We got to cast our scene today for the school’s spring musical. This is one of my favorite things to do with my teaching team. We get to read the script for our scene, reread it another two or three times to make sure we can actually picture the thing (because it’s a totally original... Continue Reading →
Let’s play! (#sol24 Day 20/31)
I have a collection of fun little internet gamey games that I use to chill my brain. This routine generally happens in the evening - kind of an odd way of winding down my brainwaves! Here’s what I like to play: Wordle Worldle Globle Other NYT games The mini crossword Connections Spelling bee Tiles Sudoku... Continue Reading →
Cognitive overload (#sol24 Day 19/31)
People (you know, people out there in the big ol' world) talk about cognitive load. Have you heard this recently? The cognitive load conversation being the thoughts and realizations about the amount of usable information we can actually hold in our short-term memory at one time? Well. In my opinion, the intentional cognitive load of... Continue Reading →
Low expectations for the WIN! (#sol24 Day 18/31)
I grew up reading collections of Calvin and Hobbes comic strips. You, too? Weren't they just the best? Like this one, for example: This particular strip became more and more pertinent to me as I gradually realized that today was the kind of day that, in order for me to actually make it through, just... Continue Reading →
Acrostic Sunday (#sol24 Day 17/31)
Sleep is great and all but setting an alarm to meet Dad for a day together is better. Keeping up with a smooth and speedy 80 year old can be shockingly tricky. Interesting humans are hiding in lift lines and on the chair next to you. Inferring comes in handy when looking at the weather... Continue Reading →
Ah, well. (#sol24 Day 16/31)
Yep. You’re right. You didn’t miss it. I didn’t write yesterday. GASP! I know. Shocking. Past me would have been fretting and rushing and stressing and guilt-tripping all the way to 10pm last night. (That midnight East Coast deadline comes up fast in the Rockies!) But yesterday’s me? No worries in sight. I’ll admit, I... Continue Reading →
A late but worthy celebration (#sol24 Day 14/31)
I missed National Nap Day. I know. Booooooo! Hopefully you celebrated it on the 11th but I just found out about it today, and today turned out to be the perfect day for me to celebrate this important national day of observance. “But, Kristina, you had student-led conferences all day today and you taught hot... Continue Reading →
My words are gone (#sol24 Day 13/31)
I'm tired. My brain has left the building before the end of my contract day. Since I am left holding nothing inspirational to share with the slicing community today, I'll leave my daily literary smiles in the hands of the experts, aka My Students... Here's one: See that? It's a whale shark. Yep. They're the... Continue Reading →
When our words stick (#sol24 Day 12/31)
The coolest thing happened in my first grade writing class today. Backstory: I have a young writer (we’ll call him James) who has just become an independent letter creator. He now knows them all and how to (mostly) form them correctly. This progression is, as we all know, huge. Despite the massive skill gaps between... Continue Reading →
No, thank you (#sol24 Day 11/31)
To Whom It May Concern, As of today, I am no longer interested in this whole SPRING AHEAD! situation. No, thank you. I am canceling my auto renewal. I’ll be awaiting the prompt return of my missing hour of sleep, my alert first and second graders, my morning light, my cozy evenings, and my sense... Continue Reading →
Writing and Laughing 