp of ethereal ambiance- just before the reality of desks and hallways creeps in.

The mirage lingers. Smokey room, lights dim. It freezes for just an instant- teasing. Then the din of soft, eager voices, relax and the rat tat tat of the snare, taps to life. The jarring bell, echoes- replacing the smooth, chaotic notes of the performance. The noise jostles the wisp into a swirl, that slowly dissipates. The room brightens, the smoke clears and fluorescent lights blink on- pupils shrinking to adjust. Menu board becomes black board. The tables transform into desks.

Sonic sound waves of hustle and pivot reach every corner. Stage becomes classroom. The crowd, students. Each opening a case, removing an instrument. Tuning. Settling. Then tap tap....a count down and a semblance slowly arrives- wood, brass, percussion balance as they always have. The Jazz is effortless. Collision of sonic inertia- morning dreary meets anticipation. It is a moment that happens every morning as busses arrive and hallways empty.

The inertia of sleep and breakfast heavy. But familiar routines and faces clear the smoky haze of transition. Microphones scattered, instruments singing the sweet energetic song of learning. Our fingers just above the keys: black and white, edged now into a clear vision. We position them, we press, we add to the beauty of the piece. This sonic inertia, this classroom assemblage of grace and energy. It is inevitable- all we have to do is envision it.

And get out of the way...

Whoa its December 27th? (362)

A Sunday. The last Sunday of 2020. If you read Facebook or Twitter the messages are all about renewal, change, things are going to be different come January 1st. New year and all. People are sharing goals, resolutions and the like. It is a flurry of end of year- bests and worsts. It is a time for reflection- but it seems to be heavily tilted towards the negative.

Yes Covid happened. It literally changed the world. I watch the news and in so many places it is bleak. The blight of a virus erasing many signs of hope. It is such a strange thing to imagine- not being in a classroom, not being able to go to almost any store (mask adorned) and eat in a restaurant (if I wanted). I have somewhat of a normal existence.

I wake up go to work. Albeit a 1/2 virtual and face to face work. But there are students in the halls and in my classroom 1/2 the day. I plan with my team, socially distanced and attend any other meetings on Zoom. The 'something isn't right' moments, are few not frequent throughout the day. As students enter and leave face to face, it seems normal. Then Zoom classes at first seem odd- but quickly the routine sets in- and everything feels like, what many call the 'new normal'.

We have been in this mask covered phenomenon almost 9 months. But in my car- it seems normal, normal traffic. Everyone behaving as they always do: some rude, some kind- everyone in a hurry. When I am home of course things feel the same- because I actually go to a brick and mortar school during the week. Life is moving forward, even in a shadowy time. 

I feel so very lucky every day to have the opportunities I do- to live where I live. To teach where I teach. When so many others are not in the position to be able to do that. I feel eager for things to change, for the vaccine to get distributed and for people to be able to resume their lives. Quarantine is hard, isolation is hard. I have always been with family. 

I have been back in the classroom since August. Things have been somewhat as it has always been since August. And yet, every day when I wake up I speak aloud the mantra- my 2020 mantra "Stay healthy, balanced and grateful. Remember there are always thin, weak spots- steer clear. Put your weight on solid ground and always search the parameter. And always welcome visitors virtual or live- because connection is the life force. Safety first. But build relationships."

January is another month, another year. Big changes are not on the horizon. But hope is. Grace is. Kindness and generosity are. So embrace that. Accept that change will be slow. Be intentional, purposeful and get the momentum going. We are going to need it to get to the other side.

Tis the Day (360)

Christmas day always feels dream-like. Beautiful sparkly snow and ice cycles- no cold just the glorious sparkles all around. Voices and laughter seem louder and more excited than normal. The piles of wrapping paper seem purposeful and thus, there is no urgency to clean up. The tree smells more like pine. The ornaments are more colorful.

It is a magical scene right out of Frozen. Olaf singing a glorious tune. Orchestral music carrying a sense of calm and love through the air. Nothing seems out of place. Everything feels just right. Like nothing can bring you down. That this day, this wondrous, whimsical day trumps all other days. Like the rest of 2020 didn't unfold as it did.

That December the 25th is a day to be treasured, experienced separate from the other 364 days of the year. And as you are fulfilling the days quota of happiness and warm regards- you do not see it as a a mist of wishes and hopes. You only live it as the perfect day. The family filled, everyone is home and together, day.

Then at the end of a dream-like state- the last of the cookies eaten, the room clean, the tree no longer atop a mound of wrapped boxes- you reflect. You lay in bed, watching the sparkling, flickering lights of the tree on the ceiling- and you take it all in. You breathe in the pine and cinnamon aroma of holiday candles. You smile at the moments you can now add to your long-term files. 

And... it all becomes less like a blanket of fresh snow, and more like any other day. A special day. A celebratory day. A family day. But just a day and not a fantasy. This is the moment I take it all in. See the edges. Remember the facial expressions as boxes were opened and stockings dumped out into a pile. And this is the moment I am truly thankful for- because this is the moment magical holiday, snow globe, memories become reality.

I like my reality. It can be bumpy. But I like the daily experiences- spilt milk and lost socks. I love it in fact and this day- this tis the day to be jolly- was jolly. And twas' the day of family and pure joy. Being together made it that way. Tomorrow we will have moments too and the day after that. My heart is full at this moment- before I fall asleep- and for that I am truly thankful.

What We Seek (359)

As humans we seek a lot of things: comfort, joy, love, companionship. We seek out a form of financial security. A place to live. Transportation. We have needs, food, water, shelter. We seek a secure existence, with out pain or fear. Our brains actively seek moments of calm- yet we often get stuck in idle mode, our flight or flight chemicals surging through our veins. Causing anxiety, depression, exhaustion.

This time of year- the holidays, often exasperates the situation. We are seeking a joyful time with family and friends. The trimming parties, the gifts, the celebrations. But these days we are only experiencing them virtually. It is heightening our hypothalmus- setting our emotional autonomic nervous systems a blaze. We are in turmoil in every way imaginable.

Financially we are strapped. Emotionally we are drained. Physically we are worn down. Muscles aching from the weight of the emotional turbulence. If we are isolating alone- absence is heavy. If we are quarantining as a group- we are seeking privacy. It is a no win situation. Then you add the holidays on top of it. These holidays may not be as joyful for some as for others.

We seek moments of joy- and the are there. We just, at least recently have been more focused on negative things- a tumultuous election, delays in stimulus checks, contagion and shut downs. New strains. Misinformation, miscommunication and simple thievery. Thievery of our security. Thievery of our well-being. Thievery of our freedom. But at times of war- we must remember that freedom might be lost temporarily. These days we are at war, battle with information and distrust and of course we are fighting a heavy tolled war against a virus.

When we are seeking things we can not control- we often forget we have many things we can control. Our attitude, positivity, optimism and daily intentions. Our values, our goals, our determination and our resilience. When we are walking through our days, we must remember to ask ourselves "What an I control in this situation?" We need to remember that there is a lot we can in fact control.

This is our history unfolding. Our circumstances shaping our situation. We must continue to seek- solace, sanctuary and solid footing. We must continue to seek answers, truth and justice. We must remember every one of us is human and deserving of financial stability and the ability to take care of ourselves. We seek family during these times- not only because of the holiday but because that is what allows us to achieve what we seek.

Family is the tie, the tether, the cord that allows us to stretch ourselves and then return to the center. Family is the eventuality of contentment and security. Whether your family is build on genetics or friendship- it is family. The bond stronger than most. So listen and seek the moments that remind you of the positivity in the world- not the negative. 

Seek the joy. Seek the wonder. Seek the opportunities around you for they are the answers to what you need. They are the hug, smile and honesty we all seek these days. Be the one- others need and others will be yours as well. This is a season to be jolly as the old adage says- but it is also a season of reflection and change- just ask Ebenezer Scrooge. 

So find the reason to better yourself now- it is not a single day, a season or a year- it is a daily momentum that we seek- can you hear the drum beat- the cadence, the rhythm?  

The Pretender (356)

We all feel like pretenders once in awhile. We enter the arena unprepared, surviving on less than three hours of sleep. Distracted, eyes foggy from lack of coffee. We focus on every moment rather than the big picture. Say this, walk over there, smile at her, smile at him. Just keep moving. We know the second we sit down - we will lose the tether. Our grip on the now, will abandon us. So we keep in motion. We walk and talk. We engage.

The static crackling, overtakes the hum we designed to nudge us to attention. The constant becomes sporadic and we shake it off at the bell. We down a cup of joe and continue our circulation. Slowly the shadow is replaced by fluorescence- the downward focus, of overhead illumination. The striking contrast like a bolt of energy. We are now aware of every note of the harmony- the semblance of voices, learning, interacting. We recognize where we are- we lean in.

Some days this is instant- the transition of parent to educator or personal to professional. We change gears as we cross the parking lot to our second residence. Other days, it takes a bit, so we hold on nervously to the tether. We feel awkward- we hear the sound of our own voice and it is unnerving. We seem to feel paralyzed in the motion of teaching. We always feel better once our voice settles in to the background noise.

Accept these days- for they are never going away. I guess what matters most is the follow through. The stalwart stance we take as we shift from location to location. This dedication is what realigns us. The world is chaotic right now, it is understandable that it might take us a second to engage in our role in it. When we learn to listen to our transitions, accept our slow to start days- the rest follows into place naturally, and students, they don't notice.

As long as we redirect ourselves- it is okay to pretend for a a bit in the morning. At the beginning of class when we scramble to make sure copies are done and desks are clean. We have this bridge we cross many times a day and thank goodness its sturdy. Because it has a lot of tread. Just cross it. Just look around once in awhile and notice the view. What is the view?

For you it could be New York City, London, Toronto, Sydney- any beautiful city with a bridge rising above a gorgeous body of water. For me its San Francisco. The bay sparkling from under the fog. The fog rolling in, like a wave of unexpected cover. This the morning haze we have to scuff off- and I am ready. The fog is inevitable, the bridge inevitable- it is the click click of tires on tread that is personal. So wake up, and drive into the mist, because on the other side of it- well that is spectacular. 

Holiday Juxtaposition, and I Cried (354)

Forgiveness is like iron in our blood. It circulates, it nourishes, it binds to the oxygen we breathe. We have all experienced moments of dread, anger, frustration, empathy, sadness and pure joy. We have all entered the flow willingly, even though we know there is a tidal wave up ahead. We have geared up with a life jacket, wet suits and tanks of oxygen, knowing that some days we may need to SCUBA dive, others we might be forced to ride the wave.

Yet, we don ourselves with the equipment to stay afloat. We sink some days, far below the surface. We stand amongst the seagrass, looking up at the darkness. Other days we may start the descent and the current pushes us up. The current saves us. Most days we are sitting on our surf boards, feet dangling in the calm water- seeing shore, but not wanting to paddle towards it. We like the open sea. We embrace the ripples, eager to wait for the next opportunity to enter the curl.

The holidays is such a curl. The sparkly, iridescent flourish of activity. The cards, the smiles, the gifts. The excitement of students as they enter the season of family and presents. You can feel the positive, joyful spirits. But underneath for some, is a gloom. The festivities are huge for many, and minuscule for some. So a smile and "see you next year", might not seem as happy for them, or merry. For many being excluded from the gift sharing is painful.

The buzz is lit and many are discussing wish lists, family vacations (yes even in Covid). Others are retreating, saddened by their lack of thereof. So it is important for us to make contact with everyone. Ask them about what they need from us. Ask them if they want to borrow a book (yes, I lent out several personal copies), and even open up a bag of candy canes and offer them to whomever wants one. 

I was saddened greatly by an experience my ten year old encountered in his class. A group of boys and a group of girls each decided to do a secret Santa. They included almost all of the students in the class- but apparently they voted to not include my son. My sweet, outgoing, loving son. Only one other girl was excluded. They shared their gifts on Friday in class in front of my son and this other little girl. 

Needless to say- it made them both very sad. I can not speak about the excluded little girl- but my son was devastated. When he got in the car- these were his first words- after a day that should have been fun and full of holiday cheer- "At least I have my family." I said "What? What happened?" and he told me the story. If it wasn't bad enough that he was excluded- he asked one of the boys why and they told him "It was a close vote but the group decided to not include you, sorry."

Now kids are cruel. That was mean spirited and just plain old awful. I want to yell and scream at everyone of them. If they wanted to exclude anyone- they should have exchanged gifts, outside of school. So I am more upset at the teacher. Did she know? I certainly hope not. But when she saw this unfolding- she should have stopped it, seeing that two students were not included in the festivities.

I cried. I got home and cried. Privately of course. I did not want my son to see me break down. But, I cried because of the same mean-spirited, selfish, disgusting circumstances I was subjected to. I cried for my sons whose spirit was crushed. I remember the cruelty of this happening to me on Christmas, Valentines Day and at the end of the year. I was always excluded and my teachers never did anything to stop it.

The holidays are not joyful for all. All I can say as an educator look for these situations. As a parent, make sure your child knows you love them and just hug them a lot. Remind them of why they are spectacular and beautiful human beings. Have the conversation with them about inclusivity and acceptance and let them know- not everyone does get included. For no other reason than some kids are just mean. For no other reason other than ignorance and selfishness.

Then tell them humans are kind and generous. That humans are loving and giving. That humans are worth getting to know. That humans are forgivable. We have to forgive and move on. Family is important and friends are important but- the way you believe in yourself and show yourself grace and hope is the most important thing of all. 

No Christmas Movies- Science Videos (352)

The default this year, this last week of school before the holidays is showing holiday films, or Disney animated movies. But, this year our district has forbidden them. Students are to stay on academic topic. This upset many of course. This is the week to relax normally, and just eat snacks and let students get their fill of holiday cheer. 

But, I have found time to show science videos- Pushing the Limits, Myth Busters, even Bill Nye- all of which I don't normally find time to share with them. But this week, with finals throwing our schedule into disarray- this is the perfect time to show them. We do not see every class every day, so only some kids get to see them but- it is a great way to open up meaningful conversations.

It is a great way to show them how science is important. We are watching a lot of clips of each and afterwards we are discussing what we saw and how it ties into our curriculum. They are really enjoying the down time - no assignments and some extra time to study. So why not shift from holiday to academic? Why not change things up a bit?

This week has been far more meaningful for me because I have gotten to witness a lot more relevant conversations and it doesn't feel like wasted time- it feels like purposeful down time and there is nothing wrong with that.

The Importance of Myth Busters (349)

We all know Myth Busters, a great problem-solving TV show that shaped our understanding of STEAM. Many teacher across the globe has shown this program in their classes. But why?

Not only is it all about engineering and clearing up misunderstanding- but it also displays failure, experimentation and teamwork. All with Adam and Jamie's humor and signature style.

I used to show it all the time. But in recent years, with Amoeba Sisters, Crash Course and other science programs I had forgotten about it. I haven't shown any episode this year, so I though why not? Is there an episode or clip that applied to my content, as a life science teacher?

In fact today there was a perfect one- How do Viruses Spread so Quickly? In the episode Adam is given a 'fake' cold by using a tube with gooey stuff to make his nose run. Then in the goo they added invisible coloring only visible under black light.

Then they took six people - three who knew what the experiment was about (the spread of viruses), three who didn't. And they had a small dinner party. All six, plus Adam with his runny nose, sat around a table and has drinks and food by passing bowls around the table- they shook hands and interacted - mask-less. This was filmed years before Covid-19 hit the population.  

At the end they looked under the black light and 5 out of the seven were highly infected- lots of red goo droplets hit them. Only one avoided contamination (she was a germaphobe and behaved differently.) It was a great way using familiar, comfortable individuals that students trust- to demonstrate a relevant fear- catching a virus.

It was an eye opening video for most students and it started a meaningful, real world situation discussion. Myth Busters is a show students love and it is always a good way to show them that science is fun. Science is exciting. That science is discovery. 

Compare Yourself, to Yourself Yesterday (348)

Take your skills and apply them to a new problem, for they arise frequently. They may not be earth shattering but even the small ones need our attention. They make us more resilient. They make us more cognizant. Sometimes we need to drop our long held tools in order to pick up new ones. We must always keep a healthy tension, a level of static magnetism that provides jolts of realignment.

It is our nature to compare. To see others as grand masters of their universe. We forget that in fact they are just that. Masters of their universe, not ours. Our orbits are fierce, they have to be in order to revolve around one another. But within our own star, our own super heated gas giant- is us, and we are the energy that keeps the fusion alive.

There are amazing bright sparks of energy filling the vast expanse of our profession. Some vibrate and send such a force of energy we get swept away by their resonance. But they are in their own orbital path- they are supernovas. We are too quasars and pulsars reverberating cosmic flare. We all have our purpose, our revolutionary aura.

There will always be asteroid dangerously close and comets racing by. But we need to stay our course. We need to holdfast to our orbit. We need to slow our comparison and look inward to our miraculous journey from a spark to a fire. From a speck of dust to a glorious planetary system. We are all radiant solar galaxies- we are all lithosphere, atmosphere and biosphere. 

So compare yourself to yourself yesterday- not someone else today. For when you do you see your own evolution, you continually expand. You recognize every 'big bang' of energy you create. You recognize that your location in the vastness of space might be orbital, it might be stationary for the moment- but you can always hop on a comet, collide into a white dwarf or become a nebula of ingenuity.

It is all perspective, perception and power. And that is all you my friend.

Mindfulness Molecules (347)

This last week I searched high and low for the rapid firing electrons of energy. 

The energetic radiant photons, the positively charged protons of mindfulness. 

I tried to latch on to as many as I could find. I turned my power level to magnetic- allowing them to attach themselves to me- level me up. I needed to find moments of mindfulness around me. I myself was not upset, or sad. I was not frustrated or depressed. I was simply drained.

This is the time of year, in normal circumstances, is a time where everyone is feeling run down and ready for winter break. But in 2020 it is amplified. 

It is finals, it is finishing a semester- rapid grading, reviewing, and settling in for a week of tests. A week of mandatory exams.

Trying to keep it festive with some holiday music. A few candy canes and group interaction. But the weight of it all is heavy. Students are feeling the heft of expectation in a time when we have all been isolated. 

Staying positive, cause that is me. 

Staying calm, cause that is me.

What we put out into our classrooms, what we emanate - spreads like wild fire. So all those photons, protons and waves of positivity- they are gaining momentum and next week- splash.....riding the wave all the way to holiday break.

Migratory Patterns (344)

"The herds on the move again," Zazoo's infamous line from The Lion King. It rings true in this Savannah of school life, as much as it does on the wild grasslands of Africa.

It seems so strange these days- the moment you bond with a student, they switch classes or go asynchronous. I feel a loss every time. A part of me is hesitant in making the deep connections I usually do with my students- yet I do. I find little ways to get to know them and let them know me. I see them in the hallway, we wave- but bonds are broken so frequently these days, it is migratory, classrooms herds, ever moving towards a new watering hole.

It is hard for us as teachers indeed- but imagine how it impacts students. They feel discombobulated already. A bit lost. Isolated. And just when they start to feel even keeled- we move them to a new classroom. New face, new routines. It has to be unnerving. I guess if I could say one thing to the powers that be- think about these consequences. Just try to minimize the herd's movement.

For they feel safer in the group. Protected., and these days- we need this security more than ever. We may be social distancing, mask laden- but our words, actions, laughter, interactions are what helps us feel connected. This should be the focus- making sure they are not just learning, but also that they are growing socially. A safe haven is key.

 

Superhero Projects (342)

It is amazing what students can create, what they pour themselves into- when we give them something like this. My students were given the assignment of creating a superhero- and to explain at least six body systems, and how they are enhanced. Why biologically, the superhero is a superhero. In other words how science, biology- helps create a superhero.

Their super strength, super speed, super anything really- all comes from an alteration of their already existing attributes. We spent a semester learning about all of the body systems: structure and function. I feel like it is so important, along the way to make the connections of course, have them demonstrate how the systems work together to maintain homeostasis- but they also need a culminating project.

I think it is important for them to use them, see them, manipulate them- in every way possible. Analogies, sketch notes etc. But also, these glorious systems of human life need to be brought in to a realm of creativity. The best way I figured to do this, was to design someone- who has the ability to do amazing things. Someone who we know and love in our pop culture. 

To see how these heroes of lore, can do what they do. No teleportation or flight (unless they had viable wings) allowed. But anything they could explain using science- suing biology was fair game.

So students wrote origin stories and descriptions of all the enhancements of their superhero- six body systems and how they use their powers. And boy, every year these come out so cool. They spend a lot of time drawing them, creating their back story and just getting into the engineering and biological amplifications of the human body. I have done this project six years now and they are just getting better and better.

By Sheer Brute Force (340)

By sheer brute force- we often form an anchor knot. Heavy, steal, chain- fastened with a foothold. We hook and latch into place. We have a vision, successful endeavors, repeating like a needle stuck on  spinning vinyl. The crackle of the groove somehow comforts us. Because we know the steadfast heft, will secure us in our routine.

Routine is the indentation, in which the needle finds its orbit. This spin, is automatic. The rotation being generated, by an energy we have built up over time. We understand the mechanics. We understand the maintenance. We understand the design. And we thrive because of this. We have dissected it enough times, to be able to avoid the scratches, to the album.

With this security comes- a prediction. A repetition. A predictability, yes, but also a set speed, a set order. The only way we can flip the album over, on the turntable, is to lift it and manually flip it. We are not jukeboxes with automatic changing of the guard. We are record players. We are old school stereo's. Not because we are antiquated, but because we see the value in the sounds of originality and style. We appreciate the beauty of the crackle and vinyl spin.

But by sheer force of spirit and ingenuity- we thrive. We decipher the code to being modern and timeless. We unlock the clues to finding the bridges and byways - to connect with our students. This is what it is all about. This staying stationary, in an ever moving timeline. We adjust, pivot and grow but we are anchored in our generation. They, our students, theirs.

It is a beautiful sight- every year watching how trends change, catch phrases, emojis, gifs, You Tube sensations shift. Tick Tock, Instagram and Snapchat- dominate. But we maneuver through them. We are up-to-date and yet we know the short cuts. We know what has endured the -quick to shift -fads of late. And this is synergy, this collision occurs, by sheer brute force of spirit, observation and a desire to grow along side our students.

Farewell Sweet Slumber of Doubt (336)

This situation feels relentless. We must endure in every way we can. Smile upon the graces bestowed to us. Welcome a beginning, for every morning if we wake a beginner- we are consistently optimistic at the potential. We know the unpaved, gravel laden path is waiting for us. 

We engineer better shoes on which we firmly tread. We establish a pattern, in order for our next excursion, to be more fruitful. We get choosy because we have our preferences. But, we continue to walk, our stride forever gaining momentum.

The blended, hybrid, virtual merges - with PPE, masks and social distancing. The two venues unique yet, combining into a beautiful ensemble of giggles, simmering beneath cloth, and energetic hallways. Even behind a screen they long, they believe, they engage. 

We the megaphones deafening the isolation. Creating an even playing field- some shoes covered in turf and dirt, others clean- yet both worn in with enthusiasm.

Farewell sweet slumber of doubt. The months have passed- dents, scuffs and indentations have become a part of the scenery. Displaying a classroom charm. Students are students- whether from their desks at home or their tables in school. It is their terrain to manage, it is our landscape to shape. So that they have oceans to swim, mountains to climb and skies to take flight towards.

Doubt is our companion as much as it is theirs. But if we abate it, tackle it, encage it behind our energy and action- they will be lead towards engagement and learning. It is going to continue to be full of surprises- this situation, has settled in for the long haul. But, so have we. And we are warriors. We are educators. 

We are eager to change and grow and this....this is an opportunity to do so.

  

Captivate, Motivate, Participate (335)

Captivate your audience

Speak to them as if they know you

and you them

Motivate with enthusiasm

with a fervor of faith

Participate with every ounce

of you

For our gift to the world

effortless and meaningful

is our undivided

Attention

Holiday Window Gazing- Breeze, Bluster, Flurry (334)

These leaves were a message sent from someplace- someplace that recognized I needed a connection. A tether, to allow myself to pull closer to the now. When we feel lost and tossed about, it is a lifeline we need. A presentation of hope. A thread we have to accept and use. For no one can bring us back into the fold but ourselves.

I hardly ever stare out a window for an extended period of time. I always see in movies how people do that- gaze at a skyline or beautiful landscape lovingly- pondering their plight or relationships. Generally its snowing outside, they are sitting in a window sill, hot tea in hand. 

It is a staple in the myriad of holiday films flooding the television waves as of late. Windows, landscape, quiet reflective music = epiphany. It seems hokey but it works.

I do not have a plight- nothing horrible has happened to me personally. I am working through the same tribulations everyone else is. But, I feel a bit lost as of late. I guess I do not feel sad or angry- just lost. Today I stared out my front window, into the street and there was this pile of leaves. I guess a pile is a heavy word, for a light gathering, but nonetheless, it was a pile that became a layer, and then a few. 

The chilly, brisk breeze was tossing them about the concrete. The larger ones scattering, ending up in nearby yards. The medium and small leaves hanging on tight to the formation. Each updraft swirling them and then allowing them to fall gently into a semicircle. 

Almost on cue, every minute or so a dust devil whirled them aloft and a bluster knocked them down again. It was calming to say the least- just watching, window gazing.

Then a truck turned the corner and knocked them into the gutter. I thought my morning gaze was over, but just then a gentle nudge, whether from breeze or momentum, I will never know- slid them back into their position and the cycle began again. 

Medium brown and small red and yellow leaves kicked themselves up and down again, until they fell gently into a semicircle. Sometimes landing upright, others faces down. Dull and then shiny exteriors switching on and off like blinking holiday lights.

I felt like this mental excursion was only a few minutes. But when my hot tea arrived, I looked over at the clock and thirty minutes had passed. I had been lured into natures story for half an hour. I shook off the restlessness and went about my morning activities. 

Then I decided to rest again, same spot, looking to see if the leaves had regained their acrobatic display but the street was empty. The gutter was empty. I felt a ping of sadness. Strange, I thought my instinct to miss these leaves, to miss that moment of gaze.

Just as I accepted my loss, my ten year old opened the door. A whoosh of damp, cold air, flooded in. My hair tickled by the message of fall. He ran into the yard, "Its chilly out here, it feels like winter." As I went to the porch to test the resolve of the autumn westerlies, I felt a scrap on my ankle. I looked down and a few brown, red and yellow leaves settled themselves atop my feet. Attaching themselves to my thick, winter socks. 

Five of them in fact. 

The last five, I believe, I had seen dancing together in the breeze, bluster, dust devil of yore. Having felt my longing, they found their way yo my yard, to my porch and the breeze knocked them into my orbit. 

These moments we allow ourselves, to just stare out a window are important. Letting our mind wander and our visual input, attach itself to leaves being tossed about in the street- can be a graceful opener to our day. 

I have a new found appreciation for the holiday movie window gaze- in fact I have decided to adopt it as part of my daily meditation. I think that emptying ones mind to the sounds and acts of nature and thought is so important. I just tend to do it with eyes shut and quiet. Today I learned that nature wants to be a part of it- needs to be apart of it.

And the leaves....they are a gift you see from nature. For even indoors she remembers to say hello. She remembers to tap us on the shoulder and say look outside- we are all in this together.

The Musical Number of Education: Zoomba Roomba Line (332)

What actually is the difference between a venue of Zoom and physical Room? Quite a lot. There are many things you can do the same, well kind of the same. There are others that you must drastically alter in order for them to fit into a virtual setting. The most important thing however, is not to consider them different. Not different in any way, except the fact of location.

I have been teaching virtually for awhile now- last spring being my launch into a synchronous/asynchronous existence. Classrooms were designed for desks, tables and chalkboards. For student interaction. For having conversations. For building relationships. 

Zoom for quick meetings. Now the two have conjoined into a realm beyond anyone's expectations.

Last spring as we were placed on the treadmills of teaching, we all felt we were losing our identity. That out places of educational exchange, were forever altered. They have been. Zoom is now synonymous with education. With classroom learning.

We also were placed under scrutiny. 

Would children continue to learn? 

Would teachers be prepared to teach virtually? 

Would students attend classes and participate? 

Last spring there was no talk of how challenging, engaging or well-designed lessons were. We were merely trying to construct a platform on which a classroom could digitally be designed. It varied of course with success rate- nationally and globally- but we tried, educators tried with all the muster they had to keep things as normal as possible.

Then we had summer. A season unreasonable and unrelenting. Keeping many isolated. 

This gave time for the educational system to make decisions- to decide- to discover. I think above all else- they discovered the fortitude and dedication of most teachers and educators. Yes, many walked away. There was dissention and a lot of criticism and anxiety. But come fall we stepped up. We planned, we designed, we began a school year.

Many virtually for a set of time. Some now, well into the school year, continue teaching from a computer. And they still are building functional, inspirational settings for children. But, a lot of districts came back, opened their doors, allowed students a choice. Allowed parents to ultimately have a say. They could keep their children at home on Zoom, or they could send their students back into a brick and mortar classroom.

We had most of our district remain on Zoom- but slowly, but surely, students began to reenter the building. Every quarter more and more begin to come back. Teachers are designing lessons for large Zoom, small Zoom, hybrid, Small class, Large class style. Designing lessons that do not fill a quota or just get the job done. There has been a giant shift in the way we think, plan and implement our lessons. There has to be.

Some of us teach both Zoom and Room. Its a juggling act of mask on, mask off. Filled room, empty room. Names on screen, students in seats. It is a pivot that teachers are used to- in fact we expect it. So when we were asked to take a deep breath and go with it. Embrace the sudden and continual shifts of day to day teaching- we did. 

We are dancing, sliding, shuffling in a giant conga line- Zoomba, Roomba line. But, we are not slowing our pace. We are not allowing the music to stop. We are in a loop that one day will slow a bit- but for now is snake like slither with no end in sight.

We adjust, we plan, we tweak, we sit in chairs, walk around rooms. 

We make eye contact on digital planes and physical ones. 

We smile, we teach, we listen. 

We are making sure that every students has a voice. 

We are teachers, and we might not like the exhaustion of the Zoomba Rooma pace- we might sleep more. Shake our heads more in frustration. But we bugger on.

In fact now that our days are musical numbers, we have a little more muster, and a lot more endurance. 

So, we wake up and do it all over again.

Because.....

That's what we do.

Why Educational Jargon is Overwhelming for My Dyslexic Brain (330)

I read a lot. Tweets, blogs, articles books. But, I must be honest, I do not always finish them. I love a great blog- full of emotion and relevance. I appreciate great strategies, techniques, anecdotes. But, after being a teacher for just over twenty years, I am exhausted. I find the high level of verbal battles, word chess and mere influx of new terms and educational vernacular simply overwhelming. 

It seems lately that nothing is defined or explained in simple terms. Everything is wrapped around big words and specific instructions. It has almost become a formula. A recipe with little room for personal touches- because the chef is a graduate from the most prestigious cooking school in the world. Everything is based on perceived talent. Not acquired skill.

This is not a post I am writing to criticize anyone. There are educators who need to write in a certain tone to be published. There are others who have been chefs in their restaurants for decades and their recipes are full proof- they work- but taste buds are a changn'. Ingredients are becoming more difficult to acquire. Pallets change. Minds change. Circumstances change. Little monumentals are no longer about grades and test scores- but growth and connection.

I need something to inspire me. Not a twenty-five page manual of resources. I need a short-story with honest dialogue. Not a sage on the stage perfection (there are many who fit this bill and I applaud every one of them). But I need to see the world of education from a flawed, at times struggling educator who works hard to maintain balance. One who makes mistakes and talks about why their perspective changed. Yes, there are books and articles a plenty that fill this niche. 

But, then why am I still not connecting with most of them. The psychology behind learning is a great tool. But it is a tool. The experience and setbacks are more important. Diagnosing learning disabilities, like Dyslexia are crucial to understanding how best to teach them. But, not all Dyslexics are the same. 

We are each an embodiment of our experiences and as such every student learns differently. At times this aspect is forgotten- main stream thinking takes hold because it feels overwhelming and impossible to make lessons that speak to ever mind sitting in a classroom.

So again here come the big words, the expert testimony. AND, in classrooms new educators are reading endless articles and are feeling lost in the jargon. I am a veteran teacher and I feel lost in the jargon. Especially now that there is a new layer of it. The virtual bubble that has exploded on the scene. This is what you must do to be successful, this is how you have to teach on-line to be successful. But isn't it the same?

I just feel so bogged down with what others expect. What the newest trends are putting out there making our own paths even more distorted. I understand we need guide books and guidance. I just wish it was more used friendly. Sometimes we do not need to read a 64 page manual on how to change our wiper blades- sometimes we need a you tube video showing us how to do it. Sometimes we need a graphic. Sometimes we need to figure it out on our own.

I understand I am probably a single voice in the din of educational speak and teaching knowledge. I know that all the complex, hypothetical words of wisdom mean a lot to a lot of teachers. I just feel such a weight on myself, a load of texts these days- and sometimes I just feel like there is just too much details- too much coming out into the universe in our profession- not written by classroom teachers, not real, honest to good helpful information. Or if there is it is wrapped up in a box of too many ingredients.

I like a great meal like anyone- but I also appreciate the basket of fries and a milkshake. Simple, easy and without any nonsense. Just a familiar, comfort food vibe. I get overloaded easy and when I see a beautiful plate of complicated food- I more often than not- choose the one that reminds me of me. The one that is tasty and satisfying. The one that makes me feel good. 

This is my feeling these days- I need a simple burger and fries.

The Old Adage (327)

"The best time to plant a tree is twenty years ago. The second best time is now."

Is there a formal threshold that we cross over when we finally see the need for change? Are we in a constant mode of fumbling forward- is that our habit? We live in a time where it feels as if we are looking down kicking the pebbles from our path, while the boulder is pummeling towards us. The audience is screaming, "Look up, look up." Will we step out of the way in time? Or is a cartoon crush and splat in our future?

It is a doom and gloom approach I know. Take the positive when ever possible. Cling on to it tightly. But it only takes one open door. We have many slamming against the wood- the house of experience- in the prairie like landscape of our present circumstances. Screen doors banging. Handles giggling. Knobs turning. We are trying to close them all at once and that my friends is impossible. For the storm, brewing, picking up velocity and strength- it is gaining on us.

I am not even talking about the obvious. The trending topic of our days and nights. I am talking about the momentum we are bound to in our profession. The opposition, the gathering troops of finger pointing and distrust. The complacency. The missed conversations about purpose, about learning, about consistency in the lives of our children. We are the screen doors, trying desperately to latch on to close and secure. Yet we are swinging in the sand and blindness of pertinence.

"Be impatient for action, but be patient for outcomes." I see this, I understand these words. But the next line should be- create action, create outcomes. Daily outcomes. Daily challenges. Daily moments of community and learning. It only matters because we believe it to matter. Home or in a brick and mortar classroom- communication, eye contact, listening and inspiring matters.

Surround the problem. Chip away at it. Keep chipping away at it. Hand your students a chisel and let them help you chip away at it. Sculpt a new way of learning. They will tell you what they need. They will show you what they need. So suit up, goggles and mask on, and chip away. Do not just mind the gap, narrow it. Don't just plant the seed, water it. Nudge it along.

The old adage.....what about the new adage. Write it now, write it today. And live by it. 

And there it is... (325)

You know what, don't exit Zoom right at the bell, linger a bit, let students who stay after to talk. Let them tell you stories. It is fascinating to hear their take on things. Create a breakout room and just bring them in one by one- meet with them individually in class. These one-minute check-in's are so important. This is what they are yearning for, what they need. Especially those students who are learning virtually.

I get so locked into a rhythm sometimes that I forget to just breath. The pace sometimes creates a rush where I forget to roll down the window and feel the breeze and smell the petricore. The profession we are in, as crazy as it is, is a wonderful and beautiful world to reside in. Students are each sprouts, springing to life, absorbing knowledge like sunlight. Filling their branches with  leaves of knowledge and social circumstances. They are adapting in such amazing ways to our new expectations of them.

Believe in them. Trust them. Make eye contact with them- all 40 of them on the screen. All 30 of them in a classroom. Take the time to get to know them. Ask them about themselves. They are longing to make connections and feel a part of the world. This is our moment. Our moment to be proud of our profession and make every student feel like a movie star, superhero and genius. Let's get to it. And there it is....

Iron Forges Iron (322)

Iron. Hemoglobin ingredient. Oxygen carrier. A life giver.

Iron. An enigma, it is sturdy and used to manufacture steel.

It also rusts easily. 

Iron refined into 90% of all metal.

Thus abundant. Purposeful. Resourceful.

It fortifies. 

It is an element.

Fe.

Within us is the strength of iron.

We use it in our proteins, enzymes and blood.

Metaphorically speaking, we use it to forge ahead.

It helps make us strong both physically, literally

and

mentally because we use the image of its

endurance to set our mindsets and focus

Iron is elemental, integral and fruitful

For when it reconstitutes the steel

becomes our resolve and this resolve

is why we do what we do

We are educators, teachers, and we are iron workers

we are the iron

we are the steel

Here (320)

Here

Here is where my soul talks to the sky Here is where my spirit aligns with the Earth Clouds vibrate messages from the energy of life- rumble roar Silent resonance Here is where a yellow chair Becomes a ray of synergy

Candy Corn Sky (319)

Candy Corn Sky, Hue of Sweet

Reminding us to steer clear of tricks And veer towards the treats Skies never fib Even when the mood is glib

Prickly Pears Can Overshadow (318)

Prickly forefront often overshadows

The stalwart purple majesty

                                                                     Layers of nuance reflective

Afterglow of a day lingering

                                                                     The thorns are removable                                                                         The river is crossable

We just need to see past the transition of sunset

A Road to Pink (317)

A road to pink

It dances with a child ballerina enthusiasm

                                                                    Excited to take the stage

It extends, rises and engulfs

                                                         Hues and layers folding in like a tutu

Setting the stage for pirouette, plier and relever

The Still, Still Flows (316)

The still, still flows

Gingerly with grace

A blue extraordinary, whispers

A shout of awakening, inaudible

                                                                        But with occipital glory

Remembered

                                                                        

The moment of grace

Sky Speak (315)

 And from the speckles of sky

Came a brilliance

Enhanced

A color speaking to my soul alone

Shimmering to life

A thought of pure imagination

Every Where You Look (313)

Texts and phone calls. They are flooding in these days. 

Emails from school nurses and parents. The vibe, the worry, the reality- is everywhere. 

The virus, has not gone away. It is seeping into the nooks and crannies- waiting for diligence to refrain. Close calls and true calls. This momentum of worry and avoidance, does not always keep us safe. It is not a red or blue wave- it is a colorless, rapid, noxious wave of such deadly force, that we often miss its approach. 

So we are left defenseless on the beach, pounded into the sand, by a heavy deluge of salt and oceanic energy.

As educators we are the spectators in the Godzilla movie- pointing and screaming in awe at the giant force of nature climbing out of the sea. 

We are running trying to escape but we must stop to gather the troops. We must pivot and collect our students- slowing our escape. We are trapped in the rising levels of panic and despair. But, we do not retreat- we stay and hold our positions- an army of teachers who always protect and serve. Doctors, nurses, poll workers, front line supporters, those keeping our food and supplies stocked and available, they stand firm and resolute beside us. 

We are all on the beach, watching the lizard take its stance. It generally ignores the spectators- but its clawed phalanges rip and tear apart anything in their path. We are in a constant dodge and roll to nearly miss the sharpness of its pace. And we wait- for another case, another circumstance avoidable.

As I watch the scatter, I also see the congregation of masses- jubilant at escaping the crush and weight of Godzilla. Sand entering the crevices and sockets. Protection only surface deep. Appearing to be enough. I worry at the next footfall of this beast. Both microscopic and enormous. Sand and leathery skin rising in the midst of reality.

I am cautiously optimistic- trepidatious and eager to move past the dunes and giant food prints of the current situation. I hope that after the monster has retreated back into the ocean, the hoards on the beach are safe. That no one was inside the crushed residences and smashed cities that were left in its wake. That we are able to rebuild and restructure.

Everywhere you look- signs of ascent and descent. Remnants of a hungry Godzilla. These should never be forgotten- they should be used as the plywood and bricks for future builds. Then we will be reminded of the destruction. We might just pause before we beckon the beast back to our shores. We will refortify not to isolate but to carry the weight of newcomers and new ideas. 

This is what we should see happening everywhere we look- soon, very soon indeed.

Grind to Glory (312)

Wheels turn fast these days- spinning and screeching in place- making skid marks. Leaving reminders that we gave it our all. These grooves in the pavement- spurts of growth, progress. Then just as sudden as the spin, a movement lurches us forward. As if we have been pent up with such a force of surrender. Release of the brake, speed begets acceleration and the distance is instant. WE can't even see where we started, only the last turn ahead- so we have to slow momentarily and brace. 

Our brains have been so exhausted: fear of contagion, planning for every contingency. We combine, separate and align- we are constantly rearranging the tiles in a giant mosaic of expectation. Spirits no longer neon flashing attractors, but mud covered signs of highway traffic flow. We are just now settling into the deluge of surface water and road work. We are just now, hands on the wheel, adjusting our speed to the normalcy of the highway. 

Those yellow bumps down the middle, nudging us into our lane. Keeping us safe as we continue our transcontinental haul. We have been pounded by hail, slammed by hurricane force winds- windshield wipers on high, we have barely seen the landscape. And what a landscape to behold. All we have been able to do, eyes forward, hands clenched in complete concentration and focus- is teach, parent, guide and stay in control of our vehicle, of our vessel, of our automobile.

The grind has not stopped, but the screech has. The wheels have not stopped their spin and speed, but our hands, for the first time in years, have loosened their grip on the steering wheel, giving us a moment to stretch our fingers and remove our driving gloves. We are free, to take a deep breath, as we continue our road trip through these tumultuous times. We must keep moving forward, we must remain vigilant- for we do not know how traffic will change or whose vehicle may swerve.

The glory is not a destination. It is the fortitude and gratitude. It is humility and forgiveness. It is unity and empathy. Compassion and growth. It is finding common ground and sturdy concrete and foundational asphalt so more highways can be laid. So more streets, like capillaries can connect us as humans. More medians and center divides for us to pause within- to change a tire. 

This road is a long one. Our travels are just beginning. So load up on snacks and provisions. Get the climate of the car just right. Seat belts on, radio low with some excellent tunes. Then look at a map- do not let the GPS of old guide you in isolation. 

Choose the paper, folded, legend bound map of experience guide you. Let the memory of speed bumps, traffic accidents and weather precautions slow your speed. Let your mind find common ground. Let the well kept side roads, lead you to conversations- give you opportunities tp ask where the nearest this or that is, from a local. Get you out of your car to step on new land, walk into new stores of convenience and witness the glory of something new.

See beyond the dashboard and get out of your car and mingle like a tourist. 

Get comfortable like a resident of the human population. 

We are in this together. All of us. 

We laid this road, added these billboards and guide signs, we created the music for our souls, we designed these vehicles that protect and transport. We are engineers and volunteers. We are educators and learners. We are believers and transformers. Together we will create a bigger map, full of destinations at this time unknown- but soon, will bridge the dots, connect the highways and align into new ways of thinking and better ways to communicate.

Grind to glory- windows down, the breeze is the whisper of the future- just listen, it has an exciting story to tell.

The Subtle Art of SEL- Sometimes We Take it for Granted (308)

It is amazing what happens when we listen. Not just listening for convenience or requirement, but for actual understanding. When we truly care about the topic and want to know more, we sit up and take notice. We engage. We absorb and process. We analyze and structure. We remember.

Sometimes we relentlessly turn our auditory recorders on- every hint at innuendo and subversion grabs our attention. We listen for the nuance, the sudden change in syntax and we hunt for familiarity and promise. When we trust the voice, we engage even more. 

Students are hearing so many things these days. They are like sponges, with constant permeation and soak. They are getting agitated and anxious, like the rest of us. They are harboring the same doubts and worry we are. So we have to keep things light. We need to be the sound of hope and faith. We need to be the voice of reason and aspiration.

SEL as so many of us are discussing these days, needs to be amped up. Sometimes we take it for granted. We assume our students know how to cope with the stress, because they are not acting out. But, for a lot of these students the anxiety is hidden deep inside. We will not know unless we ask. We will not know until we have the conversations and really listen.

SEL can be subtle with just a quick check for the smile- I like to ask if everyone feels a smile or a frown? Then we just talk about emotions and how to be aware of our feelings. Nothing huge or drawn out. But, if we do not take the time to check the temperature of their emotions- we can't help them become more mindful and thoughtful.

We all need reminders. 

We all need guidance. 

But as adults we have, most of us anyway, possess the tools to lead us to more mindfulness. But we needed the reminders and guidance to get us here. We needed someone to help us find our connection to SEL. I know for me there have been wonderful voices of hope on Twitter and fantastic authors, and programs of growth and grace. These guide me every day. These are the sticky notes of mindfulness I find along my path.

We forget sometimes that even though our classes are well-behaved and our students are engaged that they are not necessarily feeling okay. They are often stressed and frustrated. They are often sad and lonely. They are often scared and full of nervous tension. They need us to help them discover why they may have a stomach ache or headache- when all else is healthy. Why they are feeling unmotivated and lazy when they are excited to learn.

SEL is the salvation, the security blanket, the pillow that lifts their spirits. It is the antennae from our youth- just at the right angle to detect the signal. So they can find clarity in the jumble and self-regulate. So they can feel connected when they feel distant and empty. This is our gift to them- listening, guiding and engaging. 

We can't assume they are okay- we have to make sure they are- through conversations and activities. Its self-care. It is personal awareness and self-control. It is finding positivity in times of turbulence. It is feeling good about yourself because you understand how we all impact one another- and that we are all so similar and so beautiful- this is being human and this is the ticket to mindfulness and happiness. 

Red, Blue, Purple- Stir, Stir, Stir (307)

Everything starts with a beginning. A blast, spark or boom. Like money- early stacks scream and later stacks whisper. Ideas, thoughts, opinions all dear and personal- meld into a personality, a character a spirit. What we hear as children, what we witness, what we dream- all shape our edges, they all create the mold from which we design our choices.

There is not a better or perfect. There is not a worse or other, so awful, we must judge with such impunity as to divide. There is not a difference, except how we perceive. What we need- is it being met? Are our basic requirements at the forefront of another's list of objectives? Every human breathes, circulates and digests information uniquely- choosing to absorb, secrete or ingest.

It nourishes us. These movements and assemblages. 

These rambunctious or moments of quiet revelry. These are the times that change us. Calls to action. These are the times that get added to the timelines of the future- studied by politicians, historians and students alike. These will be memorable for more reasons than any one of us can name. And, we are blending, flipping, shifting and unifying- this gyration- and this will trigger the blast, the spark and the boom, all swirling in a bucket of paint.

This is the subtle and vivacious moment where edges are blurred and yet- centers are divided. Division, retreat, isolation- begets more of a spectrum, eventually on which we build our society. In which our civilization becomes more focused on liberty and freedom. Where our spirits might sing different battle cries- but in the end, when the orchestra quiets- we are left with recognition of our cause, a cause not centrist, leftist or right- but just forward, as humans that is where we are always moving.

Even when we fall flat on our face- we are still moving forward.

Halloween: The Hidden Spooks of Education (305)

Spooks are universal. They pop out from dark corners. They leap out from behind doors. They turn our hair gray with shock and awe. They creep in, unexpected, placing on us a heavy layer of doubt. A lot of people love scary movies- the adrenaline. They love roller coasters and haunted houses this time of year. The value of a scream, shrill, and flight or fight response is big money. Many pay large sums to be scared out of their wits.

I don't particularly enjoy the thrill of a scare. I like to be scared watching a movie if it is purposeful. But the jump scares and sudden needless violence- not my cup of tea. I also do not like being blindsided. Having senseless rules. I am a rule follower. Sometimes I think about breaking a rule, just a small, insignificant one- but I don't. It's that ethical, value in honesty and guilt upbringing I endured. I believe in being good, in staying positive, in believing in people. Yes, I believe most people are good.

I know that times are outrageously tumultuous these days- and spooks- real life- spooky times are upon us. We are asked to do things we have never been asked to do before- as educator and as human beings. We are feeling those jump scares and ghostly figures as they crouch behind us, waiting for their moment. I feel them. For a long time they are all I felt. But, I have settled into a routine now, and they are at bay.

There are a lot of hidden spooks in education. Expectations have jumped ten-fold and our endurance can't keep up. We are juggling so many things that when we want to lie down and rest- we are aware we can't, no substitutes, no vacation, no time to lose. So much curriculum, so much data collection, evaluation paperwork: expectations, expectations, expectations. And as much as we feel utterly bogged down in the quagmire- I understand the necessity of it all. I just feel overwhelmed by it- its a spook.

The amount of parental frustration and expectation is at an all time high. I know I have two children still school aged. I want communicate- but not too much. I want less homework for my kids- but enough to keep the flow and learning happening (I hate the frivolous).  We are in a constant state of email, phone call and Zoom conferencing, more than in the past. For virtual learning is not just a challenge for us to teach- but for many students to traverse- self regulation and personal responsibility is new to many. Spook, spook.

So as we as educators, duck and dodge the swinging ghostly figures of times past- we must open the door and let the bright, full moon bathe us in hope. For change never happens in a vacuum or a path well-trodden. It is the hidden corners that steer us in a different direction. The haunting howls of ghouls and zombies that keep us running. We have to accept these monsters and hounds of hell as a sign- not that we are failing but that we are succeeding. 

No matter the thickness of spider web or dry ice fog- we always make it out of the shadow and we always end up with a bag of treats. We just have to keep looking, keep asking, keep walking up the various paths to the doors of progress. For they will open. Some may say trick and try to steer us away from our goals- but most will offer a treat of inspiration and action. So fill up your goodie bag and get ready- the season of growth is upon us and its not ending anytime soon.

Not More, Better (304)

they learn not best by words 

but by example

not by more

but by challenging

not by lengthy

by meaningful

not by isolation

but by community

odd and misunderstood

they often feel alone

judged

isolated

so we need to merge them

a collective of odd

thinkers and

creative spirits

we need to give them a chance to

thrive

within 

struggle

and challenge

knowing

it is not about

intelligence or superiority

but uniqueness and effort

this

is our gift to those students

who need us as much

as every other student

not more

better

Are Zoom Breakout Rooms Reliable in the Classroom? (303)

Last spring, when we were thrust into asynchronous learning I was doubtful. I was scrambling to keep lessons coming at a quick pace- and using Zoom was not really a reliable option. Just finishing the year was my only focus. But now that I am in the new school year, submersed in a new virtual world and physical world- a synergy of digital and digits- Zoom provides a lot of inspiration. I am a convert.

I have heard the stories. We all have. Inappropriate behavior- background distractions. If we don't have out students all on screen, all the time, with us staring at them, all the time- something is going to go wrong. Words will be exchanged, cursing, behavior unbecoming- in other words chaos will ensue. But it all comes down to- as everything in the classroom does- it all comes down to behavior management. How you set up for the year, the routines, consequences, and the goals and mindset. 

I have great classroom management. Of all the things I need to work on as an educator- and there are plenty believe me- ironically technology- behavior management is not one of them. Mindfulness lessons and discussions, Character Strong lessons, community building, modeling respect and listening skills. These all help me day one, to set a tone- a flexible, somewhat liberal tone, encased in a shell of responsibility and respect. 

So venturing off into the world of Zoom breakout rooms was never a fear for me, because of what I worried my students would do. It was a hesitation that stemmed from me not feeling I could set up rooms fast enough, move from room to room with ease, and well just plain old digital phobia. But, I set my main goal this year to overcome my digital phobia and dive deeper into purposeful technology. Zoom breakout rooms, being the first on a list of many.

So I found ways to set Zoom breakout rooms up while my virtual students are completing a sci-starter. You need a seamless transition. Also, by discussing very specific directions and guidelines- very clear assignments, I set the pace and tone. But assigning facilitators (responsible and kind classmates) and making sure that everyone is given a role, a responsibility and a timeframe in which to achieve their assignment- is key. It is all about the pacing. It is all about the questions asked- the format (for me generally Google Docs) and collaboration.

I have been using them a lot these days. The same groups for a few weeks, to make sure they feel comfortable with one another. But next quarter I will change the groups. I feel it is important to give them time to build a rapport. Things go so much more smoothly now, as they have the trust and respect engrained in their conversations. I bounce between them on mute- just listening. It is wonderful to feel the trust and let them experience the freedom.

Breakout rooms need to be monitored frequently. They need to be headed by a student facilitator. They need to be purposeful and meaningful- used for conversation, completion and collaboration. I am so relieved that I have a forum, in which my small groups, on-line can experience the same collaborative groups we do in my classroom. But, it all started with behavior management. With modeling mindfulness and talking about respect and kindness. 

Above all else, it started by- creating a community where voices overlap and laughter gets loud- but ultimately in the end- assignments get completed and learning happens. Learning is personal. But it is a giant web of interconnected sources and references, opinions and breakthroughs, conversations and camaraderie- and this can all happen on Zoom, as much as it happens in a brick and mortar classroom- we just have to believe and trust. 

The modeling is the clay, the sculpture comes from accidental pressure and a deliberate, slick gouge and pinch. The statue- both a beautiful reminder of the struggle and inspiration of that initial blob. That first feel of the clay. That clay, it is us- the statue- that is all them.

Masked Inspirer (301)

Masked are protective. They are necessary these days when a microscopic invader is sneaking past our barriers. We are relying on a piece of cloth to keep us safe, as we try our best to physically distance. Crowded aisles, packed stadiums- there are places where we have to come into close quarters with others. Restaurants and outdoor matches being the ones I notice the most these days. I drive past soccer games and family picnics- mask-less. 

I am always curious as to why. Why open spaces spark bravery. Where many feel a release and take off these protectors. They can feel stifling. They can feel like a muzzle on our personalities. It is a personal decision- it should be a choice. Many feel forced to do something and out of defiance- they curtail the reason for wearing them. So we see increases in cases.

Parties rage- mask-less teens mingling and frolicking leads to school shut downs. It is all so familiar of my youth, in a way. I would hope that back then we would have heeding the warning and refrained from that recklessness- but I am fear we would have done the same. The eternal flame of denial and over-confidence is timeless. But these days- it is so important not to be thinking of want but need. We need to protect all humans. All people.

We need to inspire but being a role model. Be positive and inspirational. You never know if you are a super-spreader, immune or highly susceptible. So why take the chance. Thank you for dedication and respect. Thank you for your forward thinking. Thank you for your compassion. You are amazing.

Words are Power (300)

I write a lot. Sometimes I type into a blog post- others I write, pen gripped in my hand on paper. Both mediums fill me with joy. I go days sometimes, without a thought expression unfolding on blank canvas. The brain is mysterious and magical and somehow it directs my attention to where it is needed. 

When the images collide and meld into letters and phrases, my mind brings me to the keys or ink. It lures me and almost, as if I am tethered to the ether, the energy swirls around me. I feel such a deep connection to the words, that they are no longer shapes and combinations- but whole entities, speaking, breathing and expressing themselves.

They shuffle, recombine- they tap me on the shoulder and whisper- "not here, over there." They are oxygen rich, cycling through my vascular tissue- filling me with life. At times they prefer to be hidden, within a bounded page, but others they want to be free, on the digital landscape. I can sense them, feel them approaching. Loud and boisterous or quiet and stealthy- no matter their arrival they find their place.

There are such beautiful words in the world that shape my vision, hone my auditory connection with words and for that I am thankful. For having the gift of words is a magnificent treasure- shimmering with hope and grace. At times they are spoken or written in anger, fear or ignorance- yet every word has its place, for words bring change and transformation- maybe not today as they swirl in negativity- but later when they settle and the dust becomes solid- we can look back and read them and grow from them.

I read such amazing books and inspiring blogs and I am grateful for the time given to the prose and narrative. Each a document of existence and life, of dreams and belief, of growth and magical insight. To every writer in the universe of letters, words, phrases and page- I say thank you. For my ether is entangled in yours. My moments of thought and quiet reflection are a tapestry very much woven into yours.

Words are power, writing is a magnificent exploration of cohesion, crescendo and the collective consciousness of humanity- and I for one am so grateful to be apart of it.

Some Sort of Resident (297)

I am a resident of this place. The parking lot an asphalt corridor- to the hallway, incandescent laden warmth of transition. All leading to this place: a gymnasium, circus, hippodrome of learning. I am a resident of the boards. The theater: the audience and wings, a bit part on the stage. As a citizen of education, I have a presence. I have a connection, I embrace the production value. 

At times the quality of a feature, a blockbuster- and others an independent film. 

Every day a different value, a different budget, a unique perspective. Each day we are bombarded with adverts and trailers. But as denizens we can pick and choose which to be entertained by. We are designated drivers in our own story. We are voices of this place. We write the script. We table read with other actors. We choose our roles. Even when we might not be able to choose the location.

There has been a resurgence of horror flicks. 

A lot of screeching and chases. 

We all feel exhausted. 

We all feel sweaty with the effort. 

But, in the middle- here we live- in this moment, we continue to thrive. Our crops might be dwindled- but our gardens are full. Our cameras rolling with anticipation of a great story. 

We stagger back again- no matter our mindset. This I love. This is why I am in this profession. For every negative voice, there are hundreds of positive ones. We might have bitter moments, but we circumvent- we endure- we take up residence once again: on our flow, our energy amplified.

I am some sort of resident. 

Some sort of tenant in the quarters of education. 

I find it beautiful and vulnerable. Chaotic and comforting. 

In a flux both welcoming and tragic. Edges sharp. 

But within the scurry- a soft, tender middle, where almost all- stand their ground and fight for students. 

This center- louder than any outside distraction. We are hunkering down for the teleplay. The intermission looms a bit out of reach. We might just not get one. 

And that is alright. We have trained for this.

We are residents. We are denizens, citizens and patriots. We are educators.

Reluctant Drip - Eventual Flow (296)

To drip is nothing but a slow, discontinuous, singularity of congregation. A forming, subtle and succinct. Cohesion of a droplet, releasing itself from a permanence. One by one, ker plunking into a sink of used dishes. Even from a room away, it makes its presence heard. Tap, tap, tapping into our brains, the incessant need to clean up. To load the washer and empty the plunge.

These drips seem to appear from the ether. Unprovoked. Yet the result of a leaky faucet. They slowly, if left to their own devices, become a trickle. A steadiness, an eagerness to multiply and congregate. A cleansing process. A stream, a flow, and eventually rapids. With each bombardment on smooth, glistening rock- an idea, an image, a soundbite.

They cling, like day old remnants on porcelain, yet they also vanish with a drop of dish soap. Scattering into the suds. A quick bubble of hope here. A lathering expulsion there. A reluctant drip becomes a foamy manifestation of creativity. 

Drip, drip, drip. Clink, clink, clink. The pipes are not bursting. The conduit runs dry at times. Then somehow, a conveyance, a channel a sprout- inspiration.

Follow the drips, for eventually they combine into streams- both cursive and brimming. 

They shape the landscape. Eroding and depositing. They teem and sweep. They open the floodgates. 

A reluctant drip becomes cautious circumspect, and it will evolve into courageous rapines. Some days we need to listen for the dribbles. Listen for the plop, trill, and splash of cleverness.

Allow the flow to rage. The raft to bobble. The imagination to paddle. It will certainly take you places.