Dear Together Friends, Fans, and Family, Exhale. I don’t really have words to describe my relief at the outcome of our presidential election. I’ve watched the street celebrations with joy, but also know there are great challenges ahead. I know my yard signs have...
Family University: Supporting Parents to Support Students
One of my favorite parts of this work is making connections with folks doing similar work. I’m a long-time fan of Caleb Dolan (fun fact: my mom was his middle school art teacher!). Caleb has been in education for almost 25 years, and I respect him deeply. When he sent...
October Together Tips: Flipping Seats, Flamingos & Fur-kenstocks
Dear Together Friends, Fans, and Family, I honestly keep thinking I’ll start my monthly newsletter with a bit of good news, but after the Breonna Taylor decision, the presidential debate debacle, and RBG’s death, I continue to feel deeply disturbed. To cope, I’m...
September Together Tips: Resting, Recharging & Resetting
Dear Together Friends, Fans, and Family, Hi. Just hi. How ARE you? Between Hurricane Laura’s devastation, Jacob Blake’s unconscionable shooting, and being pulled back and forth between virtual-non-virtual-hybrid-synchronous-all-of-the-things-school delays, it is too...
August Together Tips: Solace, Stress, Socks & Survey!
Dear Together Friends, Fans, and Family, Hi. How ARE you? Feels like a silly question to even ask. I’m glad you are here. I hope Togetherness is bringing you peace, joy or just helping you manage the juggle that is life right now. Wherever you are, I hope you are safe...
New Book & Summer Together (Online) Tour
Dear Together Friends, Fans, and Family, After dropping my new book on Amazon in 3.75 weeks, I’ve honestly been in a bit of recovery mode. I’ve been trying to soak up newer resources on racial justice and education, and I’ve been inspired by this series from...
June Together Tips: Amplification, Allies, and Anti-Racist Actions
Dear Together Friends and Family, My author self has been at a loss over these past two weeks – though I did find a few personal words to share over here and here. The magnitude of systemic racism that has been present for hundreds of years is overwhelming. Like many...
April Together Tips: Clickers, Caves & Virtual Courses
Dear Together Friends, Fans, and Family, Greetings from Together-ish (can that be a word?) Land. Why Together-ish, you may wonder? Well, just like the rest of us, I’m a little all over the place. I’ve been Semi-Schooling the children, bringing out the beloved...
Pandemic Post #6: Student “Netiquette,” or, Busting My First Grader
“Mom School – Lite” is still in session in Together-Land but it’s now mostly my first and fourth-graders on live Zooms each day and then working on follow-up tasks. And wouldn’t you know it, while I was unloading the dishwasher/feeding the cats/helping my...
April Together Tips: Turmoil & Trade-offs
Dear Together Friends, Fans, and Family, Ummm. . . hi. How ARE you? I almost don’t know how to begin, but maybe let’s start with my return to Ms. H-M. Or, perhaps my newly-installed lawn ornaments to provide joy to my neighbors? Or, maybe my struggle with my daily...