Just another day of walking and wandering, finding paths and leaving tracks. Not sure if any will follow, but I want to leave a trace of where I go just in case I go too far and can’t find my way back. The 180 wheel turns and I just hold on, each day a new adventure. Here are some recent tracks I’ve made.

Thank You

Last week I posted about writing thank you cards to my kiddos (A for the Day) . Takes me a minute. I write two per period (sometimes more). I try to personalize each one. I want my kids to know I value them. As humans.

This morning, as I was cruising through Facebook with my first cup of coffee, I found this lovely post on my timeline from the parent of one of my kiddos.

Choose a Champ

“Why aren’t you doing that this year? I loved it. Didn’t care about the candy, but I saved every little note.”

“Huh. I dunno. Forgot about it, I guess. But you’re right. It was good.”

Last week a former student from last year who is now my TA 6th period reminded me of “Choose a Champ,” an activity where kids honor each other as builders of our classroom community.

Here’s the gist. I give each kid a scrap of paper. They write a note to a peer they feel has made a positive impact on our community. I collect and tally them. Whoever gets the most notes for the week is crowned “Community Champ.” I read the winning nomination notes aloud and award him/her some candy. I then distribute the rest of the notes to the other kids.

We did it yesterday for the first time. Kids loved it. Takes a couple of minutes. We will do it every Tuesday, right after Smiles and Frowns.

And Syd was right. The candy award is secondary. It’s the shared sentiments that matter. And I was so pleased with the way they honored their peers. Kids loved it.

Views

In the grand scheme of things, I am not sure what it means, but 180 hit a milestone yesterday. Since its humble beginning three years ago, this month it has achieved 75,000 views. My son Finn asked me on the way to school yesterday how much longer I was going to keep 180 going. I don’t know. I’d like to try to get through five years. In the end, I guess it comes down to if I can keep finding things to write about each morning. One day at a time. One track at a time.

Today’s Trail

Along today’s trail we will experience…

…connecting through Smiles and Frowns. 

…shifting our Truth Project work from exploring media to making media.

…reflecting in our Journey Journals.

…hearing a Sappy Sy Rhyme.

Happy Wednesday, all.

Do. Reflect. Do Better.