Some days it’s more pronounced than others. Some days it’s more than I believe I can handle. Some days it strikes me as almost comedic–too crazy to be real, too real to be crazy. And on those days, I just lean into my students and embrace the crazy that is teaching.

If it were a lunar mission, Houston would be on high alert, scrambling to coordinate all the variables for a successful landing. It would take a control room full of the best and brightest to pull off such a feat. But there is no comm link to any such lifeline. There’s just me, my kids, and a veritable shot at the moon. Our own lunacy landing.

Of course, I offer “lunacy” more whimsically than disparagingly. For while there are days when it really is too much, for the most part, I love our crazy, complicated mission to the moon.

But also, of course, though I play with words here, there is a serious side to the mission with problems arising that are bigger than I can handle as each kid brings their own struggles along on the trip, and it feels as if we’re spinning through space, precariously patched together with little more than tape and staples. No Houston to call. No control room full of the best and brightest to help us adjust our course. No. Just us. And that is what we rely on: us. And though our landings are sometimes clunky, awkward, and even hard, we touch down each day, already planning our next mission, hoping to get it better tomorrow.

Today’s Trail

Along today’s trail we will experience…

…connecting through Smiles and Frowns.

…accessing and sharing information with a jigsaw activity.

…analyzing arguments for claims, reasons, and evidence.

…reflecting on our Question of the Week (QoW: How does the world see you?)

…hearing a Sappy Sy Rhyme.

Happy Friday, all. Have a wonderful weekend.

Do. Reflect. Do Better.