Something good is coming - Critical Skills Classroom

As I mentioned last month, we’ve been moving out of the suite of offices we called home for the last 30 years. It’s been a lot of work, but as is always the case when we get together, a lot of laughs. (I count myself lucky to work with people I know well and actually like.) By my count, we sorted, purged, donated, and relocated:

2 boxes of sand
6 three-hole punches
9 papier-mache puppets
14 staplers
18 clay sculptures
43 rocks
67 pairs of scissors
327 photographs
411 hot-glue sticks
1,187 books
10,000,000 sheets of construction paper

Video still announcing "We're moving!" in bold pink letters over a cluttered office with boxes and furniture; an Antioch University production caption appears below.

And a whole bunch of “Do you have any idea what this is?”

As we sorted and reminisced about students, faculty, and programs gone by, it became clear that much of what we’d held onto for all of these years just wasn’t useful anymore. It was important to who we had been, but it wasn’t part of who we were becoming. Sometimes we have to let go to make way for something new.

I know that a lot of you are clearing out classrooms right now. You may be packing up for summer (because nothing beats that freshly waxed August floor) or you may be moving to a new classroom or position. Maybe you’re wrapping up your classroom career, moving into retirement or a different professional chapter. No matter what, you’re probably doing the same thing- sorting and reminiscing and reflecting on the year or years gone by.

Who we are at our core isn’t represented by any single item. It’s not about the puppets or the student artwork or the faculty publications. Our core beliefs— that people (including children) matter, that play and work magnify one another, that authentic relationships are the foundation of powerful learning, and that teacher education should be inspiring, joyful, and (most importantly) embody the kinds of practices that we want to see in classrooms.

This month, I’m sharing some resources to help you with packing up including another Spotify Playlist curated just for you. Some of my favorite songs for laughing, crying, and schlepping. Let me know if I missed one of your favorites so I can add it!

No matter what the end of this school year means for you, I hope that what’s coming next will be everything you want it to be.

PS. Starting this fall, our Master’s program for working teachers will be changing. I’ll share more specifics on our social media and in the July newsletter, but rest assured that as we say farewell to some things, we’re making space for things that will better serve our students (and the students they serve).

Ideas to Connect With This Month

Sign up for Connections: Tools, News, and Inspiration for Teachers Like You and receive these little letters (plus a lot more) straight to your inbox every month!