As is usually the case, my writing today is inspired by the work of others. I’ve been a fan of George Couros for years; my “fandom” runs much deeper than admiration: I am inspired, on a nearly daily basis, by the guy. And that inspiration has led to significant changes, or habits, that I’ve developed, … [Read more…]
I am a creature of habit that embraces change… and a person who is clearly full of contradictions. Writing this blog has become a habit, but I embraced some change to make the commitment to writing the blog happen. I missed my self-imposed deadline: I have made a commitment to posting a blog every Sunday … [Read more…]
The first phrase in this quote, “I meant what I said and I said what I meant. An elephant’s faithful one-hundred percent!” from Dr. Seuss’s Horton Hatches the Egg has been on my mind a lot, lately. For me, the quote rings true… and then is quickly reversed… in many situations. Rather than talking about … [Read more…]
Our youngest son, 16 year old Emmett, does not enjoy school. Socialization and sports make it tolerable, and perhaps enjoyable, at times. Emmett has always done reasonably well in school, so his apathy toward school can’t even be blamed on a struggle with learning. He doesn’t seem to value the educational opportunities that exist; he … [Read more…]
Fort Madison Community School District is incredibly fortunate to have partnered with Four Oaks, an Iowa organization “…committed to helping children and families through their struggles…” The support that we receive from Four Oaks includes receiving professional development around trauma-informed care. We have a group of “trauma champions” that receive more intensive training, sharing our … [Read more…]