Tonight was the last class of a Technology class I've been taking after school. I've learned a lot and it's definitely pushed me to try things I wouldn't otherwise have tried, but that have been effective. Tonight, though, it taught me a much more difficult lesson, or maybe I should say it reminded me of … Continue reading May 8: Frustrated Student
small victories
May 2: Great Things at School
Everyday is a rollercoaster as a teacher. Today, I'm focusing on the great. We started reading Romeo and Juliet today with my 9th graders. I had some kids who were totally scared of the language, but by the end of the first day, they wanted to read bigger parts. One boy opened the play and … Continue reading May 2: Great Things at School
April 23: I don’t know
Annika saw me setting up to write. She asked me, "what's gonna be the title today?" And I responded, "I don't know." She looked at me for a beat, then looked down at my phone as I typed the title, then laughed. "Really!?" "Yeah." "What are you going to write about that?" "Don't know. Probably … Continue reading April 23: I don’t know
April 7: Giant Fish
I was surfing around on the ol' social media and came across a video of a guy in a kayak catching an 8 foot sturgeon in Idaho. I was super excited to show Dak, but he was pretty unimpressed. I got kind of frustrated, because, here was a guy in a kayak catching a fish … Continue reading April 7: Giant Fish
March 14: Walkouts Everywhere
Kids at our school joined kids across the country and world in walking out to protest gun violence and call for more gun safety. My son's school took part, as well, and I'm glad they did. Students and young people have been at the forefront of social movements forever. They have energy and unbridled passion, … Continue reading March 14: Walkouts Everywhere
March 12: Almost Everything Sucks
Yeah, I said it. I'm in that place. Everything sucks and I hate everything. Well, almost everything. Most things. I feel inadequate as a parent and partner because I'm tired all the time and depressed. I feel unsure about my future and anxious. It's still cold outside and I'm sick of the slursh that's everywhere. … Continue reading March 12: Almost Everything Sucks
March 10: Trauma and Hope
Today was the second day of the ECET2MN conference, which was held at the Open World Learning (OWL) school in St. Paul. I love visiting different schools - it's like being invited into someone else's house, in a way. I imagine what it must be like there with tons of kids buzzing around the hallways. … Continue reading March 10: Trauma and Hope
February 28: It’s Over!
So February is (almost) over. I took Annika to see the Roseville women's basketball game tonight. They played against Irondale in the first round of the section and we left with, like, seven minutes left because Roseville was up by about 30 points and Annika wanted to see my classroom before we left. Tomorrow is … Continue reading February 28: It’s Over!
February 8: Small Successes
Today, one of my classes was all on time and they all wrote for the five minute write period we have every day at the beginning of class. They didn't talk, they didn't make silly faces at each other, they didn't even really go on their phones. Then they actually talked about the topic with … Continue reading February 8: Small Successes
Adventures in Distraction 