tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18374898735751727422024-03-13T05:53:43.350-07:00Dr. Riina's One Good ThingStories about the joyful moments in each day of teaching we can treasure in the face of the frustrations and negativity that often surrounds us. Dr. Riinahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05482411691947324906noreply@blogger.comBlogger272125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1837489873575172742.post-38692679492083816442017-09-17T19:03:00.001-07:002017-09-17T19:03:22.817-07:00An Open Letter to My (Former/Future) Students<div style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: "Open Sans", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; margin-bottom: 20px;">
<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-CpAEXxN_RJ4/Wb8pA8teYRI/AAAAAAAABGI/ZeuYm-kgptEaI3EW4vBslxwX2MQOKyQ5wCLcBGAs/s1600/reach-2697953_640%2B%25281%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="272" data-original-width="640" height="136" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-CpAEXxN_RJ4/Wb8pA8teYRI/AAAAAAAABGI/ZeuYm-kgptEaI3EW4vBslxwX2MQOKyQ5wCLcBGAs/s320/reach-2697953_640%2B%25281%2529.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: "Open Sans", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; margin-bottom: 20px;">
Below is a letter (well, a published draft anyway) I wrote to leave behind for students this year. It was first published on <a href="http://theeducatorsroom.com/" target="_blank">Theeducatorsroom.com</a> where I also write. I wanted to share it here as well.</div>
<div style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: "Open Sans", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; margin-bottom: 20px;">
Dear Students,</div>
<div style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: "Open Sans", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; margin-bottom: 20px;">
I didn’t leave because of you. <a href="http://theeducatorsroom.com/2017/01/teaching-really-love/" style="box-sizing: border-box; color: #2698a9; text-decoration-line: none; transition-duration: 0.2s; transition-property: color, background-color, border-color; transition-timing-function: linear;">I don’t love you any less.</a> I won’t stop thinking about you or missing you or hoping you are well. You know how much I love you. I won’t stop wondering about how you are doing or forget your sweet faces or devious antics. I can’t imagine life without you.</div>
<div style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: "Open Sans", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; margin-bottom: 20px;">
But.</div>
<div style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: "Open Sans", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; margin-bottom: 20px;">
But it was time. Those of you who know me, you know how much I love a challenge. You know I crave chaos and creativity, newness and imagination. And it wasn’t that you won’t challenge me anymore. It’s that the challenge had become too predictable, too ordinary, too comfortable.</div>
<div style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: "Open Sans", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; margin-bottom: 20px;">
</div>
<a name='more'></a>The worst thing I can imagine is losing that excitement, that desire to push you and myself as hard as possible every day. If my love of teaching faded, it would destroy me. If it faded while I was in a classroom, it wouldn’t be good for you either.<br />
<div style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: "Open Sans", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; margin-bottom: 20px;">
I could feel that tattered edge of <a href="http://theeducatorsroom.com/2015/12/surviving-burnout/" style="box-sizing: border-box; color: #2698a9; text-decoration-line: none; transition-duration: 0.2s; transition-property: color, background-color, border-color; transition-timing-function: linear;">burnout</a> eating at the corners of my joy. Not because my positive feelings about spending my days with you changed, but because I was getting restless.</div>
<div style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: "Open Sans", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; margin-bottom: 20px;">
Restlessness chafes. It feels dangerously close to dissatisfaction. <a href="http://theeducatorsroom.com/2017/06/changing-schools-how-do-you-know-when-its-time-to-go/" style="box-sizing: border-box; color: #2698a9; text-decoration-line: none; transition-duration: 0.2s; transition-property: color, background-color, border-color; transition-timing-function: linear;">How do I explain abandoning contentment</a>? I don’t know. All I can say is my own dumb brain is totally to blame. I took this step confident that I am leaving you in good hands. I trust and admire every member of the teaching family I am leaving behind. You are safe.</div>
<div style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: "Open Sans", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; margin-bottom: 20px;">
The combination of wanting to work with teachers and trusting you are still surrounded by amazing professionals led me to a point where I had to go. I had to go out and find a new adventure.</div>
<div style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: "Open Sans", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; margin-bottom: 20px;">
Those of you who know me, you know I didn’t leave education. I couldn’t and still breathe. Instead, I left the classroom. Those of you who know me, know how much I love working with, collaborating with, and helping other teachers. Nowadays, that’s my job. I spend my time finding and organizing the best materials, lessons, and ideas and getting those things into teacher’s hands. The capacity to impact so many more children is both exhilarating and intimidating.</div>
<div style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: "Open Sans", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; margin-bottom: 20px;">
It is fun and challenging and exactly what I needed. And I miss you more than you could know. I will grieve for the classroom I am not setting up, the classes I’m not planning, the new names I’m not learning. You made me who I am; who I want to be.</div>
<div style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: "Open Sans", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; margin-bottom: 20px;">
Thank you. I hope you don’t forget me. I will absolutely never forget you. And I can never thank you enough for letting me touch your lives.</div>
<div style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: "Open Sans", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; margin-bottom: 20px;">
Sincerely,</div>
<div style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: "Open Sans", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; margin-bottom: 20px;">
Your (former/would have been) teacher</div>
Dr. Riinahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05482411691947324906noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1837489873575172742.post-78773950375455341082017-09-12T18:47:00.001-07:002017-09-12T18:47:51.675-07:00CoincidenceThe other day I went to one of the high schools.<br />
<br />
It was the first day of student attendance.<br />
<br />
I didn't go to "observe" teachers.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Nn0WJZsi8S4/V6qY3F0bWBI/AAAAAAAAAYA/DmYJHdAxKsYIHAUPPd14VH03goGyw2DywCPcBGAYYCw/s1600/cornered-152284_1280.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1280" data-original-width="1120" height="320" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Nn0WJZsi8S4/V6qY3F0bWBI/AAAAAAAAAYA/DmYJHdAxKsYIHAUPPd14VH03goGyw2DywCPcBGAYYCw/s320/cornered-152284_1280.png" width="280" /></a></div>
<br />
I wasn't doing "walk throughs."<br />
<br />
It was the first day of student attendance.<br />
<br />
But, there are a lot of people to get to know.<br />
<br />
Hundreds, literally.<br />
<br />
And there are a lot of buildings to get to know.<br />
<br />
30, to be exact.<br />
<br />
Part of my job is to visit schools and classrooms.<br />
<br />
Plus, this school has a brand new, just hired, ELL teacher with four preps.<br />
<br />
Maybe a little extra support is in order.<br />
<br />
I walked into her classroom and got a very pleasant surprise.<br />
<br />
A former student of mine was sitting there.<br />
<br />
I had him two or three years ago as a freshman.<br />
<br />
He was always so quiet.<br />
<br />
Quiet, but smart, observant, and with a wicked sense of humor.<br />
<br />
When nonsense abounded, he was almost always the instigator.<br />
<br />
And I could barely get him to talk to me.<br />
<br />
I mean, he is a soft spoken dude.<br />
<br />
But, he wouldn't say three words to me.<br />
<br />
When I finally started getting a solid head nod when I said hello, I felt awesome.<br />
<br />
He was sitting, not surprisingly, off to one side of the room.<br />
<br />
With that slightly smug, mischievous look I know so well.<br />
<br />
I totally put him on blast.<br />
<br />
I said hello like it was the most natural thing in the world for us both to be there.<br />
<br />
While wearing my central office name tag.<br />
<br />
He squirmed and refused to make eye contact...<br />
<br />
and was secretly pleased to be seen.<br />
<br />
I doubt he cared about seeing me.<br />
<br />
But I bet he cared that I saw and remembered him.<br />
<br />
I don't know, it was nice.<br />
<br />
Unexpected and silly, but nice.<br />
<br />
Knowing a few kids here and there is still a good thing.<br />
<br />Dr. Riinahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05482411691947324906noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1837489873575172742.post-34747720195380485192017-09-07T18:40:00.001-07:002017-09-07T18:40:07.692-07:00Doing me a favor...<a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Zzsy13SWM4M/WbHz1MsGVZI/AAAAAAAABFs/UDG3Y5rx9ZgaMMb1PQzH0dJFDajNFG4yACLcBGAs/s1600/teamwork-453484_640.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="413" data-original-width="640" height="205" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Zzsy13SWM4M/WbHz1MsGVZI/AAAAAAAABFs/UDG3Y5rx9ZgaMMb1PQzH0dJFDajNFG4yACLcBGAs/s320/teamwork-453484_640.jpg" width="320" /></a>There was district PD last Friday.<br />
<br />
And the day had a lot of moving parts.<br />
<br />
Like a lot a lot.<br />
<br />
It was only elementary schools...<br />
<br />
Only 20 schools.<br />
<br />
The teachers were split in two for math PD.<br />
<br />
Half in the morning, half in the afternoon.<br />
<br />
Grades 3-5, they went to technology for the other half of the day.<br />
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
K-2 were divided by grade level.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
Their other half of the day was split again.<br />
<br />
Half Novel Engineering and half ELA PD.<br />
<br />
Except new teachers, librarians, reading specialists, elective teachers, instructional specialists, and building aides.<br />
<br />
They all had other stuff going on at least part of the day.<br />
<br />
Anyway, that meant, I had to staff four sessions for each grade level k-2, plus 6 sessions for new teachers.<br />
<br />
As I am brand new and know no one, this has been a challenge.<br />
<br />
<a name='more'></a><br />
Don't get me wrong, the teachers have been great.<br />
<br />
And my boss and colleagues have given me lots of names.<br />
<br />
The issue is that I was begging favors of strangers.<br />
<br />
I really don't like that.<br />
<br />
It makes me super uncomfortable.<br />
<br />
But here's the thing:<br />
<br />
I've gotten a lot of positive feedback.<br />
<br />
Teacher volunteers have been incredibly understanding.<br />
<br />
The schedule shifted numerous times.<br />
<br />
I blame math PD.<br />
<br />
They still really seemed excited about the session I designed.<br />
<br />
K-2 teachers rarely get to calibrate their grading of written work.<br />
<br />
I think it is important.<br />
<br />
It allows for the examination of assumptions about proficiency.<br />
<br />
My volunteers were also appreciative of the materials I prepared.<br />
<br />
No one seemed too nervous or concerned.<br />
<br />
Today, I was told this was the first time this person had been given a presentation.<br />
<br />
She said she felt totally comfortable.<br />
<br />
Both the people I met with Thursday loved how concise my Slides were.<br />
<br />
I got to answer some powerful questions about how to respond to contentiousness.<br />
<br />
And I was profusely thanked for meeting with the teachers at their buildings.<br />
<br />
Like, what else would I do?<br />
<br />
But, ok, thanks!<br />
<br />
I can totally see how such details could get lost in a big district.<br />
<br />
On the other hand, its too important to me to neglect.<br />
<br />
I will definitely get them a small gift.<br />
<br />
Maybe a Starbucks card for a few bucks or a stress ball.<br />
<br />
Maybe a soda or chocolate.<br />
<br />
I don't know yet.<br />
<br />
I might make a quick survey.<br />
<br />
They will all receive certificates to use as artifacts of district leadership on their evaluations.<br />
<br />
One person asked me three different times if she was really recommended.<br />
<br />
It clearly tickled her pink that I got her name from someone.<br />
<br />
That certificate might be a formality to some, but some will clearly love it.<br />
<br />
I am just so impressed with the positive attitude and willingness I have encountered.<br />
<br />
It has been a really good thing.<br />
<br />
I have gotten to build some relationships.<br />
<br />
I have felt, you know, reasonably competent doing it.<br />
<br />
They did me a favor and I really appreciate it.Dr. Riinahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05482411691947324906noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1837489873575172742.post-14983436769781129212017-09-05T19:41:00.001-07:002017-09-05T19:41:45.441-07:00Once in a while, I know the answerWhen you start a new job, doing something completely different, you feel stupid.<br />
<br />
At least, I do.<br />
<br />
Like everyone knows more than you about pretty much everything.<br />
<br />
Like your peers have got to be sick of your questions.<br />
<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-_dW_tfAllzw/Wa9gTCCTEmI/AAAAAAAABFQ/nFdiwM3aAt4C7DQlXGt5GlPFWjZmLctRQCLcBGAs/s1600/key-2114047_640.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="360" data-original-width="640" height="180" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-_dW_tfAllzw/Wa9gTCCTEmI/AAAAAAAABFQ/nFdiwM3aAt4C7DQlXGt5GlPFWjZmLctRQCLcBGAs/s320/key-2114047_640.jpg" width="320" /></a><br />
Like you are kind of slow and very forgetful.<br />
<br />
When you start a new job, all your quirks show.<br />
<br />
Or at least, I think they do.<br />
<br />
There is just sooooo much to learn.<br />
<br />
And so little time to think.<br />
<br />
And so many questions to ask.<br />
<br />
And so many questions to answer.<br />
<br />
Most of which you answer with let me ask someone and find an answer.<br />
<br />
I have lists of lists I need to make lists about.<br />
<br />
Most of which I don't have time to make.<br />
<br />
But this weird thing is starting to happen.<br />
<br />
Once in a while, I know the answer.<br />
<br />
<a name='more'></a><br />
Someone in the office calls out "Does anybody know...?"<br />
<br />
And I can say, "I do, we are supposed to..."<br />
<br />
How cool is that.<br />
<br />
I get emails from teachers all the time.<br />
<br />
Most of which are asking questions I can't answer.<br />
<br />
But this weird thing is starting to happen.<br />
<br />
Once in a while, I know the answer.<br />
<br />
"Your books will be arriving Monday."<br />
<br />
"Your password is RandomWord12."<br />
<br />
"Here is a copy of the assessment schedule for your reference."<br />
<br />
It feels awesome to be able to help.<br />
<br />
It feels awesome to give a teacher something they need.<br />
<br />
Something that makes their day better or helps them teach.<br />
<br />
And I'm starting to build some relationships too.<br />
<br />
Today, I traded alliterative nonsense via email...<br />
<br />
with an instructional coach at one of the middle schools...<br />
<br />
just because fun.<br />
<br />
My teammates are starting to tease me.<br />
<br />
Ok, they teased me from day one, but it feels more natural now.<br />
<br />
Its like I told my boss yesterday,<br />
<br />
I don't feel like I'm drowning...I'm swimming laps yet either, but treading water.<br />
<br />
Since I was a little worried I might just sink, that works for me.<br />
<br />
And the good thing, more and more often, once in a while, I know an answer.Dr. Riinahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05482411691947324906noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1837489873575172742.post-55997285400463326862017-08-30T17:23:00.002-07:002017-08-30T17:23:52.425-07:00Proud of me?<a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-pKmo2eLNhOU/WadW42HXclI/AAAAAAAABE0/xTNqvt49ij80hDQwvSoyvHQs7v1nhNXDgCLcBGAs/s1600/heart-159637_640.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="435" data-original-width="640" height="217" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-pKmo2eLNhOU/WadW42HXclI/AAAAAAAABE0/xTNqvt49ij80hDQwvSoyvHQs7v1nhNXDgCLcBGAs/s320/heart-159637_640.png" width="320" /></a>I wrote a letter.<br />
<br />
An open letter to my former students.<br />
<br />
Eventually, I will post it here.<br />
<br />
But not yet.<br />
<br />
My students; however, already have it.<br />
<br />
Since I left after the school year ended, no one knew I wouldn't be back.<br />
<br />
I didn't really know I wouldn't be back.<br />
<br />
So in an effort to be fair to my babies...<br />
<br />
and my colleagues who otherwise have to field a ton of awkward questions,<br />
<br />
I wrote a letter.<br />
<br />
<br />
<a name='more'></a><br />
One of my best friends said she printed a stack of them.<br />
<br />
Everything someone comes around looking for me, she gives them a copy.<br />
<br />
I was her assistant adult in charge of the Speech and Debate team last year.<br />
<br />
Those kids have definitely asked about me.<br />
<br />
She told me about a conversation they had.<br />
<br />
One said she was mad at me.<br />
<br />
That doesn't surprise me.<br />
<br />
Another said she was proud of me.<br />
<br />
Awww, proud of me?<br />
<br />
That is so sweet.<br />
<br />
The third, the team captain this year, said she was mad at me AND proud of me.<br />
<br />
That is the sweetest thing I have ever heard in my whole wide life.<br />
<br />
Its nice that they miss me.<br />
<br />
Its a good thing, in a weird sort of way.Dr. Riinahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05482411691947324906noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1837489873575172742.post-30601490390151691082017-08-22T16:58:00.007-07:002017-08-22T16:58:59.464-07:00Unpredictable challengeI stopped at the QT for lunch the other day.<br />
<br />
Gas station food isn't exactly healthy, but it was what I had time for.<br />
<br />
And I ran into a former student.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-7cNzeqNo4OQ/WZzE_-EKEQI/AAAAAAAABEU/YE6yw9GJ0nERpJt6wrwFG7xKM_AUmGpRQCLcBGAs/s1600/matterhorn-918442_640.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="435" data-original-width="640" height="217" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-7cNzeqNo4OQ/WZzE_-EKEQI/AAAAAAAABEU/YE6yw9GJ0nERpJt6wrwFG7xKM_AUmGpRQCLcBGAs/s320/matterhorn-918442_640.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
Honestly, I don't remember his name.<br />
<br />
He didn't even recognize me.<br />
<br />
I definitely remembered his face.<br />
<br />
I stopped and asked him if he went to R*****.<br />
<br />
He kind of shrugged yes.<br />
<br />
"Did you have me for English?"<br />
<br />
"Um, probably..." followed by an uncomfortable and sheepish grin.<br />
<br />
I don't know why that moment made me smile.<br />
<br />
This is not a kid whose life I changed...<br />
<br />Or even made an impression on.<br />
<br />
Maybe it was just a nice reminder of what used to be.<br />
<br />
<a name='more'></a><br />
Maybe I enjoy discomfiting former students.<br />
<br />
Maybe a little too much even.<br />
<br />
Maybe I am extra sensitive to the young people around me.<br />
<br />
There are so <i>few</i> of them these days.<br />
<br />
I miss them.<br />
<br />
And I don't at the same time.<br />
<br />
You know, I realized today that I have been in this new position for six weeks.<br />
<br />
Not six months, not six years, six weeks.<br />
<br />
I'm exhausted and I feel like I've been doing this forever.<br />
<br />
I also feel like I still have only the barest idea of what I am up to.<br />
<br />
That in and of itself is pretty awesome.<br />
<br />
There is no challenge like an unpredictable challenge.<br />
<br />
Some days, that is more than enough.<br />
<br />
Today is one of those days.<br />
<br />
Running into a former student reminds me of everything I'm missing.<br />
<br />
It also reminds me of everything I've gained, everything I'm learning, everything I'm doing.<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />Dr. Riinahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05482411691947324906noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1837489873575172742.post-86514085327111867512017-08-15T18:20:00.001-07:002017-08-15T18:20:04.514-07:00Seeing my stuff<a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-dFu49csGBW0/WZOdtaFpfLI/AAAAAAAABDg/ZvkG5BmKgTUvOdStgBUD3qtOKPaBObhCACLcBGAs/s1600/school-supplies-488381_640.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="428" data-original-width="640" height="214" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-dFu49csGBW0/WZOdtaFpfLI/AAAAAAAABDg/ZvkG5BmKgTUvOdStgBUD3qtOKPaBObhCACLcBGAs/s320/school-supplies-488381_640.jpg" width="320" /></a>Seeing my stuff spread all over some one else's room...<br />
<br />
is weird.<br />
<br />
It feels both wrong and gratifying.<br />
<br />
Definitely, I am glad it is getting put to good use.<br />
<br />
But what if I need it again?<br />
<br />
What if I want it?<br />
<br />
Oh boy.<br />
<br />
I don't even get to go supply shopping this year!<br />
<br />
The gratifying part, though, is pretty cool.<br />
<br />
I mean, there have been a lot of very heartfelt thank yous.<br />
<br />
Those are nice.<br />
<br />
Seeing teachers with what they need for a strong start.<br />
<br />
That is priceless.<br />
<br />
When I went there last week, everything was everywhere.<br />
<br />
<a name='more'></a><br />
There were posters and boxes and supplies strewn across the desks.<br />
<br />
It reminded me of me.<br />
<br />
Yesterday, when I went back, it was different.<br />
<br />
Maybe better.<br />
<br />
Posters I recognized covered the walls.<br />
<br />
My classroom library was strategically shared across three classrooms.<br />
<br />
I could see plastic bins and buckets of supplies organized in corners.<br />
<br />
Those came from me too.<br />
<br />
It hurts my heart in the best kind of way.<br />
<br />
I don't get to have students of my own this year.<br />
<br />
And that's ok, I am doing good work.<br />
<br />
I am learning and enjoying the challenge.<br />
<br />
And best of all, I get to see a little part of me in several different classrooms.<br />
<br />
Tangible proof that some small legacy stays alive in classrooms is a good thing.<br />
<br />
Mostly because it just is<br />
<br />
It is good for kids and good for teachers.<br />
<br />
It's good for me too.<br />
<br />Dr. Riinahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05482411691947324906noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1837489873575172742.post-76841611567961658842017-08-13T19:21:00.000-07:002017-08-13T19:21:00.811-07:00Kinder PDI am now working with k-12 teachers full-time.<div>
<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Rbg0q3Fi4XI/WZEI9uGvWTI/AAAAAAAABDE/MFbjiSJro0MTcKfgmE5B5rFDZ22MA3YCgCLcBGAs/s1600/sun-451441_640.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="452" data-original-width="640" height="226" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Rbg0q3Fi4XI/WZEI9uGvWTI/AAAAAAAABDE/MFbjiSJro0MTcKfgmE5B5rFDZ22MA3YCgCLcBGAs/s320/sun-451441_640.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div>
So, this week, I facilitated the Kindergarten PD session.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
My background is mostly secondary.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
But my boss told me I had to get over it.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
The best way to get comfortable with all the levels, is to work with all the levels.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
She said that was how her boss treated her and it worked.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
I created the session plan.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
Actually, I created the session plan for K-5.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
Still, I found the idea of leading PD for kindergarten teachers completely terrifying.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
Not because I thought the teachers would be disrespectful or unreceptive.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
No. I was scared because it was new.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
Because I feel like my expertise is thinner with younger grades.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
I needn't have worried.</div>
<div>
<a name='more'></a>First, I got a teacher volunteer to partner with me.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
She is an elementary reading specialist and just the kindest, most pleasant personality.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
And, as it turns out, I kinda of do know what I am talking about.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
We conducted 3 sessions with 3 groups of teachers.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
All three went well.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
I enjoyed the time with the teachers.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
The teachers seemed to enjoy what we did.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
It appeared to make them think.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
Definitely, they appreciated the time to work on planning.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
I made some connections.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
Everyone took note of who I am (which is both gratifying and scary).</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
It was nice to explain the new assessment schedule...</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
Because kinder has fewer tests this year.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
And you know that's a hit.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
It was surprisingly fun and laid back and productive and playful.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
As an introduction to district PD, it was a good thing.</div>
Dr. Riinahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05482411691947324906noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1837489873575172742.post-84386625632766559542017-08-09T19:33:00.000-07:002017-08-09T19:33:02.751-07:00Giving time.<a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Me-uu4UNAhk/WYvFqIwHaLI/AAAAAAAABCo/Xnrnc4KZydAQIO6uW8ONk7ZXERgby-EtQCLcBGAs/s1600/hand-1590578_640.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="420" data-original-width="640" height="209" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Me-uu4UNAhk/WYvFqIwHaLI/AAAAAAAABCo/Xnrnc4KZydAQIO6uW8ONk7ZXERgby-EtQCLcBGAs/s320/hand-1590578_640.jpg" width="320" /></a>New teacher time.<br />
<br />
We had a whole day for curriculum.<br />
<br />
Part of my job is to provide said curriculum.<br />
<br />
Or at least access to it.<br />
<br />
Most of that work had been handled by others before my tenure started.<br />
<br />
Can you believe it's been three weeks since I started this adventure?<br />
<br />
Sorry, distracted.<br />
<br />
Different groups of teachers had different training as part of the day.<br />
<br />
I got to spend most of the day with the new high school teachers.<br />
<br />
It was fun.<br />
<br />
There wasn't much I could do to help them, per se, but I enjoyed it.<br />
<br />
The instructional coaches from the high school did most of the actual work.<br />
<br />
I answered a few questions in the morning.<br />
<br />
That was about it.<br />
<br />
In the afternoon, we met at one of the buildings.<br />
<br />
And there still wasn't much I could do.<br />
<br />
<a name='more'></a><br />
I got to know them a little, which is good.<br />
<br />
After about an hour, they asked the magic question:<br />
<br />
Can we go back to our schools/rooms and work?<br />
<br />
My answer was an unequivocal yes.<br />
<br />
I got a lot of grateful gee-gawking in response.<br />
<br />
They couldn't quite believe I was really letting them leave.<br />
<br />
I felt pretty good about getting to give them the gift of time.<br />
<br />
Before they left, I mentioned my storage unit.<br />
<br />
You know, the one that STILL isn't empty.<br />
<br />
The one filled with boxes of books and flexible seating.<br />
<br />
I offered them the contents.<br />
<br />
A couple of them met me at my unit a few days later.<br />
<br />
There is still too much left.<br />
<br />
But I made friends for life.<br />
<br />
Well, at least, those teachers will trust and help me forever.<br />
<br />
It was fun and felt good.<br />
<br />
I love seeing my stuff put to good use.<br />
<br />
They will be returning tomorrow to haul off still more.<br />
<br />
Now if only I remembered what sleep was like life would be perfect...<br />
<br />
<br />Dr. Riinahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05482411691947324906noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1837489873575172742.post-25221837730195543912017-08-01T18:32:00.000-07:002017-08-01T18:56:06.956-07:00Finding a wayOops!<br />
<br />
I missed a post (again).<br />
<br />
My new job is kicking my butt in the best kind of way.<br />
<br />
I'm struggling with how to keep this thing going.<br />
<br />
After all, I won't be a classroom teacher this year.<br />
<br />
<a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-xxbWMvy5e5s/WYErU6KoQJI/AAAAAAAABCI/AjZgLr6_KrsLHrLhDPgSvBhmKtZsb1m5QCLcBGAs/s1600/biker-384178_640.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="167" data-original-width="640" height="103" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-xxbWMvy5e5s/WYErU6KoQJI/AAAAAAAABCI/AjZgLr6_KrsLHrLhDPgSvBhmKtZsb1m5QCLcBGAs/s400/biker-384178_640.jpg" width="400" /></a>That doesn't mean there aren't good things.<br />
<br />
It doesn't mean those things aren't school related.<br />
<br />
It doesn't mean those things aren't important.<br />
<br />
But they are <i>different.</i><br />
<i><br /></i>
Really different.<br />
<br />
The stories worth telling aren't as obvious to me.<br />
<br />
Who cares about my formatting nightmares when I'm prepping curriculum?<br />
<br />
Why would I write about answering emails?<br />
<br />
Is my phone conversation with a crazy enthusiastic librarian worth writing about?<br />
<br />
Can I legitimately write about how terrifying this adventure is?<br />
<br />
<br />
How much story do I really need?<br />
<br />
These are the things I am thinking about...<br />
<br />
<a name='more'></a><br />
You know, when I'm not too tired to see straight or in the midst of ten new tasks.<br />
<br />
The only way to learn to swim is to jump in the deep end.<br />
<br />
Also, the only way to drown.<br />
<br />
Anyway...<br />
<br />
I'm also acutely aware that I now inhabit a realm needing significantly more confidentiality.<br />
<br />
I'm a silver linings kind of girl.<br />
<br />
To find the silver lining, you kind of have to expose the clouds.<br />
<br />
That's a big deal and a bit delicate.<br />
<br />
As with many things right now, I'm still finding my feet.<br />
<br />
Looking for balance, if you will.<br />
<br />
So, yeah, my current good thing is that I don't know what to write about.<br />
<br />
Or how to write about it.<br />
<br />
Or if it is worth writing about.<br />
<br />
Or if I can, in good conscience, write about it.<br />
<br />
A good conundrum, but a bad result: Missed post.<br />
<br />
I'll work it out.<br />
<br />
Please be patient.<br />
<br />
Being in a new position, technically administrative, is uncomfortable.<br />
<br />
It reminds me of being a first year teacher.<br />
<br />
You know what you are doing, you know you know.<br />
<br />
And you still second guess everything and feel incompetent all the time...<br />
<br />
Even when you're clearly killing it.<br />
<br />
I don't think I've gotten to the killing it part yet.<br />
<br />
It will come.<br />
<br />
So will all the good things.Dr. Riinahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05482411691947324906noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1837489873575172742.post-12593255775284957482017-07-27T17:56:00.000-07:002017-07-27T17:56:40.637-07:00Taken out to dinner<a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-KsMKpCHH7zM/WXqLwgTucuI/AAAAAAAABBs/B7nE1L_E5wQygOBoSZanwLvJHAVdIPU6QCLcBGAs/s1600/neon-170182_640.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="425" data-original-width="640" height="212" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-KsMKpCHH7zM/WXqLwgTucuI/AAAAAAAABBs/B7nE1L_E5wQygOBoSZanwLvJHAVdIPU6QCLcBGAs/s320/neon-170182_640.jpg" width="320" /></a>How much fun was this?<br />
<br />
After the great give away the other day, my girls took me out to dinner.<br />
<br />
We went to a wine bar.<br />
<br />
I had a flight of bubbly wine.<br />
<br />
And a cocktail with tequila and elder-flower liqueur.<br />
<br />
Thankfully, we dropped off my car at home so I wasn't driving.<br />
<br />
We also ate a ton of yummy food.<br />
<br />
Flatbreads and brussel sprouts, sliders and shrimp and grits.<br />
<br />
But the best part was the conversation.<br />
<br />
Hanging out together.<br />
<br />
I have worked with these women for years.<br />
<br />
Though we will remain close friends, I won't see them everyday anymore.<br />
<br />
We will no longer work together.<br />
<br />
It feels weird.<br />
<br />
<a name='more'></a><br />
This happy hour was a great way to celebrate.<br />
<br />
We were celebrating summer, and the give away, and my new job.<br />
<br />
I got to talk about work to my heart's desire.<br />
<br />
Which I know gets old for everyone around me, but that's how I process.<br />
<br />
Having a novel audience is fun for me.<br />
<br />
I also got to hear all about the place I used to work.<br />
<br />
It will always feel like my heart is still there, at least a little bit.<br />
<br />
Though we work together, we don't go out as often as we used to.<br />
<br />
We really should though.<br />
<br />
We are good at.<br />
<br />
We laugh and drink and complain and act silly.<br />
<br />
I love hanging out with my friends.<br />
<br />
It is worth making time for.<br />
<br />
It is a good thing.<br />
<br />
<br />Dr. Riinahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05482411691947324906noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1837489873575172742.post-16269562954204779032017-07-25T17:47:00.000-07:002017-07-25T17:47:11.913-07:00Training doesn't always suck.<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-9ijRbnBNx8c/WXfmhS98eeI/AAAAAAAABBM/7D7MJyR1HOAGmI9sXIJoF5k4Io0jf0DBgCLcBGAs/s1600/equity-2355700_640.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="426" data-original-width="640" height="213" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-9ijRbnBNx8c/WXfmhS98eeI/AAAAAAAABBM/7D7MJyR1HOAGmI9sXIJoF5k4Io0jf0DBgCLcBGAs/s320/equity-2355700_640.jpg" width="320" /></a>PD has a bad reputation.<br />
<br />
It is often just plain painful.<br />
<br />
Hour after hour of having someone reading a PowerPoint to the audience.<br />
<br />
Or forced group activities that feel terribly artificial.<br />
<br />
As a PD person, I try to avoid creating such monstrosities.<br />
<br />
As a member of a staff, I do not get such choices.<br />
<br />
So when I was told we would be joining a principal retreat for a day, I wasn't too hopeful.<br />
<br />
But I was pleasantly surprised.<br />
<br />
It wasn't nearly as boring as I feared.<br />
<br />
Actually, most of it was pretty fabulous.<br />
<br />
Thought-provoking, interesting, generally good.<br />
<br />
The morning was a session on trauma-informed practices.<br />
<br />
There wasn't a ton of practical ideas, but the ideas were there.<br />
<br />
The presenter was engaging.<br />
<br />
It felt like everyone in the room ended with a similar mindset.<br />
<br />
That, in and of itself, is a pretty awesome accomplishment.<br />
<br />
<a name='more'></a><br />
The afternoon was equity training.<br />
<br />
We were given a chance to have real, painful, honest conversations.<br />
<br />
I loved it.<br />
<br />
Not everyone thought it was a great use of time.<br />
<br />
But most of the people I spoke with were pleased we were finally having the conversations about race, and money, and privilege.<br />
<br />
At first, I was seated with a group near the front but off to one side.<br />
<br />
The best part about that was being by the wall so I could stand most of the time.<br />
<br />
Then the presenter told me I was in the wrong group.<br />
<br />
I wasn't, I was on the list twice.<br />
<br />
It was a little embarrassing for both of us, but I moved without a fuss.<br />
<br />
My new group was right in the middle of the room.<br />
<br />
After that, I had to stay on my butt.<br />
<br />
I did get out my spinner, though, and no one seemed to mind.<br />
<br />
The conversations were rich and raw.<br />
<br />
So many people find conversation a waste of time.<br />
<br />
It feels like nothing is getting done.<br />
<br />
I tend to disagree.<br />
<br />
Talking is how you build community.<br />
<br />
Its how you establish trust and vision and commonality.<br />
<br />
Conversation is the first step.<br />
<br />
If you stop there, it is a waste of time.<br />
<br />
But if you never stop and talk, you build everything else on a shaky foundation.<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />Dr. Riinahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05482411691947324906noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1837489873575172742.post-26573649581673559672017-07-23T11:16:00.001-07:002017-07-23T11:16:47.438-07:00The Great Give Away (so far)Now that I am leaving the classroom (!!) for an office, things have to change.<br />
<a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-jQm1O01yEm8/WXTn8nx5qJI/AAAAAAAABA8/6qgg2acwNX8vdd0WobprrWv7jugqU-FXQCLcBGAs/s1600/storage-warehouse-1553550_640.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="425" data-original-width="640" height="212" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-jQm1O01yEm8/WXTn8nx5qJI/AAAAAAAABA8/6qgg2acwNX8vdd0WobprrWv7jugqU-FXQCLcBGAs/s320/storage-warehouse-1553550_640.jpg" width="320" /></a><br />
I have got to rethink my hoarding habit.<br />
<br />
And stop shopping...<br />
<br />
Or at least shop for different stuff.<br />
<br />
Plus, that storage unit.<br />
<br />
And both cars.<br />
<br />
And my front porch.<br />
<br />
And that classroom I was going to inhabit.<br />
<br />
There is a ton of stuff.<br />
<br />
My desk in our team office is not big enough for all that.<br />
<br />
Nor do I really need six, no seven, bookcases.<br />
<br />
I need one.<br />
<br />
It was on my front porch for a while, now its where I need it.<br />
<br />
I'm also keeping my library cart.<br />
<br />
Not only do I love that stupid thing, our office has use for it.<br />
<br />
Most everything else, though, has got to go.<br />
<br />
The vast majority of my classroom library, I donated to the school I was going to be part of.<br />
<br />
Then I found another 6-10 boxes of books in my storage unit.<br />
<br />
Oh my...<br />
<br />
I left tons of school supplies at the school too.<br />
<br />
But not everything had been moved yet.<br />
<br />
Plus, my desk was completely empty.<br />
<br />
Like had to borrow a pen and post it note empty.<br />
<br />
So I had to go through my boxes and fish out some specific supplies.<br />
<br />
I also had to locate the box with my desk paraphernalia in it.<br />
<br />
The way I pack, my desk trays were simply stacked into a box somewhere.<br />
<br />
My toys are staying with me too.<br />
<br />
Toys are awesome, I love them, and I need them.<br />
<br />
The extras can be used as give aways or PD stuff.<br />
<br />
I mean, if kids love stickers and stress balls and patterned pencils, teachers will too, right?<br />
<br />
I heart the toys.<br />
<br />
The boxes of colored paper, card stock, lined paper, and construction paper had to be divided.<br />
<br />
Of course, I'm keeping some.<br />
<br />
And I wanted to donate some to the school I have basically abandoned.<br />
<br />
Then I also promised some to my teaching besties.<br />
<br />
The teaching materials/resources are a whole 'nother issue.<br />
<br />
I can't bear to see them go to waste, but they aren't exactly useful to anyone else.<br />
<br />
Anyway, after going through most of it and choosing what to keep, I still had to get rid of the rest.<br />
<br />
So I decided to have a give away.<br />
<br />
One of my best friends was kind enough to organize it for me.<br />
<br />
Basically, we set a time.<br />
<br />
Every teacher friend I have was invited to come to my storage unit.<br />
<br />
First come, first serve, abscond with it all.<br />
<br />
It was fun.<br />
<br />
Sadly, not everything was taken.<br />
<br />
A few things were claimed to be picked up later.<br />
<br />
A lot is left still.<br />
<br />
I guess I will have to do it again.<br />
<br />
Next week, so I can avoid paying a third month on that storage unit.<br />
<br />
Either way, I enjoy giving it all away.<br />
<br />
Almost as much as I find it sad and terrifying.<br />
<br />
It is a good thing, a clean slate, a chance to make sure all my hoarding doesn't go to waste.<br />
<br />
Giving things to people who can use them, in a selfish kind of way, feels good.<br />
<br />
I am enjoying the transition.<br />
<br />
Giving things away makes it easier to grieve for the lack of students in my new life.<br />
<br />
Because I do, I will, I can't help but feel loss along with the gain.<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />Dr. Riinahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05482411691947324906noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1837489873575172742.post-86054244232540429272017-07-20T18:14:00.000-07:002017-07-20T18:14:01.096-07:00Tweener<a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-b6kfmmlR948/WXFVM1pKkSI/AAAAAAAABAs/3HO1dfYnwjQ4YI-K3NROHhF5-evbcL1aQCLcBGAs/s1600/tablet-2372149_640.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="640" data-original-width="640" height="320" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-b6kfmmlR948/WXFVM1pKkSI/AAAAAAAABAs/3HO1dfYnwjQ4YI-K3NROHhF5-evbcL1aQCLcBGAs/s320/tablet-2372149_640.png" width="320" /></a>I got a new phone.<br />
<br />
That is a little bitty thing.<br />
<br />
But I always love it.<br />
<br />
Almost as much as I hate it.<br />
<br />
I love it because its, you know, new.<br />
<br />
Its shiny and big and novel.<br />
<br />
I hate it because I don't know how to use it yet.<br />
<br />
All the settings I need hide in obscure locations.<br />
<br />
Nothing is exactly like I'm used.<br />
<br />
So it is frustrating.<br />
<br />
But also kind of fun.<br />
<br />
There is so much to discover and get used to and learn.<br />
<br />
I probably spent over an hour finding a case to order on Amazon.<br />
<br />
Which is patently ridiculous.<br />
<br />
It should have taken me like 10 minutes max.<br />
<br />
Then again, I do love to shop.<br />
<br />
<a name='more'></a><br />
New stuff makes my day.<br />
<br />
Especially because when I thought I was taking a big pay cut, we decided to keep our phones.<br />
<br />
There was nothing really wrong with them.<br />
<br />
Mine had a virus, but a hard reboot would have solved that.<br />
<br />
Plus we liked those phones.<br />
<br />
They were LGs from like two years ago.<br />
<br />
Now we have the LG v20.<br />
<br />
It has a huge memory and good camera.<br />
<br />
Though mostly I just check Facebook and play silly games.<br />
<br />
There is just something pleasant and liberating about new phones.<br />
<br />
It is a modern thing.<br />
<br />
I'm a tweener.<br />
<br />
I forget what they call us.<br />
<br />
We who had entirely analog childhoods and digital adulthoods.<br />
<br />
Probably those before and after us have a slightly less special relationship with new tech.<br />
<br />
Maybe not, maybe that's conceit.<br />
<br />
Either way, I enjoy getting and getting to know a new phone.<br />
<br />
It is a privilege.<br />
<br />
Privileges are a good thing.<br />
<br />
A nice little life perk to appreciate.Dr. Riinahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05482411691947324906noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1837489873575172742.post-74560148453522291582017-07-18T16:18:00.001-07:002017-07-18T16:18:22.111-07:00A sorting activity<a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-CSdbhxc3oSk/WW6W6c50b9I/AAAAAAAABAQ/tq9a2Lxl09kbuRZ0gKyH23fP9BqPV3b4gCLcBGAs/s1600/stick-people-2324009_640.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="455" data-original-width="640" height="227" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-CSdbhxc3oSk/WW6W6c50b9I/AAAAAAAABAQ/tq9a2Lxl09kbuRZ0gKyH23fP9BqPV3b4gCLcBGAs/s320/stick-people-2324009_640.png" width="320" /></a>I attended our first team retreat on Thursday.<br />
<br />
It was great.<br />
<br />
Informative, illuminating, honest, productive, and thoughtful.<br />
<br />
I could tell some people were not that into it.<br />
<br />
For them, it may have felt like a re-hash of the obvious.<br />
<br />
There were times that devolved into complaining-about-barriers-beyond-our-control session.<br />
<br />
My favorite part was a sorting activity.<br />
<br />
Not because of the activity, but because of how it played out.<br />
<br />
We split into two teams.<br />
<br />
I was paired with one person.<br />
<br />
The other three formed the second team.<br />
<br />
We were given a page of words.<br />
<br />
The assignment was to sort the words into any categories we wanted.<br />
<br />
It's a cool activity.<br />
<br />
<a name='more'></a><br />
I've done it before in other contexts and I really like it.<br />
<br />
I have used a version of it in my classroom.<br />
<br />
I want to use a version of it in a professional development session later this year.<br />
<br />
But that isn't why I was so pleased with this moment.<br />
<br />
It was because the two of us, who are virtual strangers, worked together seamlessly.<br />
<br />
Without any discussion, she started cutting and I started sorting.<br />
<br />
As soon as she finished cutting, she started labeling my initial categories.<br />
<br />
We barely spoke for the first ten minutes.<br />
<br />
Instead, we shifted words around.<br />
<br />
It felt so effortless.<br />
<br />
Once we had finished the initial sort, we refined.<br />
<br />
We talked about and revised our categories.<br />
<br />
We shifted words around.<br />
<br />
The categories we created were question based.<br />
<br />
It wasn't a conscious decision or conversation.<br />
<br />
Questions just felt right.<br />
<br />
Our facilitator was floored.<br />
<br />
She had never seen it done that way before and thought it was incredibly creative.<br />
<br />
We weren't trying to be special.<br />
<br />
It just happened that way.<br />
<br />
Hearing compliments from the others in the room was nice.<br />
<br />
Working well with a new teammate was awesome.<br />
<br />
It is a good thing to know that collaboration seems to come quite naturally.<br />
<br />
I feel like that bodes well for our working relationship.Dr. Riinahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05482411691947324906noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1837489873575172742.post-15131942780148450122017-07-16T17:30:00.000-07:002017-07-16T17:30:34.446-07:00The first day<a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-DWqRn0cYBl4/WWwEusiKcyI/AAAAAAAAA_w/fdQGMOHctmUi5yH7u4n2u7lVkQPC7691wCLcBGAs/s1600/computer-154114_640.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="481" data-original-width="640" height="240" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-DWqRn0cYBl4/WWwEusiKcyI/AAAAAAAAA_w/fdQGMOHctmUi5yH7u4n2u7lVkQPC7691wCLcBGAs/s320/computer-154114_640.png" width="320" /></a>First day nerves.<br />
<br />
That was last Wednesday and I still haven't fully recovered.<br />
<br />
I realized the night before that I don't really know how to be a regular grown-up.<br />
<br />
This is my first non-classroom job.<br />
<br />
It was pretty awesome to walk in and realize that I have a desk.<br />
<br />
A phone, a filing cabinet, and a team.<br />
<br />
There are five of us who share a large office space.<br />
<br />
We have a secretary.<br />
<br />
A secretary?<br />
<br />
The first day, I felt a little lost.<br />
<br />
Everyone was super nice.<br />
<br />
I met way too many people to remember.<br />
<br />
Though the building is not terribly large, I still feel like I might get lost.<br />
<br />
There wasn't much work I knew how to do yet.<br />
<br />
But I tried not to waste my time.<br />
<br />
<a name='more'></a><br />
I got my laptop and got it set up with my second screen.<br />
<br />
The organization of the files makes sense to me.<br />
<br />
Numerous emails were successfully sent.<br />
<br />
I have a substantial to do list.<br />
<br />
A draft of my 30-60-90 is complete and turned in for review.<br />
<br />
I started reviewing the curriculum documents for elementary.<br />
<br />
Plus, there was lunch.<br />
<br />
I swear I sat there for twenty full minutes wondering.<br />
<br />
I can really just get up and leave?<br />
<br />
Without telling anyone?<br />
<br />
Or asking permission?<br />
<br />
Or being told when to be back?<br />
<br />
Or anything?<br />
<br />
It was sooooo weird.<br />
<br />
It felt almost unnatural.<br />
<br />
Then to add to the weirdness, I went home.<br />
<br />
My new office is less than 10 minutes from my house.<br />
<br />
Literally just right up the street.<br />
<br />
I had time to go home, eat, have a conversation, get some stuff together, and still get back on time.<br />
<br />
There is a ton of work to do.<br />
<br />
I have a lot to learn.<br />
<br />
But I can get used to this schedule, I think.<br />
<br />
Either way, change and challenge is a good thing.Dr. Riinahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05482411691947324906noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1837489873575172742.post-42013924025996239102017-07-13T18:38:00.001-07:002017-07-13T18:38:54.993-07:00What just happened to me?Big news ya'll, big news.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Wg22qbmF4f4/WWgeyMXKJwI/AAAAAAAAA_c/0J1_bqWMGnkodv0YX9bJjPa4vDtUf80OACLcBGAs/s1600/fireworks-1758_640.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="480" data-original-width="640" height="240" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Wg22qbmF4f4/WWgeyMXKJwI/AAAAAAAAA_c/0J1_bqWMGnkodv0YX9bJjPa4vDtUf80OACLcBGAs/s320/fireworks-1758_640.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
The biggest.<br />
<br />
Ok, not the biggest, I'm not pregnant, dying, or getting married.<br />
<br />
Neither is anyone I know.<br />
<br />
But, for me, this is <i>big.</i><br />
<i><br /></i>
If you follow my blog, you know I am interested in instructional coaching.<br />
<br />
You know I have applied for a gazillion jobs.<br />
<br />
You probably remember my interview overload.<br />
<br />
Maybe you could empathize with my internal struggle to take a teaching job.<br />
<br />
Well, I did take that job.<br />
<br />
And a week later, I got an interview for one of <i>the</i> jobs.<br />
<br />
Actually, I got, you might recall, several interview offers that day and week.<br />
<br />
Out of respect, I turned them all down.<br />
<br />
Then I got a call from the same district.<br />
<br />
<a name='more'></a><br />
I told them they had just hired me as a teacher.<br />
<br />
The secretary called me back and said it didn't matter.<br />
<br />
Phew.<br />
<br />
Ok, so I completed the rather challenging pre-assignments.<br />
<br />
I made my presentation and prepped for the interview.<br />
<br />
Three, almost four weeks ago, I went in for the interview.<br />
<br />
It went really well.<br />
<br />
Not perfect, but damn good.<br />
<br />
I thought I had a decent shot.<br />
<br />
Then...nothing.<br />
<br />
The next week I went on vacation assuming it was a no-go.<br />
<br />
I was disappointed and a little resigned, but hardly devastated.<br />
<br />
After all, I just got the mother of all teaching opportunities, right?<br />
<br />
We were gone for 16 days.<br />
<br />
Still no word.<br />
<br />
Last week, I started emptying my storage unit into my new classroom.<br />
<br />
Tuesday, as you might have read already, I picked up yet more furniture.<br />
<br />
A good friend of mine helped me.<br />
<br />
We had quite the adventure, come to think of it. I should write about it.<br />
<br />
Anyway, I got home feeling satisfied and sweaty.<br />
<br />
The phone rang.<br />
<br />
Finally, I am getting to the point. If your cranky, I promise this is worth the wait.<br />
<br />
I answered without giving it much thought.<br />
<br />
It was the school district.<br />
<br />
A member of the HR department informed me it was my lucky day.<br />
<br />
They offered me<i> the </i>position.<br />
<br />
Now, understand, this conversation took place at 5:05.<br />
<br />
I was flummoxed.<br />
<br />
Totally caught off guard, floored, and thoroughly befuddled.<br />
<br />
She explained the position and the salary and asked if I wanted it.<br />
<br />
The offer was great.<br />
<br />
And she needed an answer right then...<br />
<br />
so the recommendation to hire me could go before the Board meeting that started at 5:30.<br />
<br />
OMG!!!!<br />
<br />
Seriously, I was too confused, too flabbergasted to just say yes.<br />
<br />
I stammered and stuttered and then she asked if I needed time to think about it.<br />
<br />
I said something like "a day or two would be nice!"<br />
<br />
"Well," she responded, "the next board meeting is the 25th and then you would start on the 26th."<br />
<br />
"And otherwise I would start sooner?"<br />
<br />
"Probably this Wednesday."<br />
<br />
My jaw was hanging so far open I can hardly type over the shock now.<br />
<br />
Thankfully, my two remaining brain cells rubbed together and reminded me that new teacher orientation starts the 26th.<br />
<br />
I could not wait.<br />
<br />
It would be ridiculous to make them wait to replace me in either position.<br />
<br />
I would not want to start on the same day as people I am supposed to support.<br />
<br />
So I took a deep breath and gulped, "I need to just say yes. I'm saying yes!"<br />
<br />
"Great! Well don't tell anyone until you hear from me that it's official, ok?"<br />
<br />
"Um, yeah, uh, ok. You can call or text me or whatever."<br />
<br />
She laughed a little and promised to get back to me soon.<br />
<br />
Then I fought a panic attack and played idiotic, mindless games on my computer for a few hours.<br />
<br />
This is how I know I must have sounded like a blathering idjit.<br />
<br />
The assistant superintendent called me after the meeting.<br />
<br />
He explained that the delay in making the decision was circumstantial.<br />
<br />
Next he told me my salary would actually be higher than the initial quote.<br />
<br />
I am getting a bit extra for having a doctorate.<br />
<br />
I smiled so hard my face hurt.<br />
<br />
Whoo. Freaking. Hoo!<br />
<br />
After hanging up, I pretty much called all the people.<br />
<br />
Everyone I know and love and have been supported by.<br />
<br />
I ended my summer a month early.<br />
<br />
Because I am now, officially, the ELA Curriculum Coordinator for Hazelwood School District.<br />
<br />
That is very good (and very terrifying) thing!<br />
<br />
I know I will do the job and do it well, but it is going to be a huge change, and an even bigger challenge.Dr. Riinahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05482411691947324906noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1837489873575172742.post-17585738053703095252017-07-12T15:40:00.000-07:002017-07-12T15:40:23.301-07:00Shopping.<a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-n6GAnnNc2P8/WWalToM0FQI/AAAAAAAAA_M/U8C1a05VSEAURJePWEaJlsNwb-uDiQPQwCLcBGAs/s1600/bookcase-36677_640.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="640" data-original-width="513" height="320" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-n6GAnnNc2P8/WWalToM0FQI/AAAAAAAAA_M/U8C1a05VSEAURJePWEaJlsNwb-uDiQPQwCLcBGAs/s320/bookcase-36677_640.png" width="256" /></a>My new classroom.<br />
<br />
A totally blank canvas.<br />
<br />
A complete do-over.<br />
<br />
How exciting is that?<br />
<br />
The bad news: it is empty.<br />
<br />
When I say empty, I mean <i>empty</i>.<br />
<br />
There is a desk with one drawer that doesn't seem to lock.<br />
<br />
Some standard student desks and chairs.<br />
<br />
And that is it.<br />
<br />
There is no closet, no bookshelves, no filing cabinet.<br />
<br />
No storage of any kind.<br />
<br />
In my last space, I had a ton of storage:<br />
<br />
a small closet, a big (lockable) desk, a big metal storage cabinet, two lateral filing cabinets, two built in floor to ceiling shelves, a rolling filing drawer, a library cart, and five book cases.<br />
<br />
I retained my rolling file drawer, library cart, and three shelves.<br />
<br />
This is kind of a bummer.<br />
<br />
Except for one thing:<br />
<br />
<a name='more'></a><br />
SHOPPING.<br />
<br />
I get to find, buy, fix, improve, and set up a ton of furniture.<br />
<br />
My principal gave me permission to go full on flexible seating.<br />
<br />
Last week, I found an old book return box at the Goodwill.<br />
<br />
It locks, is in good shape, and isn't even really ugly.<br />
<br />
And is $15.<br />
<br />
Score!<br />
<br />
Sunday, on the way home from Chicago, I bought a small bookcase and a filing cabinet.<br />
<br />
Monday, I picked up three more bookshelves for less than fifty bucks.<br />
<br />
I made my first trip to the dollar store too.<br />
<br />
Though I am not permitted to paint (poo), decoration is still in order.<br />
<br />
Instead of painting, I will paper.<br />
<br />
Sort of.<br />
<br />
I will use contact paper and wall decals and removable sticky book covers.<br />
<br />
Some curtains will create a fake window...<br />
<br />
which will cover a hanging shoe rack of school supplies secured with command hooks.<br />
<br />
There are tons of options.<br />
<br />
Plus, though my room may be empty and have no windows, there are upsides.<br />
<br />
It is pretty big.<br />
<br />
It is across the hall from a two floor wall of windows.<br />
<br />
And my class sizes are likely to be under 20.<br />
<br />
Sweet!<br />
<br />
Anyway, I love to shop.<br />
<br />
I enjoy the adventure of finding and using old stuff.<br />
<br />
I can't wait to start hunting up chairs, and couches, and tables for my students.<br />
<br />
Setting up a great space is a good time.<br />
<br />
It is also a good thing.<br />
<br />
P.S. I know I'm off schedule, but I promise there are very very good reasons for it I shall soon reveal!Dr. Riinahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05482411691947324906noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1837489873575172742.post-59975250190562396072017-07-09T23:27:00.000-07:002017-07-09T23:27:12.353-07:00ScrabbleMy grandma turned 98 on Saturday.<div>
<a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Be5try2gUtQ/WWMeJhzc2sI/AAAAAAAAA-8/FhgKeJvkET0X8FaV2p40mEsUwFILDI3ywCLcBGAs/s1600/loser-2362302_640.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="426" data-original-width="640" height="213" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Be5try2gUtQ/WWMeJhzc2sI/AAAAAAAAA-8/FhgKeJvkET0X8FaV2p40mEsUwFILDI3ywCLcBGAs/s320/loser-2362302_640.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div>
We road tripped to Chicago to celebrate with her.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
It was awesome.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
My sister flew in from California.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
My dad and his girlfriend drove in from rural Missouri.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
Last night, we went out for a special dinner.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
This morning, we took her out for a fancy brunch.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
Then we went back to her house and played Scrabble.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
I won.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
But only by two points.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
If you count the three points grandma had left on her tiles when the game ended.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
She is a Scrabble phenom.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
Seriously, she knows basically every two and three letter word in the Scrabble dictionary.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
She can find a place for all of them, too.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
I was pretty proud of myself.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
She was a gracious loser.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
Actually, I think she likes it.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
The best way to prove you respect her intelligence is to fully pit yourself against it.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
I always do.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
That lady is sharp.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
Not like tack sharp, like armor piercing swords sharp.</div>
<div>
<a name='more'></a></div>
<div>
Her hearing is terrible and her sight isn't much better.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
Getting around has become a struggle.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
But that mind blows me away.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
We also got her special gifts this year.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
First of all, she doesn't want or need any more stuff.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
Plus, the rest of us are largely broke.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
Not penniless or anything, but not rolling in extra dough either.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
My dad called me to ask what we should do.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
On a whim, I threw out an on-the-spot brainstorm:</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
Instead of physical stuff, what if we each gave her a card with an IOU.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
We could each promise something to do with or for her in the coming year.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
My sister, the artist, made the cards.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
I don't know what everyone else wrote.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
We didn't share and I kind of like it that way.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
It feels less competitive somehow.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
You know, more honest.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
My personal failing is staying in touch.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
I am straight up atrocious at phone calls.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
Email, texts, letters are a bit better, but still weak.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
For me, going weeks and months without contact isn't the end of the world.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
If we are truly connected, it will always feel like we spoke yesterday.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
Most people aren't like that, though.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
And I respect the desire and need for more regular contact.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
Just, usually, I don't initiate.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
I reciprocate and respond, instead.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
Unfortunately, my grandma doesn't initiate and she craves contact.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
As near as I can figure, it makes her uncomfortable to initiate contact regularly.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
Almost like she's intruding on our 'real' lives.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
My gift was a promise to write or call at least once a week.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
I even made her an "accountability chart" to check off each week.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
It felt juvenile, but we are both teachers so I knew she would get it.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
Just like I know she will love this gift.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
Now, I just have to hold myself to it.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
If I can, and I really plan to, it will be a very good thing indeed!</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
Dr. Riinahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05482411691947324906noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1837489873575172742.post-33289295084270956292017-07-06T14:19:00.001-07:002017-07-06T14:19:19.140-07:00Kayak school<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-38_z8E8EDaw/WV6obgGTL_I/AAAAAAAAA-s/GZ8enbT5mxIwXMSfJgbON8WT207oYMpBgCLcBGAs/s1600/IMG_13661.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="864" data-original-width="1152" height="240" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-38_z8E8EDaw/WV6obgGTL_I/AAAAAAAAA-s/GZ8enbT5mxIwXMSfJgbON8WT207oYMpBgCLcBGAs/s320/IMG_13661.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Actual picture of me kayaking on the Yampa </td></tr>
</tbody></table>
It sounds like fun.<br />
<br />
It looks like fun.<br />
<br />
And it is, kind of.<br />
<br />
Actually, it was a lot of fun.<br />
<br />
Unfortunately, I am terrible at it.<br />
<br />
Ok, that's not really true either.<br />
<br />
The guide said I did very well.<br />
<br />
I made it through all the hard bits on the river.<br />
<br />
The not so hard bits dumped me upside down.<br />
<br />
Twice.<br />
<br />
The first time was understandable.<br />
<br />
It was a big drop of almost two feet.<br />
<br />
That one hurt.<br />
<br />
My ankle is still sore.<br />
<br />
The second one wasn't my fault.<br />
<br />
My boyfriend crowded me over some rocks.<br />
<br />
It is really impossible to paddle effectively in four inches of water.<br />
<br />
At least he knew it was his fault.<br />
<br />
I literally said "Its not fair for you to crowd me into the rocks."<br />
<br />
10 seconds later I was upside down again.<br />
<br />
Ugh.<br />
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<a name='more'></a><br />
The first time I dunked was scary.<br />
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I felt myself start to panic.<br />
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Then I remembered the instructions and got out of the boat.<br />
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The water wasn't dangerous or deep.<br />
<br />
Flowing fast, maybe, but not too worrisome.<br />
<br />
I stood up finally and starting heading to shore.<br />
<br />
It was like walking on slippery bowling balls.<br />
<br />
Plus that water was COLD.<br />
<br />
I was shaking from the adrenaline dump.<br />
<br />
But you know what, I got my fat butt back in that boat and kept trying.<br />
<br />
In the end, I learned a lot.<br />
<br />
I earned every bruise, bump, and sore muscle.<br />
<br />
River kayaking is fun, though I'm not itching to do it again any time soon.<br />
<br />
My boyfriend, on the other hand, loved it.<br />
<br />
He can't wait to try a harder stretch of water.<br />
<br />
Hmmm, we'll see.<br />
<br />
Now stand up paddle boarding?<br />
<br />
That I will do.<br />
<br />
Not on a river with much current or white water, but I'm surprisingly upright on a paddle board.<br />
<br />
The point is that it was, overall, a good experience.<br />
<br />
It was something new.<br />
<br />
It challenged me and made me push myself.<br />
<br />
It also made me insanely self-conscious and full of self-doubt.<br />
<br />
The guide called me out at one point.<br />
<br />
He told me that whenever he complimented me, I looked super nervous.<br />
<br />
Physical stuff is not my forte and so I never think I am good at it.<br />
<br />
Because, I'm basically not.<br />
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I mean I can learn, but I have no natural grace.<br />
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Like, really, none.<br />
<br />
His comment got me thinking about my students.<br />
<br />
Turns out, the guide is also a middle school teacher.<br />
<br />
How 'bout that?<br />
<br />
Anyway, I wonder if many of my students feel about reading and writing, the way I feel about kayaking.<br />
<br />
Someone they care about (like their awesome teacher) might convince them to try it.<br />
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But it isn't natural or easy for them.<br />
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It will cause bruises to their egos if not their bodies.<br />
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It will challenge them.<br />
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It definitely makes them uncomfortable, self-conscious, and full of self-doubt.<br />
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Unlike me and my kayak though, getting up is probably a lot harder for them.<br />
<br />
That panic reflex is powerful.<br />
<br />
The fear that the water is super deep and dangerous is very real.<br />
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The determination to keep trying is elusive.<br />
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As hard as it is for me on vacation, I can't imagine doing it in my day to day life.<br />
<br />
So, yeah, Kayak School was an adventure.<br />
<br />
Adventures are a good thing.<br />
<br />
Being reminded of what it feels like to learn something,<br />
<br />
To learn to do something you don't really care about that much,<br />
<br />
To try something scary, difficult, and uncomfortable,<br />
<br />
To keep going when it would be easier to quit, and<br />
<br />
Ultimately, to be reminded of what it feels like to be the student,<br />
<br />
that is a very good thing indeed.Dr. Riinahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05482411691947324906noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1837489873575172742.post-23630114398403808862017-07-05T18:25:00.000-07:002017-07-05T18:25:31.858-07:00Laziness<a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-vOQf2RQuyZ0/WV2RfjfuekI/AAAAAAAAA-c/U9tdEEiileEH8jfZ-IF0s6eIPY4WQWAlwCLcBGAs/s1600/cat-2363938_640.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="360" data-original-width="640" height="180" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-vOQf2RQuyZ0/WV2RfjfuekI/AAAAAAAAA-c/U9tdEEiileEH8jfZ-IF0s6eIPY4WQWAlwCLcBGAs/s320/cat-2363938_640.jpg" width="320" /></a>Lazy days.<br />
<br />
The best part of summer.<br />
<br />
After recovering from my vacation, of course.<br />
<br />
Sounds weird, right?<br />
<br />
But physical vacations wear me out.<br />
<br />
This vacation we walked over 200,000 steps in 15 days.<br />
<br />
And went to Kayak School.<br />
<br />
And went horse back riding.<br />
<br />
And went white water rafting.<br />
<br />
To make it harder, we were at an elevation between 7,000 and 11,000 feet.<br />
<br />
Garsh.<br />
<br />
Anyway, after a couple of days recuperating, I feel almost normal.<br />
<br />
<a name='more'></a><br />
Except super lazy.<br />
<br />
And I've missed a couple of posts.<br />
<br />
No excuses, but I forgot what day it was.<br />
<br />
But I am going to get back on the horse and get back on schedule.<br />
<br />
Or at least I am going to try...<br />
<br />
Unless I forget what day it is again.<br />
<br />
One of the few perks of doing 14 months of work in 10?<br />
<br />
A nice long summer to recover and prepare to do it again.<br />
<br />
Laziness can be a stupid good thing.Dr. Riinahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05482411691947324906noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1837489873575172742.post-12173855910224176082017-06-30T08:30:00.001-07:002017-07-05T18:26:26.949-07:00Summer vacationA lot of teachers complain about how we are treated.<br />
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<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-90MaDu46UXo/WVZucN9rzVI/AAAAAAAAA-M/bpCn7bYHYhg9GF-TCu6DOpEFccfofMNbwCLcBGAs/s1600/luggage-1149289_640.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="426" data-original-width="640" height="213" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-90MaDu46UXo/WVZucN9rzVI/AAAAAAAAA-M/bpCn7bYHYhg9GF-TCu6DOpEFccfofMNbwCLcBGAs/s320/luggage-1149289_640.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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Most of those complaints are justified.</div>
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Some of them are our own fault.</div>
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Summer vacation is a popular topic.</div>
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I know I do 12 (or 14 or 18 or 22) months of work in a 9-10 month school year.</div>
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<br /></div>
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But I also recognize two things:</div>
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<br /></div>
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1. Having an extended vacation each summer to travel is awesome, rare, and inspires legit jealousy.</div>
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2. Understanding how hard I work for that privilege is genuinely difficult.</div>
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So, yeah, occasionally I get asked about how nice it must be to have the summer off.</div>
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And yeah, I usually respond with details of all the unpaid stuff I do all summer.</div>
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Plus, I remind people how many teachers need summer jobs to make the bills.</div>
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<br /></div>
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That doesn't mean I can't own how lucky I feel.</div>
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<br /></div>
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I can travel more, for longer.</div>
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I have so many opportunities to learn and experience things to bring back to my classroom.</div>
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But to be honest, I don't get that kind of comment much.</div>
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<a name='more'></a></div>
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Most of the time, people tell me how much teachers matter.</div>
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They make noises of sympathy and pain when I say I teach 9th grade English.</div>
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(I haven't made the switch to the new position teaching 8th yet)</div>
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<br /></div>
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Often, I have to counter negative stereotypes about how awful teenagers are.</div>
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I've frequently wondered if anyone realized how biased most adults are against teens.</div>
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<br /></div>
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That is a topic for another time.</div>
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<br /></div>
<div>
Anyway, I also get constant looks of admiration.</div>
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<br /></div>
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Usually those looks are accompanied by "I could never do what you do,"or some similar sentiment. </div>
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<br /></div>
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Most people readily own that they mostly only like their own kids.</div>
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<br /></div>
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Even those who relate horror stories of teachers they or their kids have had aren't haters.</div>
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Sympathy seekers, maybe.</div>
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Bitter, maybe.</div>
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<br /></div>
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They usually recognize that one bad teacher does not a profession define.</div>
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<br /></div>
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Then too, I see such encounters as an opportunity to offer a positive.</div>
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<br /></div>
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Once in a while, someone will ask genuine questions about education.</div>
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Ok, once in a GREAT while. </div>
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<br /></div>
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It still happens.</div>
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<br /></div>
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I also get the rare dumb joke.</div>
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<br /></div>
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This one is my current favorite.</div>
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<br /></div>
<div>
"Oh, you're an English teacher! I have a joke for you."</div>
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<br /></div>
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"Um, ok......"</div>
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<br /></div>
<div>
"What is the opposite of irony?"</div>
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<br /></div>
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Silent shrug.</div>
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<br /></div>
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"Wrinkly!"</div>
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<br /></div>
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It got me. Ha Ha Ha.</div>
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<br /></div>
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My favorite, though rarest, interaction is the person who is or wants to become a teacher.</div>
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Especially when they are positive.</div>
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<br /></div>
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It is nice to encounter kindred souls.</div>
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<br /></div>
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Those who genuinely understand your world and/or want to join it.</div>
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<br /></div>
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The point is simple.</div>
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<br /></div>
<div>
Being a teacher is a good thing.</div>
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<br /></div>
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Yes, our profession is vilified by politicians and sensationalized by the news.</div>
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<br /></div>
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Yes, Hollywood reinforces ridiculous stereotypes about teaching.</div>
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<br /></div>
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And.</div>
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<br /></div>
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Yes, most people believe what we do matters.</div>
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<br /></div>
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Yes, the average individual respects our profession.</div>
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<br /></div>
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I can't say those individual attitudes outweigh the bad stuff.</div>
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<br /></div>
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Instead, I would say all those little positives give me hope.</div>
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<br /></div>
<div>
Hope is a good thing.</div>
Dr. Riinahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05482411691947324906noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1837489873575172742.post-373006913483056122017-06-27T21:20:00.000-07:002017-06-27T21:20:11.675-07:00Changing Schools:<div style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #2698a9; font-family: "Open Sans", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 33px; font-weight: 400; line-height: 27px; margin: 0px 0px 28px; padding-bottom: 0px;">
<br /></div>
<div>
<div style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: "Open Sans", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; margin-bottom: 20px;">
<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-IFz0fHqWMh8/WVMt8O9ly8I/AAAAAAAAA98/EiBPCib_VKUfzxXqnIegv-XOXPg8fgBLACLcBGAs/s1600/adaptation-823401_640.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="320" data-original-width="640" height="160" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-IFz0fHqWMh8/WVMt8O9ly8I/AAAAAAAAA98/EiBPCib_VKUfzxXqnIegv-XOXPg8fgBLACLcBGAs/s320/adaptation-823401_640.png" width="320" /></a>How do you know when it's time to go? How do you know when to leave? <a href="http://theeducatorsroom.com/2012/10/when-teachers-leave-the-profession-is-it-time-to-make-a-change/" style="box-sizing: border-box; color: #2698a9; text-decoration-line: none;">When to change your job, school, district, profession</a>? There is only one thing that is unfailingly true: no matter what, someone will disagree with your choice. I am not talking about the obvious stuff: total misery, incompatible supervisor, burn-out, moving for love. I am talking about the times when everything is right. When there is no obvious reason to change. I can’t answer this question for anyone else. All I can do is share my struggle and hope it might resonate with yours.</div>
<div style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: "Open Sans", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; margin-bottom: 20px;">
I have worked in the same school, teaching the same grade (more or less) for 11 years. And I have loved every minute of it. I love my students, colleagues, environment, administration, and district. Of course, there are frustrations, there always are, but on balance, this has been a dream job.</div>
<div style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: "Open Sans", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; margin-bottom: 20px;">
But. But it isn’t enough. For the last three years, I have been restless. Not discontent or unhappy, just chafing for a change. I thought I knew what I wanted. I thought I knew what was next. The result has not been what I expected.</div>
<div style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: "Open Sans", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; margin-bottom: 20px;">
</div>
<a name='more'></a>My goal has always been to move into a position where I could engage in professional development related tasks full time. Coaching, curriculum writing, professional development, anything like that would work for me.<br />
<div style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: "Open Sans", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; margin-bottom: 20px;">
The last couple of years, I hunted for the perfect position. If I found it, great. If not, no big deal-I loved my job. This year was different. It’s hard to explain, but I could feel that it mattered more. I wasn’t sure I could stay put and stay happy. I also couldn’t articulate any reason why that might be.</div>
<div style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: "Open Sans", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; margin-bottom: 20px;">
My search got more serious. I cast a wider net and applied for jobs I wasn’t strictly qualified to do. I applied for other teaching jobs too. I’m not even sure why. For weeks, I heard nothing. Suddenly, interviews started pouring in. It was <a href="http://drriina.blogspot.com/2017/06/interview-overload.html" style="box-sizing: border-box; color: #2698a9; text-decoration-line: none;">interview overload</a>. I had 7 interviews in 7 days.</div>
<div style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: "Open Sans", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; margin-bottom: 20px;">
Still, I was plagued with unease. Why was I considering leaving? What rationale could possibly make sense of this desire to blow up my life? The truth is both complicated and simple: I don’t want to. I don’t want to stay until I am bitter and miserable. I don’t want to sink into complacency. I don’t want to lose my love of teaching. I don’t want to feel trapped or stagnant or resentful. I don’t want to stop making what feels like a real, meaningful, beyond the walls of my classroom, difference.</div>
<div style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: "Open Sans", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; margin-bottom: 20px;">
I have always craved change and challenge. Every couple of years, I trade in my car or move or start a new degree. The only thing I haven’t changed in the last decade is my job. A good friend told me I had “hit my ceiling” in my current space, meaning I’d more or less run out of room to grow.</div>
<div style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: "Open Sans", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; margin-bottom: 20px;">
Ultimately, that is how I knew it was time to go. Because I had a ton of closely timed interviews for a variety of jobs, I first had a horrible case of <a href="http://drriina.blogspot.com/2017/06/decision-paralysis.html" style="box-sizing: border-box; color: #2698a9; text-decoration-line: none;">decision paralysis</a>, but in the end, I went with my gut. I took another teaching position. At graduation this year, a student who committed suicide was awarded an honorary degree. His father accepted it. That was when I realized I should take the teaching position. I never lose another kid. I also still want to get to know the next “that kid.”</div>
<div style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: "Open Sans", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; margin-bottom: 20px;">
Next year, I will go back to teaching 8th grade in a nearby district. I will still be in the classroom. I will even take a pay cut. And I feel good. Excited and ready and buoyant. Since I accepted the position, I’ve gotten three interview calls for non-classroom positions. Turning them down has not been as difficult as I feared.</div>
<div style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: "Open Sans", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; margin-bottom: 20px;">
Making this decision was terrifying. It still feels weird and it breaks my heart to think about leaving. It also feels like the right choice. Maybe it will be awful and I’ll be full of regrets and recriminations. Maybe one more year in the classroom will lead me where I thought I wanted to go. I have no way to know. There is one thing I know: For me, right now, it’s time to go.</div>
<div style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: "Open Sans", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; margin-bottom: 20px;">
Another late post. Another repost from The Educator's Room. For those who have read previous posts on this subject, there will be some repetition. I find this is a more complete version of the 'story' such as it is. Change is scary, but still a good thing.</div>
</div>
Dr. Riinahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05482411691947324906noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1837489873575172742.post-34637856836594004092017-06-26T09:04:00.000-07:002017-06-26T09:04:06.517-07:00To Pack or Not to Pack: Ending the School Year Successfully<span style="background-color: white; font-family: "Open Sans", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px;">To pack now or to pack later? To pack fast or to pack better? Packing up your classroom is a highly personal choice. I believe it is a choice that should be made with care.</span><br />
<a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-y_43AjGVQws/WVEwJ6lYsoI/AAAAAAAAA9s/Xn3mQ0WBHCY0WVEh9ZLlKvNIwGjdKFDyACLcBGAs/s1600/box-23639_640.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="577" data-original-width="640" height="180" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-y_43AjGVQws/WVEwJ6lYsoI/AAAAAAAAA9s/Xn3mQ0WBHCY0WVEh9ZLlKvNIwGjdKFDyACLcBGAs/s200/box-23639_640.png" width="200" /></a><span style="background-color: white; font-family: "Open Sans", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px;"><br /></span><br />
<div style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: "Open Sans", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; margin-bottom: 20px;">
Here are some things that can influence your choice:</div>
<ol style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: "Open Sans", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px;">
<li style="box-sizing: border-box;"><strong style="box-sizing: border-box;">What are you doing next year?</strong> The answer for when and how to pack up is definitely different if you are staying in the same space and teaching the same thing than if you are leaving your position, moving to another classroom, or teaching something new.</li>
<li style="box-sizing: border-box;"><strong style="box-sizing: border-box;">How much of the stuff you are packing belongs to you?</strong> The district or school can dictate many things. What you do with your private property is not one of them. Those items that are personal can be brought in and out whenever you want with one caveat: student learning must remain your priority.</li>
<li style="box-sizing: border-box;"><strong style="box-sizing: border-box;">What does your administrator want and expect?</strong> Is s/he more concerned with getting everyone checked out quickly? Or are they likely to take a negative view of packing up early?</li>
<li style="box-sizing: border-box;"><strong style="box-sizing: border-box;">How will packing impact your students?</strong> Will packing disrupt the classroom environment in a way that will harm learning? Are your students looking for any excuse to check out? Or will easing into the change help them adjust to living without you and your classroom every day?</li>
<li style="box-sizing: border-box;"><strong style="box-sizing: border-box;">How much stuff do you have?</strong> Many teachers are natural pack rats and need to determine what can be discarded at the end of the year. Others prefer an uncluttered environment and purge as they go.</li>
<li style="box-sizing: border-box;"><strong style="box-sizing: border-box;">Where will your classroom materials be stored for the summer?</strong> Can you leave your boxes in your classroom? Does everything need to be moved to another space or even to your home?</li>
<li style="box-sizing: border-box;"><strong style="box-sizing: border-box;">What does finish strong mean to you?</strong> How do you inspire students to keep learning and trying right up until the last minute? How will your packing influence your ability to help students end the year on an academic high?</li>
<li style="box-sizing: border-box;"><strong style="box-sizing: border-box;">How do you feel?</strong> If you have strong beliefs about when to pack, follow your heart. Letting others influence your decisions probably won’t help you or your students. When in doubt, go with your gut. The end of the year is stressful for everyone. You have a professional responsibility to pack up, to finish strong, and to do what is right for you to come back another year and do it all again.</li>
</ol>
<div style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: "Open Sans", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; margin-bottom: 20px;">
I don’t think there is a right or wrong answer about how to get everything put away for summer. But there are a lot of opinions. As long as the students’ ability to learn effectively is not disrupted, who cares? Unfortunately, the answer isn’t always no one.</div>
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</div>
<a name='more'></a>Some administrators take early packing up as a sign of having checked out of teaching for the year. These administrators might hold strong personal beliefs about this issue. Or they might be looking for negatives to exploit. Some are adhering to or enforcing rules from on high. No matter the motive, if your administrator disapproves of early packing, it is in your professional best interest to tread lightly. That doesn’t mean you can’t start organizing and packing. It means you can’t do it in a way that would be noticeable to a relative outsider.<br />
<div style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: "Open Sans", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; margin-bottom: 20px;">
Students and parents can also be upset by early packing. Especially for younger students, ending the year can feel pretty traumatic. It is a major shake-up in young lives, after all. And for those children and families that depend on you for emotional support as well as academic support, early packing can trigger feelings of abandonment. If packing early is a need or preference for you, it is probably a good idea to be sensitive to the impact on your neediest little ducklings.</div>
<div style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: "Open Sans", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; margin-bottom: 20px;">
Other teachers can also have strong feelings about early packing. For years, teachers I worked with berated me for packing late. There were two main reasons. One reason was a feeling that my choice made them look bad. Somehow, my tendency to pack late made them feel like they might be perceived negatively or as inadequately devoted to the job. It is a valid point. Put two rooms side by side the last week of school and the comparisons might lead to false assumptions.</div>
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I was also told I was doing myself a disservice by using personal time to wind up my year and pack up my stuff. Summers are precious and necessary to recharge for the coming year. So many teachers assume that being away from the building is the best way to energize for another year in the classroom. This is also a valid point. On the other hand, the solitude of packing after the year has ended is a time I cherish for reflection and organization.</div>
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Recently, a teacher stated that she wanted students to feel the pressure of a year drawing to a close. For her, packing up was a tangible reminder to students that they were running out of time. No more extensions or late work opportunities. That pressure (at least at the high school level) can act as a motivator for students to push for a strong finish with a passing grade. Early packing can also help with effective organization and time management.</div>
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Others believe that early packing sends students the wrong signal. The year is over and it is ok to quit trying, to shut down, and to give up. Students are more likely to finish strong for teachers they feel are deeply invested in their success. Keeping everything in place until academics are finished can be seen as tangible evidence of investment. I get that. I’ve lived it.</div>
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This year I packed early. I got to experience the other side of this situation. It was hard for my students to accept the changes. And it did put some positive pressure on them to get things done. My organization suffered some too. The feeling of judgment was there. To outsiders, it looked like I had ended the year early, especially in comparison to other years. Students helped me pack and I think it gave them a sense of closure that isn’t present when the end of the year sneaks up on me, room unchanged. That sense of closure helped some of them let go for the summer, which is also valuable.</div>
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If you find yourself being chided for your choice, take a deep breath and think about the best response. I always maintained that I envied those who could effectively pack up early. I can see the advantages, but my brain doesn’t work that way and I prefer to pack late. As long as your motives are clear, you can weather any response.</div>
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No matter what, student learning should come first. For me, ending well influences my whole summer and can carry into the next year. It is up to each of us to find a method of ending the year that works for us, our students, and our environment.</div>
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<span style="font-size: small;">Sorry for the late post. I lost my glasses and I am on summer vacation. The result is that I keep losing track of what day it is and I can only type for a little while at a time without getting a headache.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;">This post was isn't my usual style because it was originally posted on <a href="http://theeducatorsroom.com/" target="_blank">The Educator's Room</a>. It is; however, still very much a good thing that I have the privilege to write for such an amazing website.</span></div>
Dr. Riinahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05482411691947324906noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1837489873575172742.post-74552539684633131772017-06-22T21:09:00.001-07:002017-06-22T21:09:12.971-07:00Good-byes<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Oh8cbVDYtmg/WUyUWKBzkHI/AAAAAAAAA9c/-N54QsSbC1w-6l2kJ1AFvcZQQJ_XCkZ1ACLcBGAs/s1600/good-bye-1477872_640.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="640" data-original-width="428" height="320" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Oh8cbVDYtmg/WUyUWKBzkHI/AAAAAAAAA9c/-N54QsSbC1w-6l2kJ1AFvcZQQJ_XCkZ1ACLcBGAs/s320/good-bye-1477872_640.jpg" width="214" /></a></div>
On my last day, I saw a few people.<br />
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The good-byes were so kind.<br />
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I posted my departure on Facebook earlier.<br />
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There has been so much positive energy coming my way.<br />
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This is part of why I am sad to leave.<br />
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I have worked with the most amazing group of people.<br />
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The administrative assistants were pretty much the only ones around by then.<br />
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There were a few summer school teachers around.<br />
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And the custodial staff was working on the floors.<br />
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I got the most loving comments from them.<br />
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Many are surprised I'm really leaving.<br />
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After 11 years, I kind of understand, but I've never claimed to be a lifer.<br />
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Everyone wished me well.<br />
<a name='more'></a>Several pitched in to help me move:<br />
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I was allowed to keep my keys for two extra weeks.<br />
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Two people brought trucks.<br />
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One brought her father and a truck.<br />
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My check out form was signed when it was (FINALLY) ready.<br />
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Overall it was best last day I could have hoped for.<br />
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I didn't even cry once.<br />
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Partly because I already moved everything out of the room I've had for 9 years.<br />
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Partly because it doesn't quite feel real yet.<br />
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Partly because I am excited about what comes next.<br />
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It definitely helps to know the people I will miss, might miss me.<br />
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It helps my colleagues and friends believe in me.<br />
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It helps that I will still live just 20 minutes away.<br />
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Though often sad, good-byes can be a good thing.<br />
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And this isn't a forever good-bye.<br />
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My friends will stay my friends even if I don't see them every day.<br />
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That too is a good thing.Dr. Riinahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05482411691947324906noreply@blogger.com0