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Thank You for 20 Years.

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After 20 years of teaching at Brookfield Central, I am saying goodbye. Although I spent the majority of that time in the physics classroom alongside my learners. That changed for my last 18 weeks. I ended up in a place similar to where I started, teaching chemistry and biology. So, rather than dealing with juniors and seniors at the end of their high school careers, I was in classrooms with freshmen and sophomores still trying to find their place. At the same time, I was learning and teaching a set curriculum I hadn't taught in over a decade. So, we were learning. But, of course, I already knew the content.  The point of this post is to take a step back, take in, and share the gratitude from the last students I had in my 20 years at Brookfield Central High School through the cards and notes they made for me on my last day with them.  I don't take many yay me moments. But after 20 years, I think I'll soak this one in.
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In Bloom

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My classroom does not have windows. So on weekends, I like to get outside. About three years ago, we began planting tulip bulbs in our yard. Usually it occurs over a couple of days in October after the initial upheaval of a new school year has passed. They bloom right around the time we are entering the final stretch of the school year. 

So as we approach the final weeks of school, what are you doing in your classroom? Are you frantically trying to plant more seeds of content? Or are you enriching what you've planted and letting it grow and blossom.  This metaphor may feel like a bit of a stretch, but I couldn't resist. (Maybe I'm just trying to save flower pics because I'm not on Facebook.) I've got some activities planned the next couple of weeks that I'm trying for the first time.  I am quite scared to try these new things.  But, I trust my students will enjoy the opportunity to bloom.

I would love to hear what you are up to as this year comes to a close.

















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