Every year, instead of a New Year's resolution, I select one word that will be my guide for the year. I did not come up with this concept. You can read more about it here from Jon Gordon. I have been doing this for many years now. My words tend to find me when I least expect it. In the past, some of my words have been: hope, create, love, moment. Last year, to honor my mom, a Latin teacher, my word was 'scribo,' which means 'to write' in Latin. Here is my post about that word from last year. This year, I actually selected my word over the summer. I attended a summer conference and went to John and Mary Anne's session. The Nipmuc co-principals led an awesome full day workshop about leading out of the pandemic. They had us all choose our one word. My word for this year has been...curious. Coming new into the district, new into the school, this word has definitely been my focus. I have spent lots of time asking questions, learning about how you all work as teams, how the building runs. I ask lots of questions in all of the meetings I am in. I enter into conversations with a sense of wonder, a sense of curiosity. I even had a chance to make a visual display of my word that I keep in my office... Apparently I lost one of the googly eyes, but there is still one eye always watching, wondering, asking...reminding me to always be curious. When we return from break, as a staff we will have a chance to think about what our one word might be. Over vacation, see if any words come to you. Like I said, in the past many of my words have found me. This is also a great activity to do with your students. I have at least one book called My Special Word that is a great read aloud when talking to kids about picking a word for themselves. Then they can write out their word or write about their word. They can create a visual to display their word or simply put it on a sticky note and place it on their desk or in a notebook. I am curious... What will your one word be? What might your students' words be? I am still listening to Street Data and enjoying it. I am also working my way through Katie Couric's memoir. And I am still trying to finish the memoir about a daughter and her mother who has Alzheimer's. Basically I have a bunch of books going at once as usual! I know that I am looking forward to the break because I will have longer blocks of time to simply sit and read. I like to set goals for myself to give myself that time, uninterrupted, not guilt inducing time, where I can just get lost in a book or two. Hopefully you can all find some of that time over the break!
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