Unexpected Lessons

 Lessons Learned from a Good Walk...

Two months of a complete change of pace while watching my mother slowly deteriorate has taught me important lessons.

Yesterday, I went for a long (17+ miles) walk and as I walked, notes down lessons learned to share with the photos on Facebook. This morning, as I planned my blog, I thought about how my walking notes connect with much deeper learning about how I must change my life - how I can embrace what has made me so happy here despite the personal heartache and missing husband and dogs 🐶 

So, here we go - from my walking notes as posted on social media, to the life connection.  Well except for #8.  That just is how it is!

1. Don’t worry about how the app works, just focus on the map. Bring a charger 🙃 
• Don’t waste so much time, energy, and emotion on being clever - get the basics right first!
2. Pack a spare pair of socks. And a T-shirt. And pants. Heck, bring the whole change of outfit 👖👚🧦Yes, one of the tracks in The FIRST mile got me soaking wet 😳 
• Plan for the unexpected, and learn from every adventure to be better prepared for the next.
3. Keep your eyes open! Lots of vegetation change, and the occasional pony🐴 in a field. Always a surprise for both of us. Oh, and the field of bullocks was a bit unnerving 🐂. 
• 
  Don’t miss life as it flies by. I love waking because you notice things you miss from a car - like an apostrophe on the Bishop’s Hull name sign I spend my life rushing. It needs to stop. I need to breathe & take a walk. I need to watch out for and enjoy the little things. 
4. Put your raincoat on when walking through thick, wet, nettle-laden vegetation. 
• Think ahead. ‘Be prepared’. Remember #2 above!
5. Always stop for a castle 🏰 even if it’s only a fort & nothing much is there. After all, you don’t want to miss anything 🤷🏼‍♀️. 
• When you think there might be something special ahead, make time for it. Don’t miss out. Don’t try to squeeze it in. Let it be special. Life truly is short.
6. Bring a towel to sit on 😀 
• Always think about the tools you’ll need and find a nice spot to sit to watch life unfold. Don’t always stand up.
7. Don’t press stop instead of pause ⌚️, when you stop to eat a sandwich 🥪. 
• STOP RUSHING to do things quickly. Savor the moment. Take your time. Do it right.
8. Road miles are hard on the knees. 
• Well, they are 😂
9. 2 bottles of water are enough for only the first 10 miles  💦💧 
• There seems to be a lot about planning ahead for success here, doesn’t there? But it’s key - as is hydration! Always have water to drink and a kettle to boil ☕️. Have a cuppa at 4pm and give yourself a brain break 🫖. The G&T at 6pm seems like a smart move too 🍸. Just one - after all, “Everything in moderation.” 😂
10. Bring your bandaids 🩹 & nettle sting spray ✅. 
• Sometimes you have to cover up mistakes made when you take the wrong route. Sometimes you make a boo-boo! Be ready to think about how to fix it if you need to - and remember that it’s the mistake that teaches you how to get it right next time.

Going on a 17-mile hike is very different than a 5-mile walk. Wet feet for 16 miles creates an issue. But I learned. Being away from home and not working for 2-months, moving your Mum who has worsening dementia, and living in a relative’s home is very different than day-to-day living as a teacher in Cumming, GA. But I learned. I’ve discovered a calmer and more thoughtful self. I’ve reminded myself how much I enjoy rambling and tramping around the countryside. I’ve reconnected with British habits that I truly enjoy - so what if they mark me as eccentric in the US 🤷🏼‍♀️. They are me. They are my culture. I’ve always tried far too hard to fit in, to be liked. 

I’ve learned to embrace ME. 

        To enjoy ME. 

                To BE me.

Long may it continue.

Nil Satis Nisi Optimum is a good message, but there’s more than one way to do your best!

And God Save the Queen 🇬🇧

A Very Different Spring - FMLA time!

Well, here I am, leading a very different life than usual. No teaching, minimal thinking about work (I mean, it never quite goes away, does it?), and dealing with a very different type of stress.

It’s FMLA time.

Family and Medical Leave Act. One of the better laws that the government has passed as far as I am concerned.  Up to 12 weeks away from work to take care of family needs.  And boy!  I certainly have a family need.

Originally the goal was to save my weeks for when immigration finally came through and we moved Mum over.  The trouble with making plans that concern an official entity like immigration, is that they don’t march to the beat of anyone else’s drum - much less mine.  We really thought that Mum’s case would be expedited - Alzheimer’s, 90 years old, self-funding…why hold things up? But despite support from Senator Grassley and Senator Ossoff (talk about a disparity of views there!), we are still waiting.

Still.

It’s almost a year.

So, we are now thinking perhaps September.  Maybe October.  And Mum could not wait.  Bless her, she’s been doing so well thanks to carers and tremendous neighbor support - my goodness, I could do an entire blog about neighbor Ruth and how she stepped in and took care of…well, everything that I should have been doing, really.  But when things were learning up to the 90th birthday and phone calls were showing more and more gaps…then at the birthday itself, seeing the confusion and occasional fits of anxiety…it was clear that waiting wasn’t an option anymore.  Mum couldn’t be alone any longer. We needed either full-time care or she needed to move to a care home.  The family stepped up and plans were made.  We would move Mum to a care home near my aunt, I would empty the house and get it put on the market, and then when immigration finally come through, we almost literally just have to pack a suitcase.  Or, if it is too late, then Mum will be safe and in a good place. 

So then the weeks of waiting began. Dealing with the very different ‘professional’ culture of the UK (email is NOT a priority) and all the frustrations that come with long-distance planning. But so many positives. The new principal at the school could not have been more supportive. HR at the district level was beyond amazing. So plans were made. I focused on preparing lessons and getting my kids ready. There were bittersweet moments like the surprise farewell party and amazing gifs from my students. There were some tough travails trying to stay focused and on task as the end date came closer.  My long-term sub prepared and got familiar.  My team was there to support me. Paul, my husband, was fully on board. And every time I hugged my dog I was emotional. 3 months away. That’s a long, long time. 
But now I’m here. Mum’s moved into her new home. I’m on track with shipments and charity collections. The real estate agent selection will be made soon, and life keeps moving forward.
It’s amazing how I switched off and into this new life so quickly. It’s had some joyous parts with lovely country walks always available - and the time to do them. There have been some very difficult times with a lost and confused mother facing the reality of losing her independence. There have been difficult moments trying to make things happen at my speed and some frustrations dealing with things out of my control. There have been unexpected struggles such as my mother-in-law passing away 3 days after I got here - and I can’t be there to help and/or look after my husband. Poor Paul.  
Teaching and my media center plans are there. There’s a little part of my brain that keeps me picking up my notebook and jotting down ideas. I am not quite finished with my Gifted Endorsement, so work is being done and projects completed.

One thing has become clear.  The ‘rest-of-the-world’ attitude about not working when it’s not a workday is so much healthier. It took me about a month to get over the frustration of answers not being given, slow email responses, and the inordinate amount of national holidays there appear to be, but eventually, I have been able to slow my mind down, match the pace, and enjoy my long walks in the countryside.

The question is, how will I resolve the disparity when I get ‘home’?  How will I find ways to keep what I am loving - and what is clearly so good for me - while keeping up with my own expectations and needs of the world I am going back to.

When Things Didn't Quite Work - Opportunity Came Knocking

A New Opportunity!

A New Challenge!

Last year, I had the opportunity to be a 'part-time coach.' I learned a lot - both positive and negative - but one thing I learned was that part-time doesn't work without constant communication from and between administrators. I'm not blaming them, there were other priorities and a different idea of my role between them.  I found that when doors were opened, success followed.  I discovered that my love of talking pedagogy was embraced by many.  I found that my willingness to graft and create for amazing teachers was a gift that I could give. I also learned things about myself.  I saw that I find it very hard to live without recognition. I discovered that doing the 'secret' work was not for me.  I found it very difficult to not know my place, to not have a definite role.

I also discovered that 2 classes of ELA were a fabulous amount. It allowed me to pour heart and soul into my planning as I always do, focusing on strategic ways to use the time in as engaging fashion as always, but with only 60 students to give feedback too, not only could I increase the depth of feedback, but it opened up the time for me to create and do for other teachers.  

It was my best teaching year ever.

The hours I spent researching for others, taking classes, listening to podcasts, all gave me opportunities to play and experiment in my classroom - then share with teachers with first-hand experience.  

And those teachers who shared their gratitude with me, and those kids and parents who have reached out to me to share their appreciation, kept me pushing myself to truly deserve that praise.

But, I knew that it wouldn't last - allotments would come in, and without a place that I clearly fitted into the jigsaw of the school, it was only a matter of time before I knew that the opportunity would be gone.  I knew that I could never truly share my ability to coach without it being a full-time opportunity, and even though I strongly believe that any good school should have a coach, it's something our county is no longer fully supporting with special allotments. The opportunities are hard to come by.  For a while there I was strongly thinking of looking at other options. Our school schedule is changing to lose block days, and we are moving away from a lunchtime enrichment class that the majority of teachers hate, but I found fed my creativity and desire to experiment. The thought of 5 sections of ELA - much as I love ELA - was not enticing.  Should I go the private school route?  Should I find something else entirely?  I could do virtual teaching. I could...

For a while there, I even considered being an activity director at an assisted living facility. Maybe I'd get a discount for my Mum, you never know.

But then the opportunity came calling. The job I wanted at a different school over a year ago was offered to me on a plate - but this time at my own school. With the community I love, and the kids I know.

The chance to take our somewhat silent, often empty media center and turn it into the heart of our school.  A space that is vibrant, fun, and sought out.  Working with all the kids, a resource for all the teachers, ideas about!

Step 1 has been taken - a workshop with students to see what THEY want in their space. Step 2 is sharing the ideas with teachers and getting their feedback.  Step 3 will be a second workshop with kids.  My Vision Book is flowing. My working document is filled with an abundance of brainstorms.  My book order is massive and my podcast list has shifted.

Let's Go!

Let's Plan!

Let's DO!

Feedback from the Kids

Joyful Anticipation

My mind is whirling with goals, plans, intentions, and all the things that happened at the beginning of a new school year.  There are so many ideals and ideas, there are so many things I would like to achieve.  

Just an average August in a teacher’s life!  

I do always say that one of the joys about teaching is that you get to reinvent yourself every year, you get to have new goals and thoughts, you are able to create the very best you can be and make it better every single year.

This year is different for me, I have a new role. One I’ve been striving for a couple of years, one that while I know I can do - one I also worry that I’m not ready for.  There is a complete mix of emotions rummaging around inside me right now. 

One, I’m still a teacher, and I need (as always) to strive to be the best I can be to support my kids. My first goal of doing everything I can to make learning joyful for both students and teachers, holds true for whichever role I am focusing on. 

Joy. There needs to be more joy.

Two, I’m there to support our newer teachers.  Lead, guide, coach. I’ve trained for this, I’ve practiced, I’ve read the books. Now it’s real. I’m excited to share my passion and ideas. I’m ready to research and do the work.  I’m also nervous because this could be a massive first step towards my future - but a lack of perceived success will mean that the opportunity will no longer be there next year.  Reality is though, I can’t think that way. If things don’t work out, it’s because it’s not meant to be. If positive results don’t abound then our collective thoughts about what role is best for Bridget, and how I can best help the team, are not correct. I know that I’m a good teacher - now I need to work on being a good teacher of teachers…

I must believe

I must focus on what they need and remember that I can only change myself

I must remember to be joyful 

Let the journey - and joy - begin

#joyful #teachersupport #leadingandlearning

Chasing Dreams!

 We can always be better. It doesn’t matter how good you are at teaching, how good your classroom management style is, how well you engage your students, there’s always more to discover and achieve. There are always better goals, there are always loftier heights to reach. And there are always dreams.

A couple of years ago, my principal shared an idea with me – what she thought would be the perfect job for me. A mix of literacy coach and media specialist, allowing me to extend my love of learning to many more students, to help coach teachers to bring literacy into different content areas, and to give me more freedom that the ELA curriculum does not allow.  I loved the idea, and it seems that many other people agreed that this would be the perfect fit. The problem was finding the principal who would be willing to create the position. Someone who would give up that allotment, to allow a vision to occur.

Sounds great, doesn’t it?

We almost thought it was going to happen. It was so close. But then, it ended up that the job didn’t happen. And the little fledging dream was crushed, as they so often are.

But the beautiful thing about dreams is that you are never stuck with just one. Dreams are yours, no one can stop you from having them, and they can be as elaborate — and detailed — as you would like them to be.

I like making up dreams. I like to think of possibilities. I like to imagine just what could be achieved in the right climate💡 

Of course, this is one reason sleep is often overtaken by ideas 🛌 

The old cliché is always true when one door closes, another one opens. But I also think you have to look for that door. Maybe you have to push that door a little, give it an extra nudge, make things happen.

So right now, I’m at that stage where I’m creating dreams again. Thinking of how I could find a way to move out of the strictures of the fixed curriculum and into a world of digital citizenship, real-life research, and authentic project-based learning. How can I bring that to students?     There’s limited scope as the traditional ELA teacher, but maybe there are ways. Would I be able to find that job in a not-so-traditional environment 🤔 Can I integrate more into ELA without competing with common assessments🤨

It’s ‘crazy season’ in our world right now

🤪 🤪 🤪 🤪 

COVID or not, we are hiring and planning for next year.  Teachers are shifting roles and competing for positions. There’s a fine line between 'speaking up’ and ‘being pushy.’ But then there’s that feeling of, “I was professional before and that got me nowhere...”

So I’ve had a suggestion made to me, one that I really like. I countered with one that I like even better, and that’s as far as it can go right now.

I really want to believe that my dream was taken away because there’s a better one around the corner. And maybe the corner isn’t going to be this summer, maybe it’s going to be next year, but at least I have begun to sow some seeds, and people who have the power are listening.

In the meantime, I have a simple job, to be the best teacher I can possibly be to the students that I am lucky enough to have🤷🏼‍♀️

But no one can stop me from dreaming 💭💭💭

What Happened?

It's been a strange year.  I mean, REALLY strange.

You think that I'm referring to the extended online learning, COVID 19 and all of that?

Nope.  It was weird long before that!

• I found it much harder to build the kinds of relationships with kids that I am used to - parents too. 
• I felt much more of an island in my teaching, but at the same time more accepted by our faculty (she's weird, but she's one of our own?!).
• Our administrative team remains awesome, but I haven't had that person to sit and share with the same way that I had in past iterations of a leadership team. Is that a criticism?  Not at all, more to do with personalities.

You can tell it was different. I haven't blogged. I haven't found the same sort of excitement in sharing my learning. 

So, that's the negative (heck of a way to lead off, huh?).

Now to the positives!

I adapted my schedule, my hours, my intensity to allow myself more me-time.  I focused on being with Paul and my football (soccer) family.  I decided to ride my horse for the joy of it, rather than continually setting goals that were beyond us both (as a relatively aged pair!). We created a date night that both of us adhered to until the restaurants closed...but have ordered in food ever since. I've allowed myself to create and enjoy, but have focused on finding ways to think about which feedback matters the most, ways to give feedback in class, creating student reflections to allow THEM to make comparisons between exemplars and their own work.

Honestly, its been kind of awesome.

So, as I said - a weird year!

And now we are teaching from home, and a new challenge arises.  And you know what, guilt fills me as I type this, but I am enjoying it. A lot.

Oh yes, it was horrific at first.  All my work time rules went to heck in a hand-basket as kids were reaching out 24-7. Desperate to support them in whatever way I could, I spent hour making videos for kids, videos for parents...anything I could do. It was exhausting.  But then things began to find their rhythm. Then I realized that I was sleeping at night. Next thing that happened was that I could come off my prescription medicine for GI issues.

I discovered just how much stress I layer on myself - What do other people think? How can I fit in? Why do they laugh at my ideas?  All gone. One fell swoop. Just left with me and my (virtual) classroom.

Am I worried about the 2-3 kids who have gone missing? Yes.  Am I frustrated by the kids who have apparently forgotten how to access work and apparently have told parents that we never did it this way? You bet I am!  Do I get bothered by the students who do as little as possible, but then turn in their work to avoid that MISSING notification? Of course I do!  Am I super proud of my kids who are THRIVING with independent learning and far more time for one-on-one supports?  Yes I am.

Every day I am learning about things that will change in either my virtual or real classroom.  That's exciting, invigorating, and just plain good learning.

So, strange year indeed.  I last blogged in the fall, Now it's April and we are teaching from home.