Monday, February 28, 2011
Relaxation!
Relaxation is the theme of this post. Over this past weekend, I realized that I am really digging into a relaxing pace for my sabbatical. I find myself being present in whatever is happening or going on around me and not constantly thinking about all that I have to do or attend to. It is lovely to go to the Children’s Museum with a couple of little boys and watch and interact with them as they play through the galleries. It is delightful to spend three or more hours making a carrot cake for a four-year-old birthday boy with two of my favorite girls in the world. It is pleasant to be in the moment at a little boy’s birthday party, enjoy his excitement and shenanigans and interact with other guests in a non-hurried manner. So, yes, I am getting good at relaxing. Finally. Overdue and about time. TTFN, Michele
Wednesday, February 23, 2011
Unto week Seven!
I passed six complete weeks of sabbatical on Monday. As I get deeper into my leave, I find myself thinking the weeks are just slipping by and I have not done enough or I haven’t been as productive as I think I should be or have been. But, actually I have been quite productive. Here is how I stack up with my five goals: “Writing:” I wrote two new papers. Yes, they are still in draft form and there is plenty of revision to, do. But, they are both conference worthy. One was already presented, the other one in early April. Reading: I have read several books, including just yesterday the slim volume of Michael Pollan’s “Food Rules.” Research: Yesterday, I started planning a new phase of research with some teachers. I am starting some math work with one of my own little grandbabies around number sense. I don’t do enough research in math, so this is a promising prospect. Recreation: I increased my walking so I am now in the 5-6 miles a day range. Went on vacation for over a week. Rest: I am getting plenty of sleep. Now that I walk more, I am finding I sleep longer and better. I actually feel well rested. But, I do not measure rest by just sleeping habits, but by other indicators, like reading the paper, hanging out with my kids or the grandbabies, or even seeing movies. Rest to me is resting from work types of activities. Making time to do other things that make your life enjoyable. So, what gives with these thoughts about not being productive enough?
Well, I have had an “aha”: my expectations are too high, still. I need to strike a balance between being “productive” and enjoying this time “off.” I think it is time for me to read the second part of that focus book: Focus: A simplicity manifesto in the age of distraction. But there is more: I am finding that everything I do takes longer than I think it will. I am a chronic underestimator. I want to set realistic goals for what I hope to accomplish; what I can manage within the time frame that I would like to expend. Can I strike a balance here? That remains to be seen. So, to the mattresses to read what others say about time management, focus and goal setting.
TTFN and thanks for reading, Michele
Well, I have had an “aha”: my expectations are too high, still. I need to strike a balance between being “productive” and enjoying this time “off.” I think it is time for me to read the second part of that focus book: Focus: A simplicity manifesto in the age of distraction. But there is more: I am finding that everything I do takes longer than I think it will. I am a chronic underestimator. I want to set realistic goals for what I hope to accomplish; what I can manage within the time frame that I would like to expend. Can I strike a balance here? That remains to be seen. So, to the mattresses to read what others say about time management, focus and goal setting.
TTFN and thanks for reading, Michele
Sunday, February 13, 2011
Week Five!
Already five weeks have passed by. There was an excellent op-ed piece in the Star Tribune this week about how the “past flashed before my eyes” titled Three Score and Five Years Later. This piece was about the lifetime of a now 70 year old man and the 55 years since he had been a camper at a North Woods Youth Camp. Poignant piece. Another reminder about how fleeting life is, and of course this one year sabbatical for me. You can read more here.
‘Riting: Last week I started prep for one of two papers that I am writing about my research. What I mean by prep is gathering all the data together, checking it for accuracies, and bringing the literature review up to date. As a qualitative researcher, the data set is very complex and large with lots of interview transcripts to read and break down into themes and domains, student work samples to analyze as well as video taped files of teaching episodes. This prep work took me the better part of the week. Honestly this is one of the most exciting parts of research: finding out what you really have and what it means. My first paper is due on February 20 to NARST. As this is a conference paper I know I will have more work to do after the conference especially after I present it. Often time’s questions from the audience will help you to see some of the holes that you have. I hope to have this paper as well as two others on their way to submit for publication by April 30.
Reading: I have one chapter left of Three Cups of Tea left. Reading this book allowed me to gain some clarity about Namibia/South Africa. First a little background. In 2009, I, with 3 other faculty, led a Jterm course to Namibia and South Africa. The course was centered on the study of the history and culture of Namibia and South Africa and exploration of social justice as it relates to colonization, apartheid and other themes of the course. Part of the work that we did included youth in a leadership camp (S. Africa) and schools (Namibia). There is nothing more sobering as working in a Southern African school that services kids from the township to understand how far we need to come to really be a “global” society. Knowing that I would be on sabbatical this year, I talked with the principal of one of the schools about working with the teachers in her school in math and or science. She jumped at this and invited me to come. My sabbatical proposal actually made note of this. However, I have honestly had mixed feelings. Tremendous mixed feelings about what I had volunteered to do. I have a vision of doing professional development that is at the center collaborative and reciprocal. I have as much to learn from them as they may from me. Over the past year I have gone through a lot of doubt about my noble vision; most of the doubt centered around the sheer enormity of what I would like to do and the amount of time that will be invested. You see I cannot in all good conscious, do a drop in kind of PD and then say “See, ya.” That is completely unethical to me. I do not want to “help” those ”poor” people, but instead work with them to understand and strengthen their programs.
Over the past year a lot has happened to me: my parents passed and I had an arduous time earning tenure, to name a few significant events. As a result, I feel that I want to be careful about what projects I work on, because frankly, I have only so much time. There is more, but that is enough for now. Now, getting back to Three Cups of Tea. As I talked with people about my interest in education in Southern Africa many people brought up that book. Obviously, I finally read it. Reading it has helped me to make a decision. I do not know exactly what I will do, nor do I know exactly what the teachers and principal will want, but I will honor my word. Depending on a number of factors, I will travel to Namibia in the summer to complete a needs analysis. I am also considering developing another January term course that will focus on work with youth in Namibia and also South Africa.
Rest and relaxation: Many people would not consider it to be rest and relaxation to have three little kids in your care for five days, but, for me, it is/was. Our son Jacob and his wife went on a little winter break and we took their three kids: Nani 7, Owen, 5 and Noah 1 for five days. We spent the weekend at our farm. It is crazy busy to have three kids, but their humor, singing and overall shenanigans kept us light-hearted and upbeat. Because I am on sabbatical I think I am even more present than I normally would be with them. Last night was one of those nights when Noah was not feeling well (tummy ache) and was fretful and awake for hours. About 2 am I decided to stay with him in his bedroom, where we have an extra bed. I cuddled him in my arms where he would almost fall asleep and then his stomach would begin to act up and he would wake up again crying and fussy. These kind of nights are not any one’s favorites, including mine. But, because I did not have to be any where, but with him, and I was so present with his aching tummy, that I actually enjoyed, tremendously, my role of caring and soothing him. At my age, I know just how quickly he will grow. These moments, even these fitful moments, are fleeting (just like that op-ed piece states) and actually precious. As I lay with him, holding his little hands and talking with him softly, I ruminated about the word grandparent. Ever think about that word? Grandparent. Grand to me conjures up an image of something distinguished, impressive or marvelous. I am not going to go as far to say that any of those words describe me as a grandparent, but rather the experience of being a grandparent is distinguished, impressive and marvelous, even if it means holding a little boy during a bad night, knowing that this too will pass. Life does not get much better than that, being present for the good and the fretful.
Thanks for reading. TTFN, Michele
‘Riting: Last week I started prep for one of two papers that I am writing about my research. What I mean by prep is gathering all the data together, checking it for accuracies, and bringing the literature review up to date. As a qualitative researcher, the data set is very complex and large with lots of interview transcripts to read and break down into themes and domains, student work samples to analyze as well as video taped files of teaching episodes. This prep work took me the better part of the week. Honestly this is one of the most exciting parts of research: finding out what you really have and what it means. My first paper is due on February 20 to NARST. As this is a conference paper I know I will have more work to do after the conference especially after I present it. Often time’s questions from the audience will help you to see some of the holes that you have. I hope to have this paper as well as two others on their way to submit for publication by April 30.
Reading: I have one chapter left of Three Cups of Tea left. Reading this book allowed me to gain some clarity about Namibia/South Africa. First a little background. In 2009, I, with 3 other faculty, led a Jterm course to Namibia and South Africa. The course was centered on the study of the history and culture of Namibia and South Africa and exploration of social justice as it relates to colonization, apartheid and other themes of the course. Part of the work that we did included youth in a leadership camp (S. Africa) and schools (Namibia). There is nothing more sobering as working in a Southern African school that services kids from the township to understand how far we need to come to really be a “global” society. Knowing that I would be on sabbatical this year, I talked with the principal of one of the schools about working with the teachers in her school in math and or science. She jumped at this and invited me to come. My sabbatical proposal actually made note of this. However, I have honestly had mixed feelings. Tremendous mixed feelings about what I had volunteered to do. I have a vision of doing professional development that is at the center collaborative and reciprocal. I have as much to learn from them as they may from me. Over the past year I have gone through a lot of doubt about my noble vision; most of the doubt centered around the sheer enormity of what I would like to do and the amount of time that will be invested. You see I cannot in all good conscious, do a drop in kind of PD and then say “See, ya.” That is completely unethical to me. I do not want to “help” those ”poor” people, but instead work with them to understand and strengthen their programs.
Over the past year a lot has happened to me: my parents passed and I had an arduous time earning tenure, to name a few significant events. As a result, I feel that I want to be careful about what projects I work on, because frankly, I have only so much time. There is more, but that is enough for now. Now, getting back to Three Cups of Tea. As I talked with people about my interest in education in Southern Africa many people brought up that book. Obviously, I finally read it. Reading it has helped me to make a decision. I do not know exactly what I will do, nor do I know exactly what the teachers and principal will want, but I will honor my word. Depending on a number of factors, I will travel to Namibia in the summer to complete a needs analysis. I am also considering developing another January term course that will focus on work with youth in Namibia and also South Africa.
Rest and relaxation: Many people would not consider it to be rest and relaxation to have three little kids in your care for five days, but, for me, it is/was. Our son Jacob and his wife went on a little winter break and we took their three kids: Nani 7, Owen, 5 and Noah 1 for five days. We spent the weekend at our farm. It is crazy busy to have three kids, but their humor, singing and overall shenanigans kept us light-hearted and upbeat. Because I am on sabbatical I think I am even more present than I normally would be with them. Last night was one of those nights when Noah was not feeling well (tummy ache) and was fretful and awake for hours. About 2 am I decided to stay with him in his bedroom, where we have an extra bed. I cuddled him in my arms where he would almost fall asleep and then his stomach would begin to act up and he would wake up again crying and fussy. These kind of nights are not any one’s favorites, including mine. But, because I did not have to be any where, but with him, and I was so present with his aching tummy, that I actually enjoyed, tremendously, my role of caring and soothing him. At my age, I know just how quickly he will grow. These moments, even these fitful moments, are fleeting (just like that op-ed piece states) and actually precious. As I lay with him, holding his little hands and talking with him softly, I ruminated about the word grandparent. Ever think about that word? Grandparent. Grand to me conjures up an image of something distinguished, impressive or marvelous. I am not going to go as far to say that any of those words describe me as a grandparent, but rather the experience of being a grandparent is distinguished, impressive and marvelous, even if it means holding a little boy during a bad night, knowing that this too will pass. Life does not get much better than that, being present for the good and the fretful.
Thanks for reading. TTFN, Michele
Sunday, February 6, 2011
End of week four!
Four weeks of sabbatical have slipped by already! Last week was a precious week on vacation. You can read more on my other blog here about what I did and where we went. But, the main thing I would like to comment on here is the fact that I was present in our vacation. Present. Each and every day. One of my goals for this sabbatical is rest and relaxation. Mission accomplished last week. Soooo wonderful to take a break; albeit a short one.
Reading: One of my books on my sabbatical reading list has been Three Cups of Tea by Greg Mortenson and David Oliver Relin. This book is one man’s mission to provide schools, meaning build schools, in some of the most remote and poorest areas of our world. A thoughtful book about navigating and learning about cultural diplomacy in a part of the world often overlooked. You can read more here. In some ways this book is illuminating to me as I move forward in making plans to work with teachers and youth in Namibia and South Africa. Much more coming about all of this.
TTFN, Michele
Reading: One of my books on my sabbatical reading list has been Three Cups of Tea by Greg Mortenson and David Oliver Relin. This book is one man’s mission to provide schools, meaning build schools, in some of the most remote and poorest areas of our world. A thoughtful book about navigating and learning about cultural diplomacy in a part of the world often overlooked. You can read more here. In some ways this book is illuminating to me as I move forward in making plans to work with teachers and youth in Namibia and South Africa. Much more coming about all of this.TTFN, Michele
Friday, January 28, 2011
End of week three!
As the third week of my sabbatical leave comes to a close I can truthfully say that I am beginning to actually feel like I am on sabbatical. I have finished all the tasks necessary to pass on my courses to my substitutes for the year. Files uploaded, books organized and other materials labeled.
I had a great meeting this week with my team from the U of MN about writing up our research regarding our projects, courses and teaching. For the past many years I have been the chief evaluator of the summer courses that we all teach through the college of Conservation Biology, Fisheries and Wildlife. We receive our funding through Improving Teaching Quality grants from the state which require a collaboration between science and science education faculty. Our courses are well attended by teachers in the area where they learn insect biology and ecology or focus on schoolyard ecology or citizen science research for teachers. My team includes scientists, science educators and community program coordinators. This year will be my 7th year working with this team.
Our courses are unique in that they invite teachers to work closely with scientists to learn field research techniques, biology, ecology and other life science content. Our courses undergo revision every year, but our format and delivery are sound and strong. This is not just my opinion but evidence strongly by the data I and others collect both quantitatively and qualitatively(by being in classrooms). We are starting an ambitious writing project related to all the research and evaluation I have done for the past three years. On Tuesday we outlined 4 articles for publication in peer reviews journals with another 3-6 more targeted for practitioner related journals. It is exciting to move fully into sabbatical with these ambitious writing goals. Since most of the writing and analysis will initially fall on me, it is also a little scary, but mostly stimulating and exciting.
Yesterday was the first day that I can remember in a long, long while where I felt so calm and relaxed. I was early for every appointment I had and felt fully present. I like this calm feeling.
I also had some very good news at my annual physical on Tuesday. Because of my obesity and my genetic disposition to diabetes, I have been concerned for years about my risks for diabetes. I did not have blood drawn for the past 3-4 years as part of my physical. A practice that I know was part of my own denial of the condition of my health. In June 2010 I finally made the decision to take care of my health. It was about time. SO this year I vowed to face the blood screening that is part of the physical. Guess what?? My blood sugar and all the chemical analysis including lipid profile were great!! I am sure that part of these good results is the fact that I lost 27 pounds and I am exercising regularly. So, another confirmation that I am on the right track with my health.
So how I am doing on my themes for the year?
Balance: Each day I make a “most important task” list an idea I have incorporated into my life from Leo Babauta: Focus: A simplicity manifesto in the age of distraction. Each day I ask myself what are the most important things I want to complete. And I do them. One of those tasks always relates to exercise (like skating).
Speaking of skating: I have found time almost everyday to do some skating with my family. I am practicing balance by being present with them and NOT thinking about what else I need to do. So, yes, I am finding some more balance in my life (as my sense of calmness would attest).
Organization: This week because I was sick, I did not focus on as much physical organization as digital. I deleted over 1500 files and documents from my computer and 810 photos. I also organized all my audio research files from the past year. Deleted all duplicate files and indexed all transcripts for writing.
Downsizing: Physically I am down a total of 27 pounds.
And the 5Rs for this year of leave
Reading: Not as much as last week. Did not pick up Buzz at all, but did read the newspaper almost every day and read through Time magazine.
Research: The organization that I did above will help me get started on the next writing phase. I am ready to recruit some more participants and start the next IRB processes.
'Rriting: The conference is over and I have a pretty good manuscript. But it needs work before I can submit it. But I feel good. The cool thing that happened was the group that I chair at ASTE will be submitting a proposal for a monograph. I plan to submit a chapter for that book. So, more writing on the horizon.
Rest: I rested a lot because I had the flu. Part of the rest was watching about five movies. The most interesting were the American and Winter’s Bone. Both disturbing but good.
Recreation: As I write above, I made time to ice skate every day after I recovered for the flu. But, the best recreation will start tomorrow (Saturday) when hubby and I take our three beautiful grandbabies to California for a week and a winter break!
Thanks for reading and have a great weekend!
Michele
I had a great meeting this week with my team from the U of MN about writing up our research regarding our projects, courses and teaching. For the past many years I have been the chief evaluator of the summer courses that we all teach through the college of Conservation Biology, Fisheries and Wildlife. We receive our funding through Improving Teaching Quality grants from the state which require a collaboration between science and science education faculty. Our courses are well attended by teachers in the area where they learn insect biology and ecology or focus on schoolyard ecology or citizen science research for teachers. My team includes scientists, science educators and community program coordinators. This year will be my 7th year working with this team.
Our courses are unique in that they invite teachers to work closely with scientists to learn field research techniques, biology, ecology and other life science content. Our courses undergo revision every year, but our format and delivery are sound and strong. This is not just my opinion but evidence strongly by the data I and others collect both quantitatively and qualitatively(by being in classrooms). We are starting an ambitious writing project related to all the research and evaluation I have done for the past three years. On Tuesday we outlined 4 articles for publication in peer reviews journals with another 3-6 more targeted for practitioner related journals. It is exciting to move fully into sabbatical with these ambitious writing goals. Since most of the writing and analysis will initially fall on me, it is also a little scary, but mostly stimulating and exciting.
Yesterday was the first day that I can remember in a long, long while where I felt so calm and relaxed. I was early for every appointment I had and felt fully present. I like this calm feeling.
I also had some very good news at my annual physical on Tuesday. Because of my obesity and my genetic disposition to diabetes, I have been concerned for years about my risks for diabetes. I did not have blood drawn for the past 3-4 years as part of my physical. A practice that I know was part of my own denial of the condition of my health. In June 2010 I finally made the decision to take care of my health. It was about time. SO this year I vowed to face the blood screening that is part of the physical. Guess what?? My blood sugar and all the chemical analysis including lipid profile were great!! I am sure that part of these good results is the fact that I lost 27 pounds and I am exercising regularly. So, another confirmation that I am on the right track with my health.
So how I am doing on my themes for the year?
Balance: Each day I make a “most important task” list an idea I have incorporated into my life from Leo Babauta: Focus: A simplicity manifesto in the age of distraction. Each day I ask myself what are the most important things I want to complete. And I do them. One of those tasks always relates to exercise (like skating).
Speaking of skating: I have found time almost everyday to do some skating with my family. I am practicing balance by being present with them and NOT thinking about what else I need to do. So, yes, I am finding some more balance in my life (as my sense of calmness would attest).
Organization: This week because I was sick, I did not focus on as much physical organization as digital. I deleted over 1500 files and documents from my computer and 810 photos. I also organized all my audio research files from the past year. Deleted all duplicate files and indexed all transcripts for writing.
Downsizing: Physically I am down a total of 27 pounds.
And the 5Rs for this year of leave
Reading: Not as much as last week. Did not pick up Buzz at all, but did read the newspaper almost every day and read through Time magazine.
Research: The organization that I did above will help me get started on the next writing phase. I am ready to recruit some more participants and start the next IRB processes.
'Rriting: The conference is over and I have a pretty good manuscript. But it needs work before I can submit it. But I feel good. The cool thing that happened was the group that I chair at ASTE will be submitting a proposal for a monograph. I plan to submit a chapter for that book. So, more writing on the horizon.
Rest: I rested a lot because I had the flu. Part of the rest was watching about five movies. The most interesting were the American and Winter’s Bone. Both disturbing but good.
Recreation: As I write above, I made time to ice skate every day after I recovered for the flu. But, the best recreation will start tomorrow (Saturday) when hubby and I take our three beautiful grandbabies to California for a week and a winter break!
Thanks for reading and have a great weekend!
Michele
Sunday, January 23, 2011
Week Two!
Ruminations over the past week in writing & reading: Last week started out really great. I worked for two full days on my conference paper (ASTE). This paper is a typical conference paper with abstract, introduction, lit review (theoretical frameworks) results, discussion, limitations, implications and conclusion sections. For me, it is actually stimulating to synthesis the results together, especially when you think you have something to share, which I do. I worked hard on the literature review and discussion. These sections are still hard for me because they must reflect the current literature for one and some of the historical lit, too, but, especially in the discussion section, articulate how the work that you did extends the field. Writing of this kind requires a great deal of reading and research review and reading and more research review. Uncovering one article, usually leads to 4-5 others that need at least a skim. Thank goodness for the Internet for lit reviews!
Downsizing and organization: This week I finished cleaning out my office at work. I collectively have downsized my office by at least 50% if not more. There are now a total of 9 file cabinet drawers for the folks that will take my place while I am on leave, plus a number of shelves. One of the interesting parts of this downsizing was a historical review of my own transition from using overheads transparencies in my teaching to computer generated images and power points. I must have recycled over 300 overheads, not counting all the reams of paper!
As the two pictures below attest: I finished cleaning out and organizing my home office, too!
and after.
Mind over matter: I caught the stomach flu on Thursday. No one ever wants to get the flu, but on Friday I had my conference paper presentation (and it was now presentable) with a former student, so the timing was not great. Since this was a group of science teacher education researchers, I could not let my student down and not show up. I am not sure how I did it, but I went to the conference on Friday morning and together we presented the paper. We had a great audience, more then I would have expected (about 40) and some rave comments at the end. She did great, too.
The interesting thing for me was that this conference cemented for me the value of this research for my students,for me and for of course teacher education. This study that I reported on is about how my students study their teaching and what they learn from it. Coupling research based methods for science teaching with learning to apply qualitative research methods within the context of classroom teaching at the same time that they are learning to teach is a formidable challenge for our students and something that they initially resist. However tenuous the start, students over and over again, like my student who presented with me, describe the merits of looking closely at their teaching and the value of this research project for them as teachers. The enthusiastic reception was an affirmation to me that this research work was important and valuable, something I had at times doubted, especially with all the events of 2010. I have learned a great deal because of the contentiousness I had to deal with about how to package this research in ways that make it palatable and manageable for my students. As a matter of fact, I think that is the subject of another article for publication: the process of moving students further than they think is possible in their own learning.
Well, that is it for now. Back to the couch to rest and recover some more. Michele
Downsizing and organization: This week I finished cleaning out my office at work. I collectively have downsized my office by at least 50% if not more. There are now a total of 9 file cabinet drawers for the folks that will take my place while I am on leave, plus a number of shelves. One of the interesting parts of this downsizing was a historical review of my own transition from using overheads transparencies in my teaching to computer generated images and power points. I must have recycled over 300 overheads, not counting all the reams of paper!
As the two pictures below attest: I finished cleaning out and organizing my home office, too!
Before
and after. 
Mind over matter: I caught the stomach flu on Thursday. No one ever wants to get the flu, but on Friday I had my conference paper presentation (and it was now presentable) with a former student, so the timing was not great. Since this was a group of science teacher education researchers, I could not let my student down and not show up. I am not sure how I did it, but I went to the conference on Friday morning and together we presented the paper. We had a great audience, more then I would have expected (about 40) and some rave comments at the end. She did great, too.The interesting thing for me was that this conference cemented for me the value of this research for my students,for me and for of course teacher education. This study that I reported on is about how my students study their teaching and what they learn from it. Coupling research based methods for science teaching with learning to apply qualitative research methods within the context of classroom teaching at the same time that they are learning to teach is a formidable challenge for our students and something that they initially resist. However tenuous the start, students over and over again, like my student who presented with me, describe the merits of looking closely at their teaching and the value of this research project for them as teachers. The enthusiastic reception was an affirmation to me that this research work was important and valuable, something I had at times doubted, especially with all the events of 2010. I have learned a great deal because of the contentiousness I had to deal with about how to package this research in ways that make it palatable and manageable for my students. As a matter of fact, I think that is the subject of another article for publication: the process of moving students further than they think is possible in their own learning.
Well, that is it for now. Back to the couch to rest and recover some more. Michele
Friday, January 14, 2011
Day 5
It 'twas a great week! As I will note below, I spent time at our hobby farm in Mankato. My writing desk is next to a couple of beautiful picture windows. When I look up as rest my eyes I see the beautiful open and snowy prairies that are our farm. As I write, I feel like the most privileged person in the world. I will post pictures soon.
So how am I doing on my 5Rs: Rest, Recreation, Research, 'Rriting and Reading?
Reading: I started a new book, Buzz by Katherine Ellison. It is a memoir about a mom (Katherine) and her son’s journey to understand their own ADD, and in the case of her son, OD. Fascinating read. Loads of interesting reviews about the neurologic, medical and psychological aspects of these two maladies. Katherine Ellison is a Pulitzer Prize winning writer and it show’s. My interest in this book are twofold: I have a daughter with ADD and two I am an educator and want to understand how to support complicated individuals like Buzz in the classroom. A compelling read.
Writing: This week I moved all my writing to our hobby farm in Mankato. I spent three full days immersed in writing. The paper I am presenting is about half done. Tomorrow I meet with my student (we will present this paper together). Today: discussion section.
Recreation: I started ice skating. I blogged about moving my fear aside to be on the ice. I have wobbly legs, but, I am stretching myself.
Rest: Long walks and a couple of movies.
TTFN, Michele
So how am I doing on my 5Rs: Rest, Recreation, Research, 'Rriting and Reading?
Reading: I started a new book, Buzz by Katherine Ellison. It is a memoir about a mom (Katherine) and her son’s journey to understand their own ADD, and in the case of her son, OD. Fascinating read. Loads of interesting reviews about the neurologic, medical and psychological aspects of these two maladies. Katherine Ellison is a Pulitzer Prize winning writer and it show’s. My interest in this book are twofold: I have a daughter with ADD and two I am an educator and want to understand how to support complicated individuals like Buzz in the classroom. A compelling read.
Writing: This week I moved all my writing to our hobby farm in Mankato. I spent three full days immersed in writing. The paper I am presenting is about half done. Tomorrow I meet with my student (we will present this paper together). Today: discussion section.
Recreation: I started ice skating. I blogged about moving my fear aside to be on the ice. I have wobbly legs, but, I am stretching myself.
Rest: Long walks and a couple of movies.
TTFN, Michele
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