On (some) Tuesdays I write about education and then post to the Two Writing Teacher blog. and then comment on at least three other blog posts . Every day in March I will blog and post for the Two Writing Teacher challenge.
Last night I hosted a Slicer Chat and two lovely women who I have known through their blogs and other educational venues stopped by! We had an amazing talk about slicing, teaching, the edu-celebrities we know, and other topics. The hour went fast. Erica has taken over Teach Write so we had a lot to talk about there! Carol’s blog I have read forever and love it!
I left teaching/coaching in the traditional classroom last June. There are many reasons for this decision and I am happy that I made it. It was the right time for me, but conversations last night force me to remember what my teaching life used to look like.
Wednesdays used to be for WORKSHOP WEDNESDAY. When I was coaching in the middle school I would have 2 sessions per month during the common plan time to do some PD related to what the teams and school needed. We all started to look forward to this time to learn something and to also get to know each other better.
Wednesdays used to be for PD and meetings. When I was coaching and teaching in Wisconsin it was the day for PD. During the pandemic, it was an all day affair. After we went back to in person teaching it was an early release for the students. I had separate meetings for coaching so normally had to be a teacher leader in a 2nd grade meeting but most of the time the directions were not clear as to the purpose of that time.
Wednesdays used to be for cluster. When I was a TAP master teacher, a requirement was to lead a weekly one-hour PD based on school goals and teacher need. There were three of these meetings back to back. On Thursdays, I then tried to not talk to anyone! Wednesdays meant a lot of peopling. What I learned from the TAP framework and NIET changed the way I run a meeting in wonderful ways. I was able to have coaching through this process and it helped me professionally.
Wednesdays used to be for teaching and modeling teaching. It used to be for first grade team meetings. It used to be for reading aloud and then creating a writing prompt for that reading. It used to be for singing Dr Jean.
Now Wednesdays are for Centered. I run events for an international writing school and Wednesdays are usually scheduled heavily with Guest Mentors and workshops. I am in the community every day but Wednesdays seem to be the day everyone resets. I prefer it to be today rather than a Monday!
Now Wednesdays are for working from home (normally). Since all things writing is my full time gig now, I spend a lot of time with my husband because most of my work I can do anywhere. The schedule has worked out for him to work from home most Wednesdays so we can get lots of things done personally and professionally.
Today is for preparing to travel and packing. Today is for reading an essay and a poem for my Bradbury Trio within the first hour of waking up. (Still have to read the short fiction piece. ) Today is for prepping beef sandwiches in the crock pot. Today is for writing and reading. Today is for running to the store quickly because I forgot something. Today is for running a meeting for a program I am teaching.
Tammy Evans Writer 