I Suppose Another Word for Exhaustion is Bird-Brained, and That Has Become Rather Synonymous with How I Operate Normal (So There)

I slid into third base successfully last night, and now just need to steal home. My intent was to be a billion times more productive than I was, but I ended up spending most of my day in the grant office working through fortunate dollars that are coming our way with a quick turn-around....a wonderful, but difficult problem to contend with. 

I went with The Tale of the Mandarin Duck by Bette Midler, which I paired with feathered influences of Greek and Roman Gods, mostly Hermes, Demeter, and a little of Auspices (non-fiction stories of why birds might be of interest of the Gods and early humankind and their need to define the world around them. Wings are flight and flight forwards the idea of wondering, mystery, and magic. 

Funny, early on one of the students discussed that birds are a distraction, just like nature and I was able to ask what are modern distractions, which led to cellphones, which was a major point of Midler's tale. We discussed about contemplating life and what distracts us while making meaning. What are the wonders...

...which led to Percy Jackson, the winged shoes given to Gabe, and the mischief of the book (oh, the lure of the Roman Gods and Hades). 

At first, I guessed the students posited it was another nutty Crandall evening (which it was), but at the end of the evening we discussed the entire movement from beginning of class until the end and what takeaways they had. I was impressed at all the learning that occurred, and we named the moves....

...those moves are what beginning teachers need to start working with as they think about their own classrooms. 

Then I drove home in pouring rain, miserable driving, and the need of a fluffy pillow.

One more 14-hour day ahead. We got this.