Today was our January Staff Development Day. Our leadership team decided that we would forego traditional PD today and offer parent-teacher conferences. Our teachers were allowed to arrive at noon. Conferences ran from noon to four pm and again from five pm to eight pm.
Prior to the holiday break, our teachers each mailed out postcards to parents to invite them to attend today’s session. No one really knew what to expect, but I believe everyone was pleasantly surprised.
Here we are. It’s Sunday night. Tomorrow I head back to work following our Christmas break. I normally do not handle time off well, but for some reason, this year, I really enjoyed it. I spent so much time playing with the kids and just “getting away from it all”.
Don’t get me wrong. I absolutely LOVE my job. I still wake up at 4:30 in the morning most days — hoping that it is time to get up and go to work. But this year, I was so fatigued in December that I REALLY needed the time off.
It is among the most asked interview questions, “Where do you see yourself in five years?”
Today I read a blog post by an edtech leader, Nick Provenzano. He was reflecting on the last five years of his career. In particular, how his blog has changed his career.
I couldn’t help but think about the blogging goals I have set forth. I also began to wonder how my career might be transformed in the next five years.
Thanks, Nick. You certainly helped me today.
— Bill
Today, my wife, son and I drove to Austin to visit her grandmother. Grandma Vivian is 90 and lives in an assisted living center.
We left early this morning, had lunch with Grandma, and stayed until mid-afternoon. We drove home in the rain. It would sure make visits easier if we lived closer.
My son was a trooper. Eight-plus hours in the car seat today. I know I get sore driving. Somehow, he pushed through without so much as a whimper. Pretty good kid.
School starts back on Monday for me. Monday is a PD day that my campus is going to utilize for parent-teacher conferences. Students come back on Tuesday. I already have some unpleasantness waiting for me upon our return. I am not looking forward to some of the actions that will have to be taken, but they are necessary.
Tomorrow will be a big cleanup day around the house – and then prep for Monday.
I hope your day was great today. The sun IS supposed to make an appearance tomorrow. That will be nice.
— Bill
Hello World!! Happy New Year!!
Here we are – beginning another fantastic year. In lieu of making resolutions that may or may not be kept, I am embarking on a journey of self-discovery through this blog.
Reflection should be a part of my professional practice, but I have never fully developed that skill. It seems as though I am always busy trying to multitask and do not follow through consistently. It is my hope that by blogging daily for an entire year, I will develop a greater sense of reflection and creativity in my thoughts.
I also hope to improve my typing. Because typing is a challenge, I often do not fully develop my thoughts (as written) because my mind works faster than my fingers. I eventually give up and find a way to shorten the writing…I end up surrendering, in other words.
Finally, it is my hope to better hold myself responsible. Responsible for long and short-term goals. Responsible to my family. Responsibility to myself.
This is the first entry. It is my goal to blog for 365 days of 2015.
That is enough for today. Tomorrow my family will drive to Austin to visit family.
Good night. Much more to come.
— Bill
We will go live on January 1, 2015.
Have a great New Year’s Eve. Check back in soon.
— Bill
