I often play soft jazz, classical, or some other form of non intrusive background music in my classroom. First of all, it stops the inevitable moment when the room is actually quiet because everyone is working and then someone says, “It’s so quiet in here!” Which, of course, leads everyone to talk again. Having music … Continue reading
Author Archives: Jennifer
Thinking about paperwork
I get it, paperwork is important, but come on, how many times can you file the same forms before you’re just killing trees? Not to mention the ‘we’re going 21st century, no more killing trees!’ plan which switched everything into pdf versions of the papers I used to be able to fill out on a … Continue reading
Thinking about car repair
I know, for the most part, it’s so mundane and often so annoying that it’s something many people purposely don’t think about unless they have to. I’m not going to go all ‘Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance’ on you and suggest there is something deeply meaningful in getting your car repaired (although if … Continue reading
Thinking about taking a break
No, not like Ross and Rachel. I know, I thought of that line too. But I’m thinking more about the break I took between the end of August and the beginning of 2021. For those of you who don’t know, I am a teacher and this year has been a mile a minute, never ending … Continue reading
Thinking about moving
I’ve moved around a lot in the last few years and when it is you moving it is just a wearying and worrisome process that feels never ending. Changing addresses and getting doors re-keyed, giving away things that won’t fit the new space or that no longer fit your life, and figuring out where things … Continue reading
Thinking about summer
As I watched the sun set I realized again how different the light is in the summer. The golden tones that make it seem so slow and easy to do nothing. After this series it got dark, that thick deep violet where your eyes can perceive light but the camera can’t and you can see … Continue reading
Thinking about those questions kids ask
Why is the grass green? Why is the sky blue? Do fish drink water? Why don’t dogs talk? And so on, and so on, ad infinitum. If you’ve ever spent time around children you know that as they get older the questions only get more complex. If you’re feeling stuck at home, and aren’t we … Continue reading
Thinking about being alike
In the story below it only takes a minute or two to understand where the writer is headed but it takes the full eight minutes to ‘get it’. Trust me, it’s worth the time. This is my go to for times when I need a little cheering up. It reminds me that there is no … Continue reading
Thinking about the time we have left
…we can imagine our last Christmas, our last summer vacation, our last anniversary or birthday, etc. far more easily than we can a random Tuesday in March. Continue reading
Thinking about Social and Emotional Learning
I’ve been thinking about going back to school, as I’m sure every teacher and parent and student has been, and the ways that being out of school for several months and then spending the summer being pretty limited as to what you can do will impact our children during the coming year. We still don’t … Continue reading
