Vacation is over, the Fourth of July is over, grandma went home, and we're back to "normal." Which means Annika is telling me every ten minutes of so, "I wanna do something!" I looked up 99 free things to do in the Twin Cities, and she turned down everything. I finally told her I wasn't … Continue reading July 6: Back to Normal Life
wtf
July 5: PISSED
I enjoyed my relatively politics-free vacation; I listened to history podcasts and generally stayed away from political stories. Of course I got the big ones, but I didn't read much further than the headlines. Today that changed. Please read this testimony from people affected - mainly children and parents - by the evil family separation … Continue reading July 5: PISSED
June 19: It just gets worse.
Today, McClatchy reported that it is more like 6,000 children who've been separated from their families. The AP reported that there are three "tender age" facilities for children under age 5 who've been taken from their parents, with the possibility of a fourth "needed." I don't remember the news source (Strib?), but they are looking … Continue reading June 19: It just gets worse.
June 9: hyperfocus
Lots of people think that people with ADHD can't focus ever. This is a common misconception. We can focus, but we can't control when it happens or how well, no matter how much we wish we could. The term is "hyperfocus"because we get drawn into something so deeply we often can't be ripped away from … Continue reading June 9: hyperfocus
May 30: Spectacle and Substance
I've been overwhelmed by the drama of everything lately, more than usual, more than even this new era of "normal." The news, the internet world, the real world... everything seems to be so much. Things I'm thinking about or reading about, in no specific order because nothing seems to have order anymore: Roseanne being cancelled … Continue reading May 30: Spectacle and Substance
May 25: more gun violence in schools
Today a science teacher in an Indiana middle school averted a potential mass shooting situation when a 7th grader came back to class with two handguns. Apparently he nailed the kid in the head with a basketball, then tackled him. The teacher was shot three times, but appears to be in good condition. I haven't … Continue reading May 25: more gun violence in schools
May 21: Mondays.
It was a real life Monday today. Like, full-on, oversleeping, forgetting things, can't remember what I'm supposed to be doing, give up and crash at 6:30 pm type of Monday. It was an OMG I can't get anything quite right but it'll have to do type of Monday. A two-minutes-behind-everything Monday. A feel bad about … Continue reading May 21: Mondays.
May 18: emotional whiplash
Wow. I had a great week at school. My kids did excellent on their Romeo and Juliet quizzes today. We've had a great time reading it and playing with it, and they are doing so well. My 12th graders are doing some creative writing using the story lines and interview/narrative structure of the novel we've … Continue reading May 18: emotional whiplash
May 17: Is there a line for movies or other art?
I've been obsessed with news and reviews of the Lars von Trier movie that premiered at Cannes Film Festival - The House That Jack Built. Over 100 people walked out of it, with one reviewer tweeting that it was repulsive, shouldn't have been made, and the actors are culpable. Here is another review that "is … Continue reading May 17: Is there a line for movies or other art?
May 15: the ides of May
Things that are on my mind: I'm sleepy I got an email from a student's mom that started with the greeting "Hi Teacher Robyn!" And now I want to be called Teacher Robyn instead of "MISS!" I had a kid who was my student in another semester one down to my room after school and … Continue reading May 15: the ides of May
Adventures in Distraction 