#ONECREATIVETHING Maine 2019

The third trip to Maine in nearly as many years made me see the greens in a new way. The State of Maine always pushes me back into the absurdity of John Irving novels wrapped inside a cozy, nylon hammock. Deep forests and craggy beaches. Leaves as big as your head and that smell of pine. 

Time away to reflect is not only important but necessary for educators. I found myself thinking back over the past school year - immensely proud of the intense creative work of my colleagues who have quickly become friends and frightfully aware of how hard that work is for us all. When I step back alone (or with little orange Whitman), it’s easy to be aware of the strength of our community. The necessity of our community. Every moment this year - from QR code geography projects that connect 2nd graders across the world, to learners designing in ways they haven’t before, to educators seeing themselves as artist and designers of learning. So much goodness. So much to be thankful for. And so much stress I honestly could not handle without my community of learners, designers, friends. Can’t wait to see what next year brings for us, but for now, a few days of reflection are good. good. good.