What Marie Kondo and Dave Ramsey have in common—it’s not what you think

Like most Minnesotans who've been stuck in their houses for the last 6 weeks, I've been binging on Marie Kondo. I watched the first episode of Tidying Up, and promptly tore apart my closet the next morning. I joined a Facebook group of other moms venting over trying to tidy up while their children are …

Is it engagement, or compliance?

Have you ever looked out over your class and seen every eye on you, but you swear, nothing is going on inside?  You ask a question, and hear crickets.  You ask them to be creative and free with a project, but every project comes in looking just like the example. My worst day as an …

It’s not about me. A blog about the rush of letting go.

We're at that dreaded time of year. The ability gap is getting wider. Personalities are getting bigger. Habits, both in us and our students, are becoming entrenched. Winter break is over. Spring break is still a distant dream. Testing is just around the corner.  In many ways, we feel control in our classroom slipping away. …

Connected learning is the new literacy

For decades now, literacy has been upheld as the most important factor in a student's success at school.  In the early grades, half or more of a student's day has been devoted to reading and writing.  While it is undoubtedly true that the ability to read can make or break a student's education, I've learned …

It’s not goodbye. It’s hasta luego.

We enjoyed a powerful worship service at the beach today, and as we reflected on our experience together and how much we've grown I wasn't the only one holding back tears.  It's with a heavy heart that I leave Puerto Rico today, but I know that I'll be taking some of la isla del encanto …

No somos molinos. Somos gigantes.

#YoNoMeQuito. I won’t run away. I’ve been blessed this past week to be part of a mission trip from Bethel Lutheran Church in Rochester, MN to Iglesia Cristo Rey in Carolina, PR. Together we’ve been working to build lasting relationships between our churches, and to do some repairs on the church building. As we’ve been …