Blog
Becoming A Teacher Part 3
This story marks the third entry of a series I’m calling, “On Becoming a Teacher.” There is so much discussion about teachers these days. Instagram and Facebook have cleverly depicted video shorts of what teachers are facing in and out of the classroom.
Here are a few of my favorites: (remember, I’m a special ed teacher and a physical education teacher for a middle school).
Hallows Eve (approaching)
Since ancient times, gathering the harvest has been vitally important. Harvesting events in the agricultural season is where whole communities would turn out to bring the harvest home. A harvest supper was held once the last of the harvest was brought back to the farm. For us, we appreciate the gathering of folks to break bread, share some soup and gather around a fire.
Seeking Love and Community
Head rubs during Savasana. Final resting pose, closing out our yoga session of the day with the University of Utah Burn Camp Nah Nah Mah.
The core benefits of burn camp for participants are the natural growth of friendships and the deepening of one’s authentic self.
Many young burn survivors feel they are allowed to make friends and grow self-confidence in a positive and uplifting atmosphere at burn camp. The key to this growth is the immersion in a supportive community of other burn survivors and persons who understand burns. The opportunity to try new activities and face challenges is also important for campers’ growth.
Trading Fears for Fun!
“My experience with the recent Yoga and Art Day Retreat was memorable. The instructors were phenomenal in combining the embodying practice of yoga with the earthiness of painting from our inner selves. It was transformative and I will never view yoga or painting in the same way. I highly recommend the retreat and these intuitive and engaging instructors.”
- Kayden McInnis
Pulling Weeds
My family and I have just returned from two back-to-back family reunion events. Although these events celebrated my heart, my garden beds appear to have celebrated in their own way! (A weed party) There were sections where I struggled to discover which plants were the vegetables and which ones were the weeds. Granted, I anticipated this, but observing how rapid weeds grow, this never ceases to amaze me.
Do You SEE Seattle?
For the last three years, I’ve been preparing for a paper for an international conference involving my 5th grade students, a program called Anatomy Academy, and all of it during a time when we were all being taught over a platform called ZOOM during a worldwide pandemic.
Anatomy Academy is an outreach and research program to combat childhood obesity through education.
We Can Do Hard Things
Why do we practice hard things? So that we know we can, perhaps. As humans, our emotions arise spontaneously - are we a masterpiece in the making? This question can deepen our perspective where we can see the long game and be connected to purpose. In the end, we seek JOY. We may pray, practice and meditate, re-training our muscles and our mind to seek JOY.
