Summer always seems to go too fast and this summer is certainly no exception. My thoughts and actions have been completely consumed by our house remodel, which is still underway. We began in June and I was naive enough to think that we would be finished by the time I returned to school in August. … [Read more…]
On Saturday, I was on a mission. I was bound and determined to trim the shrubs that adorn the front of our house. This is an annual task, one that was skipped last year, and I was committed to making sure that didn’t happen again. I approached the job with little to no plan. I … [Read more…]
The African proverb, “It takes a village to raise a child,” rings true each and every day. In fact, I would add, it takes a village to accomplish many, many tasks of worth. There are times when a crazy thought crosses my mind: “Maybe I should teach preschool, kindergarten or first grade.” This is a … [Read more…]
This past week has allowed a peek into what our teachers are doing with students to set academic goals. In addition to our standing district beliefs, vision, mission, and goals, Fort Madison Community School District has identified the following goal for the 2022-2023 school year: “By May 2023, FMCSD will improve ELA and Math proficiency … [Read more…]
There are times when I walk away from a coaching conversation feeling like a failure. I can feel like I was zero help to a teacher who was seeking answers or support. When that happens, I question my ability as an instructional coach, and wonder if there are other people who would be better at … [Read more…]
When Sky and her mom walked into my classroom four years ago for Open House night to launch the 2017-2018 school year, I was taken aback when Sky (a brand new 6th grade student whom I was meeting for the first time) looked right at me, stomped her foot, and said, “I hate reading.” The … [Read more…]
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…]
The purpose of scaffolding on a construction site is to support people in getting to places that are out of their reach. Without scaffolding, the job of a construction worker would be nearly impossible. Scaffolding provides the “just right” amount of support needed. It can be added to, and taken away. Supports in the Kitchen … [Read more…]
Two weeks ago, I wrote about Celebrations, Joy, and Delights; one week ago, I wrote about the Letdown. Today, I find myself reflecting on this past week with an equal mixture of both celebrations and letdowns. In other words, hills and valleys. There continues to be much to celebrate in Fort Madison Community School District. … [Read more…]
The Background Two weeks ago, I wrote a post about the power of collaboration. In the first part of it, I described the process that our coaching staff went through to develop a session for our district’s upcoming professional development day. I summarized it as a seven-step process, much of which involved frustration, but ultimately … [Read more…]