I love my work

I love my work.
I love the comfort that comes from having an instructional plan - even if it doesn't guarantee that things will *go* as planned. The process of mapping out dates, backing into the final project & assessment, adding details about lessons/small groups/mentor texts/formative check-ins, and problem-solving ("Ugh, what about testing days?" or "I feel like we have a lot of kids in the band concert, can we make the following day less intense?") - when we're done, the document might be messy, there could be holes, but we've build our shared understanding and can stand in front of students with conviction and excitement: "Readers, we have an incredible adventure coming up. Let's gather at the rug so I can share more."

I love working through the stack of books we hope will grab kids' attention, lure them from their phones and welcome them to a new world. I had never read Olivetti by Allie Millington, but after 3 pages, I knew the exact kind of reader who would gobble this up, and another kind of reader I might "sell" it to, using all I know about them to craft a convincing hook, but ultimately, letting their independent reading decision be theirs. Showing them I trust them to lead their own reading life ("But won't you please just try 5 pages, maybe 8 pages, and then I promise, you can absolutely abandon it if it's not for you.").

I love connecting with teachers, striving to listen hard to the barriers and bringing a solutions-orientation (sometimes even having to acknowledge how annoying it can be, to have to hang out with a problem-solver). A bag of snacks is here to help boost their energy working through a challenge, or maybe just to help them feel appreciated. I am a work in progress when it comes to coaching well. The support of educators is challenging, and building up my skill set to be responsive to these days is work I care deeply about - and that care makes it joyful, even though it's hard (a list I'm working on right now: understanding AI; using trauma-informed practices; centering equity; embracing diversity, inclusion and belonging; navigating social media/phones; unpacking curriculum mandates; oh, and striving to live a balanced life).

A calendar doc. A stack of books. Snacks. Teachers around a table together, solving problems.

I really do love my work.