When I wore a younger man's shoes many moons ago, in a galaxy far, far away, one of my favorite math teachers knew I was going to need a little extra TLC to get through his classes. He would often see me pulling out the last few strands of my hair, struggling to maintain my cool, and very near a complete and total meltdown. He would say "folks, we're going to put the car in neutral for a few minutes, grab some water, stretch our legs, and come back to finish the journey in less than 2-minutes." This was a subtle clue for me to take a break and try to reclaim my composure.

Earlier this week I shared with my second grade Friends that I was going to need their help learning how to "group" during their math class, and I was not surprised how quickly these brilliant young thinkers sprung into action to help me "group my muffins." It is amazing how much a bag of manipulatives, some visual aids, and positive reinforcement could help me understand this concept. Many thanks to Ms. Ragan and her fearless second grade learners for showing me the way, and helping me overcome my own math fears. 

Has anyone ever had one of those weeks when they needed a little extra support?  Well, if you you are looking for a parachute I know just where to find it. PE teacher Jess Franklin's use of the rainbow parachute with her class of "sharks and lifeguards" was both brilliant and exhilarating. For 35 minutes we played tag, built mushroom houses, and avoided getting "taken by the sharks" in a fun-filled, frenetically controlled room of organized movement chaos. Thanks for helping me "get my steps in" Coach Jess.

When I was an elementary school classroom teacher, I had a mentor that used to tell me how important it was to "get on the carpet" with your students. This morning I had a chance to observe the positive vibes and endless energy of Teacher Kizzy and Teacher Lisa as we sang the "name game" together, predicted today's date, and completed our own story with words that the students provided by looking at the pictures from a book. There was something so heart warming about the sincere and pure interactions the students had with each other and both Kizzy and Lisa had with their students. It was hard to leave, but I had to get out to the Natural Classroom to meet the Kindergarten students. Thank you Kizzy and Lisa for such a wonderful trip on your magic carpet this morning. 

Fresh air, a cool breeze, birds singing, the sight of a deer, burying rocks, and magic wands. Having the chance to laugh with Teacher Kimberleigh and Teacher Lorrie while we watched the Kindergarten students jump, run, and explore around the Natural Classroom was some much-needed therapy and relaxation after a long week. Thanks for the company, and for sharing the fun stories of our fears and phobias.