Day 87 - Documenting

Monday, June 8 2020

Here are things I've seen the past three days...
On Instagram:

 

  

 

 

On Twitter:

In one of my books (The Rent Collector):

On driveways in my neighborhood:

From another book I'm reading that is SO VALUABLE: YES. Yes I do. 

     See another blog of mine for my thoughts and my notes.

2019-2020 Digital Scrapbook

For Days 85 & 86 of quarantine, I'm bringing up a draft post that I save throughout the year to remember what I've done regarding "extra" teaching or professional development opportunities...

Because my heart is so heavy from the events of this past week and the wondering of the future of my students, I'll be returning to blogging at my other "genius hour" blog about race once again. 

I've decided to lay off the presenting this year (it's way more stress for me than teaching), AND we kind of stopped seeing people in "the real world," so this year's "scrapbook" is a bit sparse compared to some years!

JUNE
- Video conference with Michael Tromblee's (@mtromblee1) educators regarding Shift This
- USMSpark conference - hosted a healthy grading session and was able to learn from so very many!
Here's Sean Scanlon's post about the connections made, and a photo taken that day:

- USQ conference - Keynoted with my niece and nephew! Oh, how over-the-moon proud I am of these two learners and leaders!

JULY
- #BLC19 - My last year heading Boston to present - it's good and sad at the same time... We've decided to do more of our own vacations, instead of having someone else dictate where we go during the summer. If anyone has a conference out west that you'd like to waive the conference fee and hotel for, we're available! My favorite part of this one? Getting to see Carrie Baughcum do her thing.

- WORD SHIFT was published!! I'm fortunate enough to have the time to write and the publisher who'll trust in me.

October
- Staying true to taking better care of myself and not making my weekends about work, I accepted an invitation to walk with a good friend / coworker of mine in the JDRF One Walk this year. Turns out there were LOTS of people there who know someone with JDRF T1 - so glad it was well supported!

Kim Miklusak

Karen Field

- We read Long Way Down by Jason Reynolds (aloud) again in class, and one of my students wanted to share something with the author. And he RESPONDED!! 💕

November
- Half-day Edcamp at Carmel Catholic H.S. My takeaway? Why do we still have days set aside parent/teacher conferences if we're being more transparent and have better communication than ever? Bonus - there were five other educators there from my district!

- My district sent me to learn from Penny Kittle & Kelly Gallagher in Hoffman Estates! It was so reinvigorating AND I got my books signed!

- IETC in Springfield, IL - I was able to hear a great discussion in my Healthy Grading session, help others create gratitude stars, share my passion for personalized learning with a small group, and speak during lunch, between Michael Matera and new lost sister in my life Julie Nilsson Smith! I'm so grateful to friend and conference organizer Kim Darche for helping me get down to Springfield to share some things I've learned, and thank you to Lindsay Zilly for the sketchnote!

 

 

        

February
- EdCampMadWi! EdCamp Madison is always a hit. It seems like it's been a very long time since I've been to an edcamp! I had a few people at my "gratitude writing" session, and at lunch we brainstormed a new session for next time - "Boomers Unite!" Bonus - Bob hung out with us afterwards, and we stayed the night before heading home. We did miss Aggie this year, though.

 

March
- Our ELA teachers got to have PD on Readers/Writers Workshop for two days. It was such valuable  and needed professional development.
- EdCamp Elmbrook! It was good to connect... and no, I wasn't going to bring up the "Boomers Unite" session when we had so many other topics that were way more important.
- School closed at the end of the day - Friday, March 13. Life as we knew it changed.

April
- We purchased house plants! Four - ZZ, Umbrella, Peace Lily, and Prince Orange Philodendron

May
- Through all this crud, I found time to share about Genius Hour!

- And then again on May 16th! 

Click HERE for my session on Genius Hour

Because really... it's so very true...

June
- And then ONE MORE TIME on June 3rd through an "Open Mic" at Teachers Connect - with Trevor Rawlings and Denise Krebs! I love the fact that it was Trevor's first time presenting.

- Last Day of School 8th grade reverse parade... This might be a new trend...

The first student who came through the parade walked with his mom, because they were early. They left their car and walked around the lot. I teared up because I now see him as having a fragile future. He is half Black and half Japanese. I then wondered about every child in our parade who might not have a long future due to systemic racism, depression, or... I need to get back with the kids already. At least there I feel I can DO something positive.

Day 84 - Another Last Day

Friday, June 5 2020

We visited two young ladies to present the Citizenship Award... I was fortunate to have this one in my homeroom:

And the rest of the afternoon...

I guess instead of a couple of hours in the sun for our yearbook signing / lunch with 7th grade, we stood in the sun for a couple of hours cheering on our 8th graders. (I modified the sign we had in our yard from the PTA... just changed "staff" to "students" and covered "miss" with "love.")

This was amazing --> One of my former students walked the parade with his mom - he was the first student to show. He was one of my favorites last year, so I made a big deal when he walked by. His mom gave me one of the bags she had with her. It was so touching. I cherish the work she put into each gift she gave. She even gave us washing instructions and wrote in the letter that we could ask her for more!

It was good to see the kids. It was hot, for sure, but it was worth it to see the kids. So many shades of color, and maybe all five (?) sexes were represented - and definitely loved by their teachers from the past three years.

Here is what our fabulous staff and students produced for our eighth grade graduation.

Day 83 - Making

Thursday, June 4 2020

Making sense of what my parents think and why...
Making a plan for what I'll share on Instagram with former students...
Making pizza - why haven't Hubby and I done this before?

 

Today I brought up the topic of race once again with my mom. It's always a difficult conversation, yet this time we made rules - no yelling. Use specific people, not "Blacks" and "democrats." Look at the issue, and do not deflect from it. Okay, okay, those were MY rules. We did okay for a bit. I still don't understand why she stands with the man I despise. So... I made pizza. And I really enjoyed it. I don't think I'll ever change her perspective, as I really don't know the roots of it. Maybe I'll keep trying, and maybe I'll focus on strong messages for my former students instead.

Another photo from the weekly challenge... the cake & muffins Annalise made:

Day 82 - Genius Hour... Again?

Day 82 - Wednesday, June 3 2020

I was able to share about Genius Hour again today - on the Teachers Connect platform this time. I can't help but imagine... what if we had started Genius Hour AFTER George Floyd was killed?

I know my "genius hour" has now shifted to sharing resources on Instagram for my former students. Each day I will share a different resource from the Anti-Racist LiveBinder I curate. That has become my project that I'm picking up again... studying my own whiteness and learning more about what this nation has done to oppress Black humans. The last time I posted on my progress was in August of 2019, and then school took over my life. I know Black humans do not have a "pause" button on racial issues that Whites do.

IN school, I felt less afraid of having the tough conversations, and I believe students felt respected when I was able to make the time for them to ask questions, share stories, and listen to each other. We focused on listening without judgment, sharing our thoughts or ideas in a calm manner, not attacking each other but the issue at hand.

I really didn't feel up to sharing about Genius Hour today. However, the need for students to learn what they want to learn is so important. I know in my heart, that had we started Genius Hour after the protests began, that they'd want to learn more about them, and more about why this is happening. I wish with all my heart that they are doing so now. I hope my daily Instagram resources help them to do so. Today's was the fact that the movie Just Mercy is free on many platforms during this month of June.

This is America today. Day 82 of quarantine. Let's all learn more about the reasons behind this, so we can help alleviate the pain and fear:

I do not know the origin of this photo. Please let me know if you know!

Days 80 & 81 - Mixed

Monday & Tuesday, June 1 & 2, 2020

I made Hot Milk Cake - part of the weekly challenges my teacher-friend Karen and I are doing.

It smelled like pound cake.

It's simply lovely to taste.

I was able to give some to Karen's family and my parents.

I also helped out at school today from 9-noon. We brought students' belongings and a summer reading book to their trunk, while picking up their textbooks, Chromebooks, etc.

Oh, this hair. :(

The day was dulled by the sadness in the air.

And then the kids started showing up on Instagram... I love to see them mature into young adults. They should be proud of themselves.

I have not been feeling like writing, as I just don't get why America is still so messed up. Why people can't just do good. Why it's taking so very long to be decent humans. Why - with all the beautiful stories from all around the world - are Americans so very biased still. I'm sorry, America. I am not without hope. I truly hope something beautiful comes from this.

Check out the Anti-Racist LiveBinder to see what we can do.