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It Is Better to Be in "Right Relationship" Than to Be "Right" and... Should Teachers Change Grade Levels Every So Often? (Something to Think About) Hello Elementary Friends, First, Happy Spring to you in the USA and Happy Autumn in Australia!  Texas completed their spring break last week, and thankfully Colorado will have ours next week!  The scarf that I am wearing in this photo was given to me by my Year Two students in Australia just before I came home in December.  Of course, it was summer there, so the scarf is more of a spring/summer weight and style.  I told the children that it would be winter when I got home, so I promised them to wear it on the first day of spring in Colorado.  Well, that day is today!  So, here you go, Beaumont Road students - I am wearing your scarf! Something That Fills My Bucket May We Please Quit Fighting With Each Other? In my last blog I spoke about the "angst" that I was feeling in the air and presented some reasons for t...

What Do You Do When Angst is Around You? Something to Think About Hello Elementary Friends, Since my return from Australia, I have spent some time reflecting on how my work, activities, and (well) my life is different here than what I experienced in Australia.  As indicated in my weekly blogs from Australia, I worked hard while I was there.  In some ways I worked as hard or harder than I do in my position as elementary school principal, but the work was different.  It was different because it was primarily focused upon the needs and well-being of 23 Year Two students.  I was given the responsibility of teaching and the subsequent learning of the students assigned to my care.  I was able to get to know each child at a deep level - how they think, what motivates them, where they are on the continuum of learning, what their challenges are, and how to reach them.  Once I knew my learners, it then became clear to me what we needed to do together to reach individ...

Hello Elementary Friends, 2017 is clicking by! As I said in my last blog, I am trying to remain more mindful in my professional and personal life. There are times when I am at work when I stop, breath, and take in "the moment."  I hope that I am living more deliberately even though things get complicated at times.  This blog will share celebrations, learning, and something that "fills my bucket."  I hope it fills your bucket, as well! Something to Celebrate Let's start off with something to celebrate!  I was so proud of the Mortensen Center for Children with Autism.  Here is a news release telling about this honor for our kids: On Friday, February 03, 2017 the Mortensen Elementary School Center for Children with Autism of Littleton, Colorado was honored for the third year in a row with a children’s art display at the Wandering Art Gallery located at 853 Inca Street, Denver.   This display was part of the 1st Friday Art Walk on Santa Fe Drive in Denver, Colo...

Today I would like to talk about … Hello Elementary Friends, It feels like forever since my last blog posting!  It’s really only been 6 weeks, but a lot has happened in the past several weeks since I have returned from Australia.  Furthermore, since I was in such a habit of posting weekly for the year I was away, I have actually missed recording observations and happenings since my return.  I have had some time to reflect upon many things over the past few weeks, and I am eager to start blogging again, but this time with a slightly different focus and intent.  One of the areas of my reflection has been upon the act of blogging itself.  What is it about writing down one’s thoughts, activities, endeavors, struggles, celebrations, opinions, and ideas that is fulfilling a need to stay focused toward personal and professional goals and pathways?  I have thought a lot about it, and have come to some conclusions.  Before I share those, however, I want to shar...