Ready. Set. Go.

Start by burning dinner. Wait? What? Start with what? Are you sure? Hmmm. Let me think… No, I think let’s end with that. What? End with that? Well then where do we start? At the beginning: For the first time in a week, I wasn’t up at 4:30. I swore that if I was, I…

Hello, Beautiful

Yesterday, just as I was leaving the house for my first full day of work-not-work before the school year starts, I opened my email to see these words: “Bye, Beautiful.” It was the title of a post written by a colleague I was sure was in the same work-not-yet-work mode as I was. So, what…

Coaches Need Coaching, Too

By the 4th of July, I had been to the recycling bin at least a half-dozen times since school ended. Each time—and sometimes after several trips in a day—I would greet Micah at the front door and bring him over to the bin, lift the lid, and brag on all the things I had managed…

Coaches Create Learning Spaces, Too.

“You mean your office?” my husband asked this morning as I described the space set aside for me at my new school. “Office” does not seem the right word for the space I envision. This is not just a space where I will work to get things done. Learning will happen here. I will make…

Endings

“Are you pretty close to tears today?” someone asked me minutes after I stepped into the building. For a brief moment, I thought about lying. Then, instead, I said, “I don’t get emotional at times like this.” It’s true. “What is wrong with you?” he joked. “I keep it at arm’s length,” I told him,…

Countdown

I’m fairly certain I’ve penned a post with this name before. Also certain: A countdown has never felt so urgent. 8. Weeks (that means Mondays) before summer vacation. 7. Fridays paired with Saturdays spent planning for the week that follows. 6. Asynchronous Fridays before summer vacation. 5. Weeks will follow the newly-reduced state test. 4….

Mind Before Matter

The bird feeder sways back and forth from the branch still spotted with snow. Saturated with spring thaw, the driveway holds footprints from this morning, from this afternoon, from the return home, like they were pressed in fresh concrete. The recliner lays on its side on the porch, having been pushed out of the way…

Intentions

Intentions give your mind a story to live into. Janet Baird’s “Give Your Life Meaning: Set Intentions” on https://www.onwardthebook.com/give-your-life-meaning-set-intentions/ Based on a quote from Elena Aguilar, Tina’s podcast about intentions played from my phone this morning and offered to give me a little pep-talk before my feet – your feet – even hit the floor….

New Stance Unlocked

Yes, this could be another video game reference, if you were paying attention last night. Or… This could be extension of my “and” series of slices. Because it is true that each year does exactly this: unlocks new stances. Year one (as coach): I am not the expert. Year two (back in the classroom): and…

Brawlhalla

Square: pick up your weapon and strike. Triangle: strike with special split-second power. Ex: jump once, twice,thrice, but any more and you’re out of luck. Circle: not sure yet. It should let you drop your weapon so that you can pick up the bombs that cascade across the screen like snowballs, but nothing consistently does…