My mind has been on high alert, making yet another “to-do” list. However, a springtime cold slowed me down this week and forced me to sit, sleep, and wonder. June snuck up on me; all of a sudden it arrived. With only two more weeks of school ahead of me, I’m looking forward to getting outside into the air, the green, the blue of nature. I am thirsting for time on my own to roam the woods and shorelines from Maine to Miami. Most of my colleagues and our student body are also weary of indoor school days and are anticipating the freedom that June brings: our own pace, our own activities, our own adventures. This sense of freedom is part of the school cycle that I have been part of since I was four years old.
I’m taking these two weeks to glide into summer mode. I have a stack of books to read and am looking for some children’s novels to even out my pile. I also signed up for two asynchronous courses – one presented by Ethan Mollick on AI in schools and one on creativity called “Divergent by Design”. My summers are always filled with travelling/photographing, unwinding, writing, reading, and a bit of drawing. This summer, I’m looking forward to all of that but also to learning some new things, so I can’t wait to start my AI and creativity courses once I’ve had a little room to breathe and walk in the wild.
I’ve also been taught to crochet by some of our 5th graders, so I also plan to keep practicing and hopefully become more proficient by September so I can teach another crop of children. This will give me an excuse to wander into some knitting and crochet stores in all the places I will visit this summer, a cool respite during my travels. I’m looking forward to developing this lost skill again. I’m starting with a small granny square. I don’t want to get too ambitious, just rekindling a peaceful pastime.
Recently, a younger friend and I were discussing an important career choice she was in the midst of making. I was honored that she sought my advice. I wanted to give it my full thought and attention. As we sorted out the two possibilities, I was reminded of Frost’s poem, “The Road Not Taken,” which many people interpret as an admonition to take the path that is different, unique, and offers freedom and non-conformity. However, Frost states clearly that both roads are equally beautiful and much the same. His deeper point is that life requires us to make choices, but it is up to us, not the road, to make our journey a productive one. So, I told my young friend that whatever her decision, it would be the right one because she would be the one taking the journey, and I trust that she will make it memorable, enjoyable, and important.
When I was younger, I definitely misread Frost. I thought he was telling me to take the Bohemian poet path, but I couldn’t quite stay on that path. I felt like a failure. I found myself leaping from the poet path to the teacher trail. And because I could not decide on one specific way to take my life, I made each intertwine, and “it has made all the difference.”
Word Dancer: Literature, the Arts, & Education 
Reflective and relatable – as ever. I close my eyes and imagine a collection of your works. Like your crocheted squares may become a blanket. One at a time. And how lovely that the skills and inspiration came from your beloved students. 🙂
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Joanne,
It sounds as though you have a full summer planned. Do check out the NCTE honor book lists for those novels, and before diving into AI, consider a deep dive into the environmental and ethical issues. I live in a desert area. We’re in year 23 of a drought. Our community recently defeated plans to build an AI data center. I am in the never AI in schools camp.
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I will check out the NCTE book lists. Great idea! Thank you! Oh – Glenda – I know of the environmental and ethical issues – but I will research more fully. I’m not sure we can hold back AI, but I do appreciate the negative impact it will have. In any case, I like to have all the information on both sides, so I can navigate in an ethical way.
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I’ve been reading books about AI and studying every article that crosses my path since ChatGPT appeared. I’ve also paid close attention to what’s happening w/ data centers in Virginia, Utah, and across the country, as well as listening to creators, especially authors. What’s really interesting right now is the banning of AI in some tech industries and the backlash against tech in schools. I’ve yet to see an argument for AI in education that meets the criteria for being ethical.
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I’m looking forward to dancing down the shoreline like your personification of June! My heart is yearning for the beach. I hope you’ll post your granny square once completed. It sounds as if your travels will take you down many roads and lead to adventures you can share through your poetry.
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Spending time in nature this summer will be so wonderful to recharge, especially since you will be covering so much ground!
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You inspire me! You are going strong, still have such passion and commitment to teaching, and I’m over here in this chair exhausted, trying to figure out how people my age and up can still find the energy. And your travel plans and reading plans sound amazing. I’m going to need you to tell me where you find all your energy. I need some!
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Hi Kim – I actually feel depleted but the idea of summer sustains me. I think time for art, poetry, nature is a salve I desperately need, and so I hang on!
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I lie the advice you gave your younger friend. Whatever road we take is the best choice because we make it based on what we feel is best or us at the time.
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Your end of the year energy burst is certainly a strong one and your summer plans far more clearly designated than I ever did. I’m still trying to make a few reservations, which reminds me that I really should work on that!
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I feel like the Little Engine that Could – I just keep slogging up that hill till summer vacation. Then the sunshine and long days will provide sustenance hopefully. And yes – I always wait till the last minute to make reservations even though we have our plan sketched out months ahead of time.
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Word Dancer,
Love the advice you gave your friend.
“So, I told my young friend that whatever her decision, it would be the right one because she would be the one taking the journey, and I trust that she will make it memorable, enjoyable, and important.”
So wise.
And I love the free-wheeling feeling of your June poem.
“Watch her sail on past.
She throws her head back
laughing all the way,
delighting in summer.”
Hang in there, you’ve almost made it!
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It sounds like you have a beautiful summer mapped out, awaiting you, Joanne!I remember being asked to memorize that Frost poem in middle school. I can still recite it today. (In fact, I recited it for Ari last weekend.) Choices, choices…
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