Alas...we're all in the same boat. The one thing the blood, sweat, and tears reminded me of is that this cohort is particularly special, intelligent, and engaged. They want to be teachers. They made a choice. They know it will be difficult, and how they can say they want it to be researched-backed practices they're after. They'll be collecting data of their own teaching in the months following and brought back to campus in the summer to analyze the results as part of their Capstone coursework.
The Masala sauce, though. Nice. Rumor is West Haven is wooing Wegman's to come this way...that's two towns over, as opposed the three towns in the opposite direction of where I live. Different kinds of traffic (a pain in the ass either way, but West Haven would be more feasible for trips. Norwalk has been too much of a glutton to really get there regularly).
This particular cohort was a mix of elementary, math, history, English, and science teachers. The medley and personal research interests is what made it exciting. I'm very intrigued by the projects on social-emotional learning, as behaviors arriving from frustration, youthfulness, and regulation are complicated at this age. In schools where I've seen the best learning occurring in the most classrooms, it is because the school has a tremendous program that teaches mindfulness and self-awareness at the core.
Of course, this now means the 24 hours ahead are for grading. Projects are actually due at 9 p.m. tonight but I'm hoping to stay on them as they trickle in. I've seen all the parts from the majority, so it should simply be the final touches.
I've been loving the weather, too. I know that is about to change as a new cold is heading our way. Ugh. I was beginning to think it was over...
...as if.
