Someone recently asked me, “What do you believe schools will look like in five years?” Until recently, I would have had an insightful response that included something about individualizing instruction for all students, utilizing technology to bridge gaps, incorporating more authentic, project-based learning and blurring the lines between subject areas. Today, however, I am not …
Continue reading What will learning look like in the near future?
I can count on one hand the number of times I’ve admitted to being moved to tears. One of those occasions was while watching We Bought a Zoo, a family drama/comedy starring Matt Damon. The film was actually based on the true story of Benjamin Mee. It’s definitely worth a watch, but that’s not the …
I recently attended a workshop titled, “Shenanigans, Tomfoolery & Nonsense–Ideas for Boosting Morale.” Walking toward the breakout room, I mentally pictured the presenters as a couple of boomers who were just past the point where using the words tomfoolery and shenanigans was socially acceptable. While it clearly seems I have a bias here, it was …
When I was in the 6th grade, I took an interest in architecture. While my friends were drawing images of superheroes and playing video games, I liked to draw floor plans. I even had some drafting tools that allowed me to draw to scale and insert fixtures and appliances. I’d browse floor plans in magazines …
The first photo that I was able to publish was a retro-looking orange stapler that I found in a desk that I inherited from its previous occupant. It had a lot of vintage 70’s character and looked as though it should be proudly placed on top of one of those old metal office desks that …
Aside from the fact that it’s cold, the sun begins to set at 3:30, and it’s often impossible to find a parking space, this is my favorite time of the year. Sarcasm aside, the days when the snow is white on the ground, the sun is shining and the sky is blue conjures up all …
Recently I was having dinner with some friends I had not seen for a while. Catching up, we asked each other about what we’ve been doing, new books or media we’ve found and where we were with goals about which we had previously spoken. That last one caught me ill prepared. What I realized during …
I’ve never liked having stuff on my desk. Not at home and not at work. Even as a young band director, I would work feverishly into the night filing and grading and organizing in order to keep practice sheets, scores and notes from parents from cluttering my desk. Not surprisingly, I also never liked bulletin …
Well, it is Sunday, November 7th and I am an hour early for CBS Sunday Morning. That sentence should imply that I like my routines. But in case it wasn’t clear, I do. I like to be spontaneous, so long as I have time to plan it. I also like to try new things, as …
I thought I was being smart by combining lunch with an errand the other day. After watering the dog, I poured a can of chicken noodle into a coffee cup and hopped into my car. It was organic low sodium, if that makes a difference. Well, at least until I added a teaspoon of pink …
Continue reading You don’t realize how bumpy the roads are until you try to eat soup
impassionED 