While teachers in general are underpaid and under-respected, I’ve long said that if only one little slice of us were to receive more cash and glory, it should be the kindergarten teachers. For one year, kindergarten classes took up half of my schedule as a traveling music teacher, and it was during this time that … Read more
From my Facebook memories: Aaaaaand another assessment tool that requires written student work as “evidence.” *sigh* I was an elementary band teacher, and while some knowledge of how notation works can be assessed using traditional paper-pencil tests, “before and after” student work is what we hear. My job was to teach them to play, to … Read more
I had a lovely conversation with a few brilliant women yesterday. We left off with a question to pick up next time: how do you know when something “isn’t my thing” versus “I just need to practice”? In other words, is the activity not for me, or am I just frustrated because I don’t have … Read more
In a conversation about calendars and keeping households collectively time-organized, we touched on personal planners. Mine is paper, next to my desk, and I designed the sheets. Details aren’t important because takeaway from the conversation was about flexibility, not planners. For many of us who are perfectionists in various stages of recovery, figuring out the … Read more
Changing Hands Bookstore had a virtual writing event recently where we were guided through a variety of chance operations activities. These activities leave the writing process to chance. (They’re useful for any creative composing, not just writing. John Cage used some in composing music, for example.) Leaving things to chance requires the writer to put … Read more
Maybe it started when I started teaching. Maybe it’s just the way my dad’s stoicism shows up on my face. Regardless the why, I have a history of being in charge of groups of people where I’m not entirely comfortable and where those who are in the group are generally unaware of my discomfort. It … Read more
Annie Duke was the guest on an engaging episode of A Slight Change of Plans. The theme of the episode was quitting and it offered so many new thoughts to me. “If you think about the way that we process narratives, we don’t really see the quitters…The heroes are the ones who persevere beyond the … Read more
Today’s writing offers you a nudge to put yourself out there a bit if you have some ideas or some work and you’re afraid to share it. You never know what people will like. Some of the things I have worked the hardest on have received no response. Some of the things I’ve dashed off … Read more
As a person estranged from my family of origin, I’ve been told many times that I am obligated to be in contact or spend holidays or whatever because they’re family and there are things that you overlook or put up with because they’re family. (I wonder how the family sounds in your head compared to … Read more
A note I made from an email I received maybe a year ago: “To be mean seems exhausting.” Jedidiah Jenkins (I just went and looked him up, because I didn’t know who he was/who I was quoting, and he seems pretty neat. His TEDx talk was interesting to listen to.) “Mean” is rooted in fear, … Read more