Friday, December 6, 2013
A Different Way to Look at a Classroom
This is so exciting! A teacher in my school and I went to an amazing session at the middle school conference on student ownership. At the end of the session Phil and I were FIRED UP!! He came back and began implementing this whole idea of standards mastery in his classroom. Kids work at their own pace, and don't move on to the next standard until they have mastered it. This was a typical day in a first hour class. Talk about engagement. Talk about meaningful academic conversations. Talk about kids owning their own learning. I CANNOT stop talking about it.
Monday, November 25, 2013
Tuesday, July 30, 2013
Core Values Exercise
Last winter I had dinner with an old friend. We talked about an activity she had done to help her identify her core values. Through the activity, she was able to construct a mission statement for her life. I loved the idea, and asked her if I could try it. She sent me the information immediately, and I was excited to do it. True to form, I procrastinated doing it for months. In fact, until today. I am having dinner with this friend again, and couldn't show up without having completed this activity.
I spent a few hours doing it, and am quite pleased with the results. It's important to identify what you believe in, and why! Here are the results:
I spent a few hours doing it, and am quite pleased with the results. It's important to identify what you believe in, and why! Here are the results:
Kari's Core Values
*Spirituality: My faith is an integral part of who I am. I've seen God work mightily in my life and those around me.
*Family: My family unit is such a gift. Time spent with family energizes me and brings me great joy.
*Humor: Humor is what tempers life's situations. It keeps me sane throughout this journey!
*Honestly: Honesty is an imperative. To be honest in all situations, and to expect honestly from those around me is vital. Say what you mean, mean what you say!
*Passion: Passion plays out in all things I do and am. Living a passionate life makes life vibrant and worthwhile.
*Diversity: Equity work is a life's passion. Understanding how my perspectives are limited, and can color how I view others and the world around me is a key component in looking at others.My point of view is not the only perspective, and not necessarily the right one.
This activity challenged me to show these values to friends and family to see if others around me see me the way I see myself. So, here you go: What do you think? Is this me?
Wednesday, December 12, 2012
We Don’t See Racism? | Teaching Tolerance
My assistant principal sent this out today to our Equity Team at school.
I think it's excellent food for thought.
We Don’t See Racism? | Teaching Tolerance
I think it's excellent food for thought.
We Don’t See Racism? | Teaching Tolerance
Monday, July 30, 2012
Summer
Today consists of the gym, making pasta for dinner, and sitting by the pool. I may meet a few friends for happy hour later.
I plan to spend some quality time with my book by the pool!
Friday sees us leaving for San Diego for a conference.
I LOVE SAN DIEGO!!
After we get back, I'm working at least 3 days a week until school officially starts.
Having summers off is a beautiful gift!
Wednesday, March 28, 2012
More Joy
Today Chloe is over 30 days sober. I think more like 36 to be exact.
Chloe spent the last 29 days at a residential treatment facility in Pine City, MN. 93 miles away from home.I have watched my daughter go from lackluster to serene and clear. She is in such a great place! It's amazing to talk to her; to hear her talk about the future!
I am so proud of Chloe, and the work she is going through to find herself. I cannot imagine how hard it has been for her to be away and in that facility for these last 29 days.
There has been so many people lifting her up in prayer! It's phenomenal to see God work in Chloe.
We went to Chloe's graduation ceremony last night. It was fantastic to see the varied women at the facility rally around Chloe, and give her advice and support!
On Friday Chloe comes home. I am so excited to have her back home. I have really missed calling her whenever I want to. I have missed going out to coffee. I have missed just chilling out at home together.
Please keep Chloe in your prayers as she transitions back into life. Pray for strength for her as well as opportunities to move forward in her life. Her number one goal at this point is to find a job.
Thanks to all of you who have been lifting Chloe up in prayer of the past 30 days, and earlier!!
Our God is Great!
Chloe spent the last 29 days at a residential treatment facility in Pine City, MN. 93 miles away from home.I have watched my daughter go from lackluster to serene and clear. She is in such a great place! It's amazing to talk to her; to hear her talk about the future!
I am so proud of Chloe, and the work she is going through to find herself. I cannot imagine how hard it has been for her to be away and in that facility for these last 29 days.
There has been so many people lifting her up in prayer! It's phenomenal to see God work in Chloe.
We went to Chloe's graduation ceremony last night. It was fantastic to see the varied women at the facility rally around Chloe, and give her advice and support!
On Friday Chloe comes home. I am so excited to have her back home. I have really missed calling her whenever I want to. I have missed going out to coffee. I have missed just chilling out at home together.
Please keep Chloe in your prayers as she transitions back into life. Pray for strength for her as well as opportunities to move forward in her life. Her number one goal at this point is to find a job.
Thanks to all of you who have been lifting Chloe up in prayer of the past 30 days, and earlier!!
Our God is Great!
Wednesday, February 8, 2012
When it Rains.....
When it rains, it pours.
Not only am I on day 5 of being sick, but yesterday our water heater went out. Hole in the bottom, needs to be replaced. Because I don't know this type of stuff, I called Jon (the ex), and asked him where I should go to get a new one. Lo and behold, his company has them and installs them. What an answer to prayer. He also said he would give it to me at employee pricing. So, this morning Jon and Seth drained and took out our old water heater, so that the technician who is to put in the new water heater, wouldn't have to clock hours to charge me for it. Nice, right? Seth hung around and worked with Don, the technician. While they were working on the installation of the water heater, the furnace came on.
Our furnace is is old and when it starts up, it makes a ridiculous sound. I know this, and it's been like this for a long time. Don, being a professional, decided he had better take a look at the furnace, because it shouldn't sound like that. His inspection revealed that there are several holes in the heat exchanger. (If I said that wrong...go ahead and laugh!) Don immediately disconnected the heater and put a CONDEMNED sticker across the heater.
ARE YOU KIDDING ME??
After the technician left, Jon called me and apologized, but asked me what we wanted to do. Honestly? What were my options? You hear the stories on the news: the families who die from Carbon Monoxide poisoning. Unsafe levels of c02. What options do we even have?
I sent a quick email to Angela, who said she was going to lunch and would call me when she got back.
In the meantime, the house is getting colder and colder.
So here I am in my raspy sick person voice, telling Jon that I guess we don't have a choice. We need to replace our 20 year old heater. Of course I'm not feeling well, I'm stressed about all this money that we have to come up with. So, I'm crying on the phone, telling Jon that I guess we have to replace the furnace. I was just sobbing on the phone. Not exactly my finest moment.
SO, now I have two gentlemen in the basement working on tearing out the old furnace and getting ready to put in a new one.
Such are the joys of home ownership. I don't know how I will be able to afford all this, but I do know that there were no options.
So, I guess the way to look at this through the lens of divine intervention. Had Don not heard that noise, we could have all not woken up some morning.
SO, while we are not looking forward to paying for a new furnace and water heater, but realize that these are the joys of home ownership!
Never a dull day!
Not only am I on day 5 of being sick, but yesterday our water heater went out. Hole in the bottom, needs to be replaced. Because I don't know this type of stuff, I called Jon (the ex), and asked him where I should go to get a new one. Lo and behold, his company has them and installs them. What an answer to prayer. He also said he would give it to me at employee pricing. So, this morning Jon and Seth drained and took out our old water heater, so that the technician who is to put in the new water heater, wouldn't have to clock hours to charge me for it. Nice, right? Seth hung around and worked with Don, the technician. While they were working on the installation of the water heater, the furnace came on.
Our furnace is is old and when it starts up, it makes a ridiculous sound. I know this, and it's been like this for a long time. Don, being a professional, decided he had better take a look at the furnace, because it shouldn't sound like that. His inspection revealed that there are several holes in the heat exchanger. (If I said that wrong...go ahead and laugh!) Don immediately disconnected the heater and put a CONDEMNED sticker across the heater.
ARE YOU KIDDING ME??
After the technician left, Jon called me and apologized, but asked me what we wanted to do. Honestly? What were my options? You hear the stories on the news: the families who die from Carbon Monoxide poisoning. Unsafe levels of c02. What options do we even have?
I sent a quick email to Angela, who said she was going to lunch and would call me when she got back.
In the meantime, the house is getting colder and colder.
So here I am in my raspy sick person voice, telling Jon that I guess we don't have a choice. We need to replace our 20 year old heater. Of course I'm not feeling well, I'm stressed about all this money that we have to come up with. So, I'm crying on the phone, telling Jon that I guess we have to replace the furnace. I was just sobbing on the phone. Not exactly my finest moment.
SO, now I have two gentlemen in the basement working on tearing out the old furnace and getting ready to put in a new one.
Such are the joys of home ownership. I don't know how I will be able to afford all this, but I do know that there were no options.
So, I guess the way to look at this through the lens of divine intervention. Had Don not heard that noise, we could have all not woken up some morning.
SO, while we are not looking forward to paying for a new furnace and water heater, but realize that these are the joys of home ownership!
Never a dull day!
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