“Hi, how are you?” “How’s life? How was the trip?” “Heeyyy…how’s it going?” Small talk. When I think about it, the above questions come to mind. Family dinners, reunions, work meetings, coaching conversations… the list goes on and on. Gatherings, often a hub for small talk. The bringing together of people can produce a varietyContinue reading “Beyond Small Talk”
Category Archives: Professional
Attention to Alignment
It was 4 am on Thursday and I was awoken by a real cry from my 3-year-old. Those of you with infant and toddler experience know what I mean when I say a real cry. Andy got up first and went into her room to try and calm her. When the normal approaches didn’t soothe,Continue reading “Attention to Alignment”
Fall Feelings
The crisp morning air, pumpkins lining the walkways, the ghosts, and goblins swaying in the evening breeze, the complimenting aromas of pumpkin spice and apple crisp. We’ve officially arrived, fall. Alisha, an author of Girls Night In, recently shared her feelings for this time of year. “ I feel excited and overwhelmed. I feel overwhelmedContinue reading “Fall Feelings”
Storytelling
The entryway was long and constructed with red bricks. The walls were bare, almost as if it were an intentional build-up. The smell was distinct, yet indescribable. At the end of what seemed like a mile, you came to the two metal doors. I recall not being quite strong enough to push them open, yetContinue reading “Storytelling”
Fall In Love
The air is frosty and it’s questionable if the peeking sun will hangout for the day, or if the typical Michigan gray skies will take over. It doesn’t matter. The air is filled with the aroma of fresh ground coffee beans and apple pie cooling on the stovetop. Should we put the turkey in now?Continue reading “Fall In Love”
A Shift In Trust
The best way to find out if you can trust somebody is to trust them. – Ernest Hemingway Gosh, that sounds so simple… The other day I was processing challenges during Covid, with an administrator and she brought up trust. Trust is always hard to establish. However, with distance learning, individuals‘ choices regarding health precautions,Continue reading “A Shift In Trust”
What’s Your Anchor?
You should try it. It’s powerful. No way. Not a chance. There is no way I could sit and meditate. I hate stopping. I’m not good at it. My mind is the hamster running on a wheel at all hours of the day. What’s the first thing on my calendar today? Is breakfast ready? DidContinue reading “What’s Your Anchor?”
Coaching Through Covid-19
Instructional Coach(es): Supporters. Improvers of Instruction. Listeners. Partners. Reflectors. Leaders. Servers. Resource Gatherers. Providers of Professional Learning. Relationship Builders. Modelers. Analyzers. Goal Setters. Feedback Providers. Planners. Observers. Content Chameleons. Professionals. Communicators…the infinite list of hats Instructional Coaches wear. Well, guess what? There’s a new title now: lifeline. Our Current Reality Covid-19 transformed our world overnight.Continue reading “Coaching Through Covid-19”
Give Grace
As the final dishes were cleared and both the moon and the volume of the music was rising, the two of us snuck out onto the concrete patio overlooking the greens of my teenage years. The same ones I imagined I’d marry my best friend on. We peered back in through the floor to ceilingContinue reading “Give Grace”
9:40
Ever have a moment where you find yourself staring at the clock with so much intent that you are sure it could explode? Have you ever found yourself flipping through the pages of your calendar counting the days until x. But then realizing that the number of days still sounds like too many, so youContinue reading “9:40”