It’s partially (largely) from the three cups of coffee I had at brunch this morning (I haven’t had that much coffee in quite a while, cut waaay back post-Christmas), but I am shaking and happy. Sitting at the cafe we’ve frequented all year, I’m loving Little Rock. Loving that it’s 60 degrees and January outside.…

Ran four miles today, and I think my body was surprised. Came home to sleep for maybe an hour and a half. Now it’s 8:36 and I don’t have a lesson. I’m a bit clouded by nostalgia and some lingering sleep-feelings and self-sustained laziness. Today my PD observed my highest achieving class– they did so…

The past few days, or weeks, have been. Surreal. It’s not fair for me to keep using that word, because I have developed too many meanings for it. In the beginning of the school year, surreal meant I — I want to type had no concept of reality but that still applies to everything, too.…

I am thinking of Sarah, tilting her head and pursing lips, saying, “I can’t describe it. I really can’t. It just gets… better.” and yes, Sarah, you are right. On Monday I was homesick. I wanted to call my sister, who was unreachable in India. Wanted to be sharing couches with friends and conversation with…

Growing up in a public school, even in a upper-middle class district, I remember constantly hearing teachers say how they bought us things out of pocket. It goes without saying that 10% of your salary goes right back into your classroom… This year I have invested in notebooks for every student, tons of pens and…

I am thinking about how today was what some call “the second first day of school,” the first day back after Christmas, and how I will only have one more “second first day of school” before my teaching commitment is over. I don’t know if that makes me feel guilty or like a wimp or…