Where Have You Been?

I feel I should have posted many many days ago, and I really wanted to blog while I was at the Oracle 21st Century Learning Institute in San Francisco, yet I ended up spending my free time there writing back and forth to my students. They were so sweet to IM and email me all week. W needed that more than usual because of a tragedy that happened while I was gone. (Two of my former students were shot in a murder-suicide, so our whole community was in a lot of pain. Please pray for the families if you’re a praying person.) I certainly discovered that being alone during this crisis while travelling was much lonelier than living my everyday single life at home near my friends and colleagues.

I’ve grown increasingly busy, especially taking the Oracle class online and then in San Francisco. I thought I was a little over-extended back in September and October, but that was child’s play compared to November. Such is life for all of us. That’s my excuse and I’m stickin’ to it.

I’m sorting through what I learned in those Oracle classes and how I will use it in my lessons. I will definitely do a PBL unit on Primary Sources since I had to write it and I’ve promised to implement it. I’m most disappointed that I did not get the opportunity to work directly with a teacher from overseas due to the logistics of the Institute–that’s why I went and I thought it was the purpose of the conference. I hope that I at least made some personal/professional connections that I can make a part of my Personal Learning Network. What else would you like to know about the Institute?

Now it’s suddenly the holidays and I don’t think I’m ready. Especially for Christmas. Ugh. It is my fervent belief that we should all consciously try to slow down for the holidays rather than speed up–that’s nearly impossible, I know. But I’m definitely thankful and hopeful:

for my job which keeps me busy, satisfied, challenged, and pays my bills;
my awesome students who inspire, confound, love, and encourage me.
my non-traditional family that doesn’t demand a “big” holiday;
a car that drives reliably (snow season is upon us);
plenty of food to eat and a warm home to sleep in;
five days of rest starting Wednesday of this week. That’s most welcome.
What are you thankful for?