arrange • compose • conduct
Punctuated Equilibrium is the theory, proposed and popularized by Stephen Jay Gould, that evolutionary change isn’t gradual, but instead has long periods of stability interspersed with rapid change. It is not the only theory to describe evolutionary change, but it is a persuasive one, and one that rings true when […]
Creative work isn’t more fun or easier than less creative work. Indeed, our busy, conscious brains seem to do everything in their power to keep us from taking the risks that let us be creative. There is, though, a powerful switch that lets us sidestep consciousness. It’s the switch of […]
In the first few turns of Yahtzee, your scorecard is wide open. You can take huge risks, knowing you’ll be able to score something, even if it isn’t ideal. And your risks can pay off with lucky rolls and higher scores. In the last few turns of Yahtzee, you’re most […]
Morituri Te Salutemus. That is the expression that slaves were required to shout to the Roman Imperial ruler when they entered the arena for gladiatorial death matches. We, who are about to die, salute you. When I was young, what struck me was the intimate knowledge of mortality – the […]
When you’re out in a kayak and a waterski boat goes by, you’re going to hit some waves. You learn pretty quick how to steer your watercraft so that it causes minimal problems. Now, if a wakeboarder goes by, you’ll hit much bigger waves – but your experience and some […]
I have been consistently inspired the past few weeks by the collaborative, supportive, freely sharing spirit of educators. So many teachers are spending every available moment creating new content, researching new techniques, learning new modalities – and they are freely sharing whatever they discover with colleagues. A pandemic makes us […]
When I started writing daily, it would have been easy to get in the habit of labeling each post with a few content tags. Even six months, in, it wouldn’t have taken me long to go back and amend the 180ish posts to more easily find topic-based essays. Now I’ve […]
To varying extent, we all teach in real time, rather than from a concrete plan. Good teachers react in the moment to their students’ faces, to the questions that are asked, to the specific singing that they hear from the choir. We make detailed lesson plans, and we throw them […]
A recent CDC study says that 25% of 18-24 year olds contemplated suicide in June. Even more reported anxiety and stress-related disorders. That’s got to be our top priority as teachers. Before we get to talking about robust learning, scaffolded growth and learning communities, before we get to talking about […]
Being in a choir is more than singing together. It’s a family. It’s a community. It’s the best place I know to learn collaboration and trust. Being in a choir is more than singing together, but I just know that the first time we can all sing together again, I […]