• Location: home in my favorite chair
• Mood: busy

Self-Quarantine marches forward

I am now in the 11th day of self-quarantine. I suspect that there are many more days ahead as BH and I try our best NOT to become a statistic. While many of my family and friends mark on being bored and needing to get out, I pick up a handful of picture books or grab a YA title from the shorter stacks or read with my ears. No chance of boredom here. I have had the chance to attend some great PD with Kylene Beers' "Office Hours", Monday-Fridey at 3 ET and 2 CT. I even take time on Wednesdays for 30 minutes to talk about teaching in the time of online. I suspect that book talks will become a part of these sessions shortly.

Speaking of book talks, Karin Perry and I have been asked to record our TLA presentation on new, good books which was cancelled when the conference was cancelled. If we can arrange things, maybe we will record and publish the presentation we envision for the USM Children's Book Festival.

BTW, I love woking from home. Nothing like comfy clothes, snacks, water bottles collecting condensation, background noise to distract me,and comfy chair for napping.

For those of you still struggling with unfamiliar learning platforms, stubborn software, and apps that can make things more complicated, relax. We are all on a steep learning curve for the next few months. But our students will survive, will learn, will prosper. Why? Because they see us doing the same chillness they face in this new and different world. Show students your human side: your frustrations and triumphs.