Blur - cc photo by J. Delp On Thursday evening I was driving home from Payson. It was dark and the roads were wet from an afternoon of rain showers. I was in no hurry. I had a soda, snacks, and was listening to my “Kansas 2021” Spotify playlist. At the edge of town, I … Continue reading Fast Doesn’t Have to Be Normal
Category: Just Thinking
5 Ways to Finish Strong
Today is the final day of our spring break. I am cautiously optimistic about the upcoming quarter and the end of our school year. With regard to the pandemic, we may not be out of the woods yet, but it appears that we are on a path that will lead us there. Case numbers are … Continue reading 5 Ways to Finish Strong
Summer School Reimagined (if we have to do it)
Right now, the world of education seems to be dominated by concerns about student "learning loss." I expressed my opinion on this in a previous post -- Our Kids Will be Okay. I'm not going to imply that there aren't legitimate concerns about student learning during the pandemic, but education, like everything else in the … Continue reading Summer School Reimagined (if we have to do it)
The Storms are Getting Tired
Rain on the Horizon: Pacific Beach, CA - cc photo by J. Delp It is a beautiful January day in Arizona. 74 degrees. The type of day where you can sit on the patio and almost forget the turbulence of the world around us. Almost. My mood today, and this week, has been optimistic. In … Continue reading The Storms are Getting Tired
A Difficult Season
Kerry Croswhite Aquatic Center at the 2020 CHS Swim Banquet I'm not sure this is going to be a "real" blog post, but I want to share a few thoughts. Today is my first "official" day of break and I am exhausted. Physically, mentally, and emotionally. I think I am going to have to ease … Continue reading A Difficult Season
Moving Forward: Thoughts on a New School Year
[Note: the thoughts and ideas in this blog post are my own and are not intended -- in any way -- to be representative of my employer.] As an educator, the past few months have been challenging, but certainly manageable. The adjustment to distance learning has not been easy -- I miss being around the … Continue reading Moving Forward: Thoughts on a New School Year
The Long Road to What Matters Most
Things which matter most must never be at the mercy of things which matter least. - Goethe While I often refer to this quote by Johann Wolfgang von Goethe as one of my favorites, it is also personally convicting. For me, the struggle doesn't necessarily lie in doing things that matter, but in determining … Continue reading The Long Road to What Matters Most
What Will Next School Year Look Like?
This week I delivered a number of Chromebooks and WiFi hotspots to students in our school community. I was surprised by the mixed emotions I felt as I stopped at trailers, houses, and apartments to drop-off the devices. It was great to see my students and register their excitement at the prospect of being able … Continue reading What Will Next School Year Look Like?
Adjust Your Sails
The pessimist complains about the wind. The optimist expects it to change. The realist adjusts the sails. - William Arthur Ward Yesterday afternoon, I went for a walk. On most weekends, I try to get out to someplace scenic, go for a hike and take a few pictures. I love the adventure in hiking and … Continue reading Adjust Your Sails
Go Ahead and Take a Break
This week I took a break. I packed up some of my gear and headed into the mountains near Payson, Arizona for a two-night camping trip. October in the mountains in Arizona is true fall weather -- something I don't often experience in Phoenix. It was beautiful, with highs in the low seventies and lows … Continue reading Go Ahead and Take a Break