Last year, some of my band classes did a month-long composition activity. I asked students for written feedback: tell me if you liked the activity or not and why. Two reports read the following: “I liked it because it was easy.” “I didn’t like it because it was too easy.” Isn’t that funny? First, that … Read more
I’ve always had good penmanship. I got Bs in school because my cursive didn’t slant–it was straight up and down–but I don’t think that makes it poor. Anyway. Most of the time nowadays, I print. For a long time, when I would write quickly (taking notes, for example), it was sloppy, but when I slowed … Read more
Growing up, the first day of school was always so exciting. I always had a new outfit. Often a new backpack or lunch box. I had friends at school. I got along well with most of my teachers, so that was never a worry for me. I wasn’t a wiggly kid and had no trouble … Read more
A thing happened. Person A was in a bad emotional place. Person B offered company and help with a difficult task. Person A, not wanting to impose, declined the offer. Except that Person B was also in a precarious emotional place, and helping would have also done them a lot of good, for a lot … Read more
In the district where I teach, today is the first day of school for students. (Teachers, counselors, others started last week. Principals, custodians, some of the office staff have been working all summer.) Today is July 23. I grew up in New Jersey, where school always started after Labor Day. (We have mid-quarter parent conferences … Read more
A workout definitely feels more accomplished if I’m sweating hard at the end. Of course, the photo was taken after an outdoor run the other morning. It was hot and sunny, so the sweat wasn’t really indicative of the run being harder than the same run in the winter, but it still feels better. (In … Read more
Last night, my name was picked and I got to tell a story on stage at The Moth. (I didn’t tell any stories involving wedding dresses, as they ended up not making good stories. More like good anecdotes. I told a story about a brazen comment in a conversation with my first principal-to-be.) Because I … Read more
I’m volunteering at The Moth StorySlam tonight in Phoenix. While I’m there, I can throw my name into the hat for an opportunity to tell a 5-minute story on stage. (I’ve had the opportunity to tell stories twice. One went well; the other, not so much.) The theme this month is BOLD. I’ve been thinking … Read more
What if we just didn’t buy anything? (That’s all I’m going to say about that. At least for now.)
We know that we shouldn’t eat unless we’re hungry (a few health issues aside–there’s always an exception, isn’t there?). All of the ins and outs of that is another post for another day. But when should we stop eating? It’s a national pastime to eat until it hurts. We plan out which pants to wear … Read more