“Lauren - Thank you for today - it was time well spent.” I opened this simple yet profound message in my inbox today. Have you ever had those weeks where everything seems to blur together because you’re juggling so many important tasks that it’s hard to be fully present in each interaction, moment, or experience? …
Every week, I read George Couros’ blog posts. Although all of George's thoughts and insights draw me in and encourage me to reflect on my own learning and growth, this particular one titled, “Creating a Podcast with NotebookLM; What are the negatives and positives of that process?” piqued my interest in a different way. Are …
Continue reading From Blog to Podcast: Turning Reflection into a Conversation with AI
We all have moments in our lives that live at the forefront of our memories. Often, it's hard to recognize these defining moments as they unfold. In their book The Power of Moments, Chip Heath and Dan Heath write, “Defining moments shape our lives, but we don’t have to wait for them to happen. We …
“Bad news: You’re growing, and it’s uncomfortable. Good news: It’s uncomfortable, but you’re growing.” — Rachel Wolchin Even after 19 years in education, the start of a new school year still brings a mix of emotions—daunting, scary, unfamiliar, and, yes, uncomfortable. Can you relate? In the days leading up to my return, my sleep is …
“Two roads diverged in a wood, and I— I took the one less traveled by, And that has made all the difference.” From: The Road Not Taken by Robert Frost Recently, I was reminded of Robert Frost’s poignant words in his famous poem “The Road Not Taken.” Frost describes a traveler faced with a choice …
Have you ever thought about how your personal evolution and the path to transformation exists in the small things? Happiness doesn’t just exist in the present, it lives in the spaces in between where we are and where we are meant to be. If you are reading this and are in education, I know that …
A few years ago when I was preparing to take the leap into administration, the invaluable guidance and mentorship of my 4th grade teacher, Mrs. Linda Roth became my compass. Now, you may be thinking…how does Lauren maintain a connection with a teacher from almost 35 years ago? The answer lies in the profound impact …
"The journey to shatter the ceiling is truly admirable. However, there's another perspective or formula that we should consider– raising the floor. It's not always about reaching higher. Sometimes it's about adding your best to what you have." This beautiful sentiment was shared in Laura McDonnell’s latest blog post, Raise Your Floor where she delves …
Recently, I was asked, “what did you like about being an Instructional Coach?” It took seconds for the words to roll right off of my heart.... “When you are deeply passionate about education, the students, colleagues, and community you serve, coaching is the most meaningful opportunity to make an impact on instructional practices at the …
Continue reading Instructional Coaching Mindsets Move Practice
“The influence of our teachers is indelibly woven into the fabric of our lives.” This is the first sentence in chapter 1 of Julie Schmidt Hasson’s book Safe, Seen, and Stretched in the Classroom. Last weekend, as I was packing up my family’s belongings from a weekend trip, I was listening to Sean Gaillard’s #PrincipalLinerNotes …
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