I have been surrounded by children's media and entertainment for far too long. Being a parent kind of means spending a lot of time reading picture books and then elementary chapter books. As I write, I'm listening to the Wow in the World podcast with Annika, which is telling a bunch of really cheesy robot jokes … Continue reading March 26: Children’s Media
teaching
March 24: March for Our Lives
We woke up early today - up by 8 am - to go down to Harriet Island and march with kids from around the state to the capitol in support of common sense gun legislation. Dak dropped Anders and me off, and we met with kids and teachers from his school. We marched across the … Continue reading March 24: March for Our Lives
March 22: Hope Rollercoaster
I'm teaching Greek myths and the kids are reading and watching all sorts of different stories. One is the story of Pandora, and I keep thinking about how hope is the only thing left in the box after all the terrible things were let out into the world. It has a double meaning, it seems: … Continue reading March 22: Hope Rollercoaster
March 20: Myths
I'm teaching mythology and legends in my 12th grade class, and I am definitely not in my comfort zone. I like some of the stories, but I have trouble with them sometimes. Annika, however, is really excited about it because she decided she wants to learn about the gods and myths, too. I bought Neil … Continue reading March 20: Myths
March 16: Fun? At School?
Today, for the first time in a very long time, I had fun with every single one of my classes. My 9th graders are reading The House of the Scorpion and are getting into the creepy dystopian world, while my 12th graders just finished reading origin/creation stories from all over the world and comparing them, … Continue reading March 16: Fun? At School?
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 13: Heart Palpitations and Vines
In case you hadn't noticed, I've been pretty stressed and depressed lately. The anxiety has begun to manifest itself in ways that are really annoying, which makes me just want to go to bed and not get up for three days: twitchy eyes, tight chest, headaches, all sorts of things. Today, I started having heart … Continue reading March 13: Heart Palpitations and Vines
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 11: Daylight Savings Time Should Be Abolished and other complaints
We got the clocks changed (I think we got them all; I probably need to fix the car still). Can we all agree to just leave them like this? This collective stupid time change thing needs to go. As I've gotten older, I have gotten more and more crotchety and cranky about this. I will … Continue reading March 11: Daylight Savings Time Should Be Abolished and other complaints
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
Adventures in Distraction 