I spent most of my vacation traveling far west of Massachusetts. I started off in Snowbird, UT for the Gates Foundation ECET2 convening. Over 300 teacher leaders were invited from all over the United States to come together and talk about the problems of our practice and we developed strategies for solving them. I met and listened to inspirational teachers and came away with a renewed sense of what can be accomplished with enthusiasm and support. HERE is my reflection piece posted on ASCD Edge…
The remainder of my week was spent with my family, traveling to visit the University of Minnesota during their worst storm of the winter. I spent time reflecting on the time in my life where my big decisions started. My daughter is now at that impasse, and has so much control over what happens next. Can you all remember that time in your life?
I remember when I started teaching. My daughter was in the 3rd grade and it seemed we had all the time in the world before she’d be heading off on her own. Now, we are on that veritable threshold, and I am seeing the plane that will whisk her off into her future.
I went ice skating with her today. She loves to ice skate. I despise it. However, I am now hyper aware of this opportunity I have to connect with her before she heads off on her own life adventure. I guess it goes without saying… I am sharing this story with all of you because it was just *yesterday* that she was in 3rd grade playing Club Penguin and soccer. She was shy and reserved and appeared as if she would never leave home. Because of her newly discovered adventurous spirit, I am more deliberate in how I spend my time with both kids.
As they say…. make hay while the sun shines.
Wow, we are almost in MARCH of 3rd grade! That’s crazy talk! This Wednesday is the Mullen-Hall STEAM night. Hope to see you all there!
We are now back living in our home and have reliable Internet. Thank you for your patience as I continue to navigate this upheaval. We’ll be back to normal by summer :).
Dream Big,
