I have been spending this week pouting. I will admit it. This summer is not what I planned. I had hoped for a trip to Europe, that got canceled for the second summer in a row because life happens. I hoped for a backup trip to Nashville. We had to cancel that. Our family has…
Digital Connection
There are times when I realize that our digital world can connect us. Today is one of those times. I spent a wonderful hour or so with my National Writing Project peeps working through some issues on digital portfolios. I would not be able to do this work without minds greater than my own. I…
Equity in Action
This year has been a personal and professional struggle. It is interesting being in this stage of my educational journey. I realized recently that I have about a decade left before retirement from the day to day work world. After completing my doctorate, I thought I would have a clear path as to my next…
Writing Spaces
I spent this school year immersed in the work of creating a new instructional program for our Independent Scholars. I am learning how to manage, create and support the learning in a space created for students who need something different to support their high school experience. I have worked with over 45 students this year,…
2019: A New Year Full of Opportunities
The holidays have come and gone, filled with family and friends and fun. It was a time to purposefully unplug, to reflect and to disconnect from the digital world so I could focus on the real world. 2018 taught me that time is probably my most precious, and sometimes wasted commodity. I spent a lot…
Holidays Are a Time of Reflection, How Will You Spend Your Time this Season?
The frenzy of the holiday season is upon us. The holidays are not always a happy time, but they are always a time for reflection. They have definitely always been a cause for celebration on our household, and traditionally filled with family, friends and lots of reasons to celebrate. But this year is different. This…
Be the Spark
I have been quite the busy writing teacher over the past quarter. In fact so busy that my space lay dormant while I took the quarter to teach my students how to fill theirs. So many posts written in my head that never got to the page. I wanted to, I often tried, but as…
Creating a Reading and Writing Community Week One: Ask the Right Questions and Listen
When I look at social media feeds, I find many posts sharing, “There is no tired like the first week of school teacher tired!” I for one don’t feel that way, I am inspired, and challenged and albeit a little overwhelmed with the prospect of meeting the needs of my students this year. My goal…
The Challenge and Joy of Developing a Writing Community: Announcing Our Journey
I define myself as a writer because I am blessed to be surrounded by people who write. I seek writers in my life, both those with whom I can write with at local coffee shops each week, and those that are a digital community that inspires and pushes my work in new and better directions….
Time is Precious: Learning to Live in the Moment
It has been six years today since I lost my dad. I couldn’t go to services last night to stand in remembrance because I was in the ER with my husband. He came down with a virus, and we spent a scary day in Urgent Care and then the Emergency Room trying to figure out…