Mondays are tough for humans. The shift from Sunday Scaries to Moody (Miserable, Manic- your choice here) Monday can feel clunky and awkward. It's like our bodies forget how to human every seven days to protect ourselves- much like labor pains or Daylight Savings Time. Monday energy was getting super sticky at my house and in my classroom. Like annoyingly awful. I was spending too much time dreading its arrival, then every hour of the day counting down until it was over. Then I did some math (chill, this math I can do). How was I supposed to spend 14% of my LIFE intentionally miserable? How dare I wake up in this adorable body that breathes and dances and dreams and allow my day to be abducted by feelings of ENNUI!? At first, I was a bit embarrassed. Then, perhaps a bit frustrated with myself. Then, there was simply no more time to waste. Hello, Magical Monday! Its premise? Simple. Treat everything and everyone as if they are pure magic. Wholeheartedly believe that you are going to witness and partake in whimsy today. Did you enjoy a fresh cup of coffee? Sweet! Did you experience a hug from someone you love? Awe... Did you have yet ANOTHER fantasy football victory this week? Yes? WOW! If you're feeling stuck, ask the children in your life. Children are full of magic. Jo used to leave notes and snacks for the fairies, and the fairies (Danny or me) would write back. Jo firmly believed in Santa for forever and the sparkle in her eyes around Christmas was pure joy. She even added her own "Rudolph nose" one year to fully immerse herself in the season (it was red Sharpie, I'd recommend anything other than permanent marker). What's even cooler, though? Jo now recognizes the magic that was shared with her, and insists on doing the same for her younger sister. This season has already been so fun because I get to witness my older babies creating magic for my youngest. So. Magic can happen literally whenever you decide to create it. Don't wait for a "special" day to experience fun and curiosity, and charm. Today is the most special because of YOU!

The holidays are so tricky. How do teachers (or parents) balance the joy and glitz and glamour of the season with the weight of real-life expectations? How do we meaningfully participate in the sparkle of the season, yet acknowledge its very real shadow of impossible expectations, overwhelm, and “too-muchness”? I still don’t really have an answer, honestly. Once December 1st hit, I knew I was no longer Ms. John, Elementary Teacher. My seasonal role swiftly became mediator, chaos- coordinator, and Mrs. Claus all at the same time. Every year was a delicate balance of adding fun and silliness to our regular subjects, doing my best to maintain some semblance of order, and praying to the teaching goddesses that no one ruined Santa Claus for their peers—another impossible task to add to a teacher’s never-ending to-do list. We also must recognize the shadow of the season. Late November- January isn’t a happy time for many people- teachers included. I remember many years of having to visit people I wanted nothing to do with, walking on eggshells around family members, and feeling distinctly “Grinchy”. My mom also passed away on December 11, after a years-long battle with alcoholism, a few years ago. That December was anything but a perfect holiday. Through the grief and the anger, however, I did manage to find moments of pure joy. The note below was from a very sweet, feisty student with little regard for the norms in our classroom. She told it how it was and had no time for fluff. I always appreciated her unique take on the world, and this note meant more to me than she probably realized at the time. Though I was flattered that she thought I was amazing at math (which I am, third-grade math only), it was more touching that she expressed how I was amazing at “being kind”. Kindness is tough when you’re drowning in sadness and anger and confusion. Kindness takes patience and effort and a regulated nervous system- traits that are often in short supply during the holidays and even more so for me that year. This adorable kiddo helped me remember my greatest strength as a teacher and packaged it in the perfect way- a handwritten note.

We’ve all been there. We start a project- group or otherwise- with hope and excitement, looking forward to the satisfaction of a job well done. At least, for a few moments. You would think that once we’ve set norms, laid out detailed plans, met together and assigned tasks, everyone would just…do the thing, right? Not exactly. Whether it’s giving directions to a group of first graders, planning a family vacation, or painting your bathroom pink (which I did recently, highly recommend), humans are notorious for thinking linearly, but achieving in a loopty-loo. See the very scientific example below. Fortunately, there’s a phrase for that. In the mid-60s, psychologist Bruce Tuckman introduced the four stages of group development—a model still widely cited today (Tuckman, 1965). Later, he and Mary Ann C. Jensen added a fifth stage, “adjourning,” to complete the framework (Tuckman & Jensen, 1977). They are: - Forming - Storming - Norming - Performing  Bonus - Adjourning The idea is simple. First, teams come together with a common goal. They set norms, delegate tasks, and determine next steps. This is “forming”. Then, miscommunication happens, team members begin to push back and ask more direct questions, and frustration can happen- “storming”. Team members then work through those sticky spots, get more comfortable seeking clarification, and work together more cohesively- “norming”. Finally, like any Hallmark movie, the team starts making progress and (hopefully) crushes their goal- "performing”. The team then disbands- "adjourning”. I’ve used this model for many years, and I’ve noticed a few things. First- “storming” and “norming” are interchangeable. They go back and forth fluidly, and “storming” can occasionally sneak into “performing” because she’s sneaky and very dramatic. Second- this model can be used in every part of your life- your work, play, even your daily activities. Let’s take my ADHD adventure of deciding to paint my bathroom pink- here is an unfiltered peek into my brain (you’re welcome and/or I’m sorry).

I'm all about alliteration. And, I love a good theme. Enter Thankful Thursday. We know the research on gratitude. When we express gratitude, we become more grateful, which in turn leads to increased happiness. Gratitude practices may even impact neural pathways related to reward and positive affect, helping build lasting shifts in perspective (Harvard Health, 2021). How simple, right? Eh, perhaps not. Intentional gratitude can feel forced and inauthentic—two things my neuro-spicy brain cannot tolerate. I noticed the same feelings of "fine if I have to" from my students every November when the only things they could think of to be thankful for were their friends and family. Though valid, I was curious how we could push our thinking just a little bit and really find and express gratitude more often. So, how do I find a way to make gratitude feel less forced and more joyful? Around the same time, I noticed our next ELA standard was ‘write a friendly letter’—and it clicked. Gratitude needed a vehicle, and a letter was the perfect fit.” Thankful Thursday was born. Every Thursday, we would spend real time writing thank-you notes to someone in our community. Teachers, custodial workers, veterans, police officers, grown-ups, siblings, friends, and librarians were thanked for their efforts and impact on our students. After a while, I would run out of ideas, and my students stole the show. My very favorite thank-you note was written for a chair (see note below). Thankful Thursday not only helped my students practice their handwriting and craft a note that follows ELA conventions- they were truly engaged in the process and rewired their sweet brains to seek gratitude every day. I've had teachers from schools I used to work at tell me that Thankful Thursday lives on, and that makes my teacher heart so happy. So, who are you thankful for today? Better yet, who will your students/kiddos thank this Thursday? Grab some stationary, your favorite flair pen, and start the ripple.

Let's get to know each other! Comment below sharing where you are in the world, a photo of something that inspires you, and something you like to do for fun. 😊