When was the last time you made a handprint turkey? Carefully tracing your hand onto a clean, white sheet of paper or better yet, construction paper, then choosing what bright Crayola colors to use on your finger feathers. Two stick legs and it was ready to hang on the refrigerator. I have a flock of them, starting with my daughter’s tiny preschool hand, each year a little bigger, a little neater, a little more detailed. As we pause to reflect on all that we have to be grateful for, it is the simple things, like a paper turkey, that remind us to be in the moment because time keeps moving along, to appreciate a shared joke with a friend, a morning cup of tea at the start of a busy day, a conversation that pushes your thinking in a new direction, a student who has an ah-ha moment after asking just one more question, reading a note from a former student sharing their success, spending a Saturday afternoon on the couch with a good book. When it comes down to what is most important, what keeps us going, it is all of these small moments we keep tucked away to pull out when we need to remind ourselves that we have much to be grateful for. So. Find some crayons and some paper. Trace your hand. On each of your fingers, write a name, a word, a picture to remind you of something that fills your cup, that anchors your work, someone who inspires you, a hope for the year to come. Add two stick legs and put it on your refrigerator or your bulletin board. Ask your friends and family to make one too, create your own flock! Happy Thanksgiving.
Resources To Spark Your Thinking
Google Doodles can be a spark for inquiry, a jumping off point for discussion, an inspiration. This is one can be all of those things : Ocean Rift Google https://g.co/doodle/ccbd5rz And… for November 22 Teacher’s Day - this one https://www.google.com/doodles/teachers-day-2022-november-22 Find the entire archive here
HQSD and OTES/OPES Resources https://sites.google.com/escneo.org/otes/OTES/hqsd/hqsd-conversations (Thanks Mindy Geschke and the team who put these resources together) LOTS of resources and videos that can be used to prepare for HQSD conversations you are leading - or teachers /admins may be having with their own evaluator.
Are you considering piloting one of the new Ohio HS Math Pathways, the application is open now - Application Video Process HERE
Primary sources can make learning relevant to your students - Right Question Institute has worked with the Library of Congress to create this new resource https://www.ebsco.com/blogs/ebscopost/2147345/four-ways-educators-can-use-right-question-institutes-teaching-primary-sources-hub
Upcoming Opportunities
Proposals are being accepted through November 25 for the in-person OETC 2023 conference https://oetc.ohio.gov/call_session_proposals Presenting is a great way to refine your own thinking and share best practice strategies with colleagues!
Free online courses available through the Smithsonian can be found HERE Receive a verified certificate for courses for $50.