JOIN: Celebrating Winter Break 2016

Every Saturday, join me as I CELEBRATE This Week 

with Ruth Ayres from Discover. Play. Build.

This is my 15th year in education...and it's been a fun year so far! We have a lot of exciting opportunities for kids and since I'm in my 2nd year at my school district, I've developed closer relationships with staff and have been part of some great discussions and planning. Overall, it's been exciting but the week before winter break is still exhausting. Me and my co-worker support technology integration at our three buildings. We spent most of the week in classes doing Hour of Code with our kindergarten, first, and second graders. We introduce them to coding and set them up to spend some time coding with Kodable. Kodable is a a website and also an app where students can get an introduction to coding. It's all visual so it's perfect for pre-readers. It was awesome but exhasusting!

That's why when the principal walked in with a Starbucks drink for me on Thursday...well, I might have jumped up and down and screamed a high-pitch sort of scream. It was awesome. Here's me with my wonderful caramel macchiato. 

And here's a picture of the hallway at the end of the day. I was late leaving and went to check my mailbox one more time before going to pick up my 6 year old from the after school program. I love the magic of an empty building. The quiet stillness is beautiful. I love the energy, the vibrant excitement and whir of busy-ness when it's filled with kids too. But when the students are gone it's like that memory of their enthusiasm still floats in the air and it's beautiful too. 

Today I'm celebrating the start of winter break. After fifteen years of winter break...I know it's going to be great to be home and to spend time with family and that I'll come back to school ready for the rest of the year.

What are you celebrating this weekend?