The Coach Learns a Lesson

May 29, 2018.Reading time 7 minutes.

“Whatever you do, we have to beat this team!” Eight eager heads nod, mouth consent. We all hate this coach. Two of my girls are injured but have come along to support their teammates. Our center, a tall blonde, new to basketball waits for the ball drop. She easily catches the ball and dribbles towards […]

One Thing

November 22, 2017.Reading time less than 1 minute.

Originally posted on One Woman's Quest:
Sipping my second cup of morning tea, I breathe in the solitude that nature dropped on my doorstep overnight: great mounds of white, silently commanding the world to a halt. The tea is extra sweet and warming when accompanied by the luxury of leisure time. Shaking off the…

The domino effect.

May 4, 2017.Reading time 2 minutes.

Originally posted on Thriving Under Pressure:
Smile like you’re changing the world. Because you are. 🌸 We often think of changing of the world as some great big, grand gesture. Performed on stage with millions of people watching. When in fact it’s just you and me (and 7 billion others). Smiling, connecting, caring, and loving.…

Dreaming Of Work

December 27, 2016.Reading time 4 minutes.

I dream that I am teaching again, have two classes: a grade 9 Math first thing in the morning and a senior History last period. I am late, so someone else has to start the Math class, and when I do arrive, I am unprepared and uncertain that I can proceed. Last class is more […]

Churry

December 20, 2016.Reading time 6 minutes.

Cognitive functioning is currently down a notch. (I know I’ve complained of this before, but bear with me – I think it merits understanding.) I found a recipe for Easy Lentil Curry on the blog: Simple Vegan. Since I love curries and lentils, I decided “easy” must mean it is doable even for me. Part […]

Educational Walls

August 1, 2016.Reading time 7 minutes.

I have this recurring dream that I am teaching a class, composed of adults and adolescents, which is spread out over three rooms. Try as I might to build community through ice breaking activities, it is physically impossible to reach all the students at one time. I am reminded of how it feels to teach […]

Working Memory: A Special Education Teacher’s Experience

March 2, 2016.Reading time 7 minutes.

As a special education teacher, the term “working memory” is a familiar concept. We see many students whose independent education plans indicate difficulties in this area, and we create accommodations to support their learning. I thought I’d really grasped the complexities – until it happened to me. Now, I have a whole new appreciation for […]

The Last Train (Sonnet)

We wait at the station, Mother and I,one final stop for her – painless she prays;I busied at bedside – prolonged goodbye –memories and regrets filling our days. “We live too long,” she wearily proclaims“Why must suffering linger till the end?”I plea and bargain, call angelic names,yet the will to survive refuses to bend. The […]

Mouse Massacre

There are mouse bitssplayed across the sunroomstuck to my favourite throw rug and great globs of glue The trap my husband setto catch the recent invasionapparently lured the hunterfor she, stiff legged andface matted, is skulkingelsewhere I stepped on a gluey biteyes not yet openbefore notingthe disarray Hard to concentratewhen a tail detachedfrom a thigh […]

Limbo

With each stanzaI strive for an upswing –idle thoughts leadingto a crescendo… But exhaustion plaguesmy try, and fog coloursperspicacity, so my wordsland low, goal in limbo (Tuesdays, I borrow from Twitter @Vjknutson. Image my own)