Great Scott!!

Apparently I need more of a kick start than I had originally thought.  While I had looked to an earlier blogging challenge to help provide purpose and direction, I may need to broaden my horizons a bit and simply find something to write about.  I'm going to look for things to write about until I can make this more of a regular habit.  Starting now.  

While I certainly don't get to do this as much as I would like to, I still enjoy these digital distractions.  I recently picked up Uncharted: the Nathan Drake Collection for the PS4.  Now, I've played the previous three entries on the PS3 but I just couldn't pass up a chance to work through an updated version of something I enjoyed so much.  Growing up, I remember loving the Indiana Jones movies, although it took me a while to get comfortable with Temple of Doom (so scary...).  I loved the sense of adventure and the journey to far off places in search of fortune and glory.  These are powerful themes that made the films so good in the first place, something that I would argue has been lost somewhat in all the flashiness of today's Hollywood.

When I play Uncharted, I get that same sense of wonder and fun that I got from the Indiana Jones films.  It had a story that I found engaging and I'd always want to play just a little bit longer just to see what would happen next.

Nathan and Sully find El Dorado.

Great storytelling and a chance to enjoy a classic trilogy if you missed it the first time.

The Force... It's calling to you.

Considering all the drama from last night's election, this was a nice surprise to help take my mind of things and get me excited.  Sorry... get even more excited.

58 days to go!!!

So. I went to the dentist...

I can't remember just how many times I've sat at the computer with the desire to blog, only to draw a complete blank on where exactly to start.  Well, it seems that the stimulus I needed turned out to be the thorough and needed cleaning brought on by a nearly 4 year delay in making it back for a routine dental cleaning.  Fun times, indeed.

We are now one month into another school year.  Classcraft is up and running again.  We even have a few quotes up on the Epic Quote Wall.  All in all, it has been good to be back and I have enjoyed beginning to build relationships with another excited and diverser group of students.

Last year, I really, really wanted to make blogging a habit.  Something that I would want to do every day as part of my own reflection and growth as a professional.  I came across a 30-Day Blogging Challenge for teachers.  I made it 10 days in before things became irregular and my blogging fell off the digital cliff.  I'm going to pick up where I left off.

My topic for this entry has to do with my favorite part of the school day.  Now, when I first read this question, there were lots of moments that came to mind.  So many conversations with students and teachable moments.  Too many to really recount here.  If I had to be more specific, though, I would have to say, somewhat selfishly perhaps, that my favorite part of the school day is in the hour or so before classes start and the day begins.

I enjoy the quiet at that part of the day because it gives me the time I need to get my head ready for the day.  It isn't just about making sure that I have all my planning ready and needed assignments prepared, although that does happen from time to time.  Rather, I come into the class, turn on some music, and try to weap my head around what I need to get out of the day.  A little bit of meditation to get things rolling.

While I am somewhat protective of this personal time, I also enjoy the occasional visits that come from my students, past and present.  They might come and look at my Geek Shelf (many items courtesy of Loot Crate), or talk about whatever they're up to and share a little bit more about who they are.  It's in these moments that I get to really understand and appreciate my students in a way that doesn't always manifest intself in front of the whole class.  I remember doing that with my own teachers when I was growing up and I have a deeper appreciation of that now that I'm looking at it from the other side.

~Mr. T