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Season Four Episode 106 What's Next If you listened to any of the reflection episodes that I shared recently - episodes 101-105 to be more specific - you heard me share some ways to reflect on different areas of your life - virtual teaching, summer, focusing on today only, your mental/physical/emotional health, and what’s ahead for fall.  Reflection is important because it helps us see where we’ve been, where we are, and where we want to go.  I’ve finished teaching for this school year and this coming week at work we are finishing the school year out with teacher inservice meetings.  What’s next is several weeks of summer to take time to rest like we might not have ever done before.  Never before have I had a summer that is so wide open with literally not a single item on the calendar - except one possible short trip with my parents, but even that could change depending on what the CDC and the states decide.  Even over this past weekend I struggled internally so much with

Season Four Episode 105 Reflection Series Looking at the Fall Reflection Guide  I like to have a plan and I like to have control over where things are headed, even if it’s just the illusion of control.  I feel better when I’ve prepared to the best that I can and have some ideas for how to move forward with curriculum, content, and personal goals.  As I think about the fall and how many different ways teaching could look at that point, I’ve tried to think about how best I can prepare myself for whatever might happen.  I realize this is impossible to perfectly plan for, but if I can understand some of my anxiousness and my hopes then I feel that I can move forward from those to thinking about how I might begin to think about content and things I can do.  There’s no perfect way to do this, but I feel better thinking about it rather than avoiding it until I am forced to think about it.  I thought I’d share the things I’m thinking about with you so I’ve turned all of my personal

Season Four Episode 104 Reflection Series Today Reflection Guide This past Sunday we met with our community group from church on Zoom and talked about how things are going.  Someone mentioned how they find that if they are able to focus one day at a time then they’re able to manage life better.  That if they think too far in the future it’s overwhelming, but they’re able to handle this time just one day at a time, which is something the bible talks about.  Matthew 6:34 says “So don’t worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will bring its own worries.  Today’s trouble is enough for today.”  In thinking about how I can better focus on one day at a time I thought I’d share the things I’m thinking about with you so I’ve turned all of my personal reflections into this five episode series that I hope will be helpful for you as well.  Each episode will be about a specific topic and I’ve created a simple guide that includes the questions asked within the podcast episode along with area

Season Four Episode 103 Reflection Series Episode #3 Mental, Emotional, and Physical Health Reflection Guide Teaching involves every part of us.  We pour ourselves into the lives of our students and it’s important that we think about how to keep our own health a priority.  Summer is a great time to find ways that we can refuel our mind, our body, and our soul.  In thinking about ways that I want to do this personally I thought I’d share the things I’m thinking about with you so I’ve turned all of my personal reflections into this five episode series that I hope will be helpful for you as well.  Each episode will be about a specific topic and I’ve created a simple guide that includes the questions asked within the podcast episode along with areas to jot down notes and thoughts.  I hope that this episode helps you consider ways that you can take care of yourself and of others around you.  **Please note that I am not a professional doctor or physician.  None of the informa

Season Four Episode 102 Reflection Series Episode #2 Summer Summer Reflection Guide Link found HERE More than any other year in my teaching career I’m feeling the need to consider how I’m going to use my days this summer.  Mentally and emotionally I’m tired.  I need to find time to rest and enjoy the people I love and spend time focusing on being with them.  I also know that there’s a lot of unpredictability for fall and I want to be sure that I spend time considering what I want to learn and create for my classroom.  In thinking through these things personally I thought I’d share the things I’m thinking about with you so I’ve turned all of my personal reflections into this five episode series that I hope will be helpful for you as well.  Each episode will be about a specific topic and I’ve created a simple guide that includes the questions asked within the podcast episode along with areas to jot down notes and thoughts.  I hope that this episode helps you think about how

Season Four Episode 101 Reflection Series Episode #1 Virtual Teaching Download the Reflection Guide for this episode HERE . Reflection is good for the soul, the mind, and the body. I began to think about how I wanted to reflect on different topics at this point in time.  We’re about to end one phase of the year, enter another, and anticipate what comes beyond that.  I’ve turned all of my reflecting into a five episode series that I hope will be helpful for you as well.  Each episode will be about a specific topic and I’ve created a simple guide that includes the questions asked within the podcast episode along with areas to jot down notes and thoughts.  I hope that these episodes help give you clarity, peace, and joy for where you have been, where you are now, and where you’re wanting to go in the future. **Please note that I am not a professional doctor or physician.  None of the information shared is part of a therapy, meditation, or reflection practice or program and

Season Four Episode 100 Be Encouraged and Finish the Year Well I don’t know about you, but I’m completely stretched in every area as a teacher right now.  As someone who loves to learn, this time has forced me to jump into learning many new online platforms, which I did one at a time until I could layer in more new sites as I figured out how in the world to do this thing called virtual learning.  I’ve found some new ideas for my students that have worked on Flipgrid, Soundtrap, Google Drive lessons, and Zoom class meetings.  I’ve also found that I’m mourning what used to be.  I miss the real-time interaction with students, hearing students sing together, working on musical pieces as an ensemble within class times, and being together to make music together.  I haven’t found the perfect solution for making music virtually that compares to what I’ve experienced in the classroom setting, but I’m willing (as you likely are as well) to continue to learn how best to facilitate and le

Season Four Episode 99 Shake the Dirt with Michael Arterberry Michael's Bio: Michael Arterberry is the Executive Director of Youth Voices Center, Inc. and the creator of the Power of Peace Program. Michael began his tenure working with youth by obtaining a Bachelor's Degree in Social Work from Iona College. In founding YVC in 2008, Michael drew heavily on his understanding and empathy for the pressures and difficulties of the teenage years.  In addition to his own experiences growing up in poverty, Michael has worked with thousands of trends in a range of settings over the past 24 years as a social worker and counselor.  As a teenager, Michael was fortunate to receive guidance from positive adult role models who helped him to overcome adversities and set high expectations for his future.  Grateful for the role these mentors played in his own development, Michael decided to dedicate his professional life to helping teenagers navigate the difficult adolescent years. Mi