A meme crossed my path. All caps, lots of colors — the kind of design I might be into… YOU DID NOT WAKE UP TODAY TO BE AVERAGE I have a couple of thoughts about that. 1. Math. 2. Maybe you did. By definition, we can’t all be above average. If we’re using the math-based … Read more
(If you missed the original post/project details, you can find it here.) Kids have been off and on with the sticky notes. I have needed to replenish them a time or two, but most seem to have chosen a couple, stuck them in their music binder, and not messed with them again. Earlier this week, … Read more
Individual stories are where real emotional power lies. I mean, that 3,000 people were killed is quite something. That millions were killed in WWII is staggering. They’re numbers. They’re big numbers. They’re easy to wield, hard to comprehend. “A single death is a tragedy. A million deaths is a statistic.” Stories? Those are where power … Read more
If you’ve never experienced this, it’s hard to understand. (I imagine chronic pain is similar. I imagine high-functioning autism is similar as well.) Everyone (I assume) occasionally doesn’t feel like doing some task. It takes a little get-up-and-go to get it done. The bit of internal oomph that pushes you over the threshold between doing … Read more
We’ve all heard this before: What doesn’t kill you makes you stronger. Except: no. It’s not inherently or necessarily true. So many things that literally or figuratively try to kill us don’t leave us better or stronger. Cancer didn’t kill me. (Hooray!) Am I stronger? Certainly not physically. I trained with a trainer for several … Read more
A law was passed in Oregon that students’ absences due to mental health issues can be excused. But until I looked it up and read about it, all I knew was that “mental health days” are now excused. Having a legit mental health issue and “taking a mental health day” are two very different things, … Read more
With most things, there’s a fine line between “not hardcore” and “too many excuses.” Setting a reasonable, realistic goal is critical in walking this line. For most people most of the time, “hardcore” is not the way to go. It’s not sustainable. If you’re in a situation where it’s critical to be all in and … Read more
On a podcast, a question was called in about self-image and body weight/shape. The answer included gratuitous use of the phrase “skinny bitch.” Can we please get rid of it? “Skinny” is a description of body. “Bitch” is a description of demeanor or personality. They are in no way connected. Some skinny women are bitches. … Read more
I have a student who has been playing an instrument for a week. He came to class completely disheartened and said, “My uncle said I’m never going to be able to play this.” Don’t be that uncle. Of course the kid is struggling and sounds terrible right now. He’s been playing for a week. Instruments … Read more
After going through a handful of ideas, I put up the display shown in the picture in both of my classrooms. In case you can’t see the photo, there’s a poster in the middle that says “take what you need,” surrounded by sticky-notes with messages. You got this! I can do it! Mistakes are opportunities … Read more