It wasn’t that long ago that I considered the mental health day taboo. I’d hide my stress, overwhelm and declining enjoyment for life behind a fake illness, phoning through to work with a pretend croak in my throat, hiding my true pain because I thought it meant that I was weak – that I wasContinue reading “mental health day”
Category Archives: Uncategorized
invisible impact
I woke up this morning to a text message from a past student. He shared with me his success of becoming Head Boy of his high school and wanted to express his gratitude for the impact I had on his life while teaching him in primary school. He reflected on a key moment that, atContinue reading “invisible impact”
An open letter to my son’s teacher
I can’t thank you enough for all the love, care and support you have given my son this year. It’s been no secret that school is not his favourite place to be but you have never wavered in your patience and compassion for my little man. We sat in the sun today, while you watchedContinue reading “An open letter to my son’s teacher”
are you choosing happiness?
I can’t remember where I was when I first heard this, maybe in a movie, a book or even an Instagram post, but it was something like this: Imagine if we could teach our kids to strive for a life filled with happiness, so when someone asks them what they want to be when theyContinue reading “are you choosing happiness?”
Transforming the teacher with coaching
As a teacher I have been appraised and ‘coached’ by senior colleagues, always focusing on improving performance and neglecting the human inside the teacher. Conversations would be framed by the feedback/compliment sandwich; a positive comment, followed by some next steps, and concluded with another positive comment leaving little room for the teacher to reflect onContinue reading “Transforming the teacher with coaching”
the river
She was once an unmoving river.StillSilentStagnant.Laying dormant under an overcast sky.LifelessListlessLost.Drooping trees lined her banks patiently waiting to bloom.But still she sits,UnmovingUnchangingUnaware.Heaviness holds her in place;Blind in the dark.Unaware of her power.Unaware of her heart.Unaware of her soul.Unaware of her light.Then the rains came down,And she weathers the storms.She is brought back to life.Slowly sheContinue reading “the river”
the abandoned teacher
It became pretty clear to me how negatively teachers are viewed when our country’s teachers fought for better pay and working conditions last year. You didn’t have to look far to find someone’s point of view or negative comment about our children’s teachers online, and for a while there I would just read these commentsContinue reading “the abandoned teacher”
your wellbeing is not a chore
I wanted to know what support you needed now, in the wake of corona and I heard you loud and clear. You have enough to do, and you don’t want anything else added to your plate. I hear you. Heading back to school in the wake of a nation wide lock-down without any time orContinue reading “your wellbeing is not a chore”
teachers give your heart, but save some for yourself
Wonderful Teachers, I am sure you are all relieved that this online teaching is coming to an end – for me, I get to head back to school tomorrow and I am beyond excited to see my kids for real. I had to hold back the tears this morning during our final zoom lesson whenContinue reading “teachers give your heart, but save some for yourself”
to the women who grieve on mother’s day
Mother’s Day, a time for everyone, men, women and children to reflect on motherhood and what it means to be a mother – a woman. A day to give our thanks to the women who gave us life, to the women who played their role in raising us, and to look in awe at whoContinue reading “to the women who grieve on mother’s day”
