Education, Home Feature, loving fiercely, Motherhood, Parenting, Reflections, teaching audaciously

Understanding Our Backstory – A Little Kindness Goes A Long Way

“It is quite true what philosophy says; that life must be understood backwards. But one forgets the other principle: that is must be lived forwards.”

– Soren Kierkegaard

I was the second person to board the very early morning flight from Chicago to Raleigh – and the flight attendant took one look at me and reacted with what I believe to be genuine kindness. “I need you to answer one question for me,” he said. His eyes scanned over my shoulder, searching behind me on the gangway for the rest of the passengers. I really wasn’t in the mood for games. Travel isn’t easy, and I was tired. Teacher tired. End of the school year teacher tired.The kind of tired that only teachers – or new moms – know. The kind of tired where you’ve been caring for someone else at the expense of yourself.

I must have looked as dumbstruck as I felt because he continued. “The question is, what can I do to help you?” Wait – what? YOU want to help ME?

Honestly, I could only focus on the origin of his accent. Russian? Australian? I seriously questioned who he was talking to, stunned as I was. “Why don’t you just take a seat and let me take your bags?” he questioned, patiently waiting for me to step into the empty plane. At this point, I’m still having trouble processing and it’s getting embarrassing. This is Southwest Airlines, after all. Coach. Flight attendants are usually friendly, but NO ONE ever treats me like this. Gently he eased my carry on from my tightly gripped fingers and instructed me to sit anywhere.

Finally settled into my seat, he came up behind me and whispered “Remember – just leave all your stress back at the gate,” and kindly helped my husband and hundreds of other tired travelers prepare for their flight.

Choosing Kindness

How many times have people in my life chosen kindness at just the right moment- and I don’t remember them. Playing this all back in my mind, I hope he knows what a difference he made to me that day. It wasn’t anything earth-shattering or tragic that was going on, but I was spent. He had no idea, I’m sure, about anything having to do with me or my story. But taking those few moments to check in with me, to pay attention, made all the difference.

I’d just finished reading a fabulous novel, All The Missing Girls, before boarding and couldn’t get it out of my mind (be sure to check out my upcoming review and ‘Best of 2018′ book list to be posted soon). I struggled a bit with the narrative as it started with the ending and worked backward. In had to think, to get used to the reverse cadence of the plot and really pay attention to the details.

It really made me think about the backstory of my life – of my children’s, my students’ lives. How elusive it can be, even when we try to not hold onto it. How it can squeeze up at the most profound, unexpected times, only to whiplash our thinking.

Our backstory can frame the plot of our lives, even when we don’t pay attention to it; it can chart our course.

What is the backstory of your life?

It’s probably not a question we can ask directly, but one we should directly pay attention to. Just imagine what life could be like if we knew more about each other. Would we be more empathetic? Compassionate? Or less tolerant, figuring we should know better?

What’s the backstory of my life?

Thirty-six years after my parent’s divorce and I still feel that chasm they created. There’s no blame. No right or wrong. It just is. How many of my students are dealing with their own divorce backstory that I don’t have a whisper of information about? Have my own children learned about life and love from watching me and their dad? How has my divorce backstory influenced me from living my parenting life forward?

Twenty-eight years after my first day of teaching I’m once again changing course with my career. I started before NCLB – and still, I shudder at the idea of teaching like it’s 1991. It’s only by looking at my teaching backstory that it comes into focus. I know I haven’t been a perfect teacher; I know I’ve made mistakes. But I can’t stay there – that would be too easy. I can’t keep one foot in the past and expect to make it into the present…I’m just not that flexible. I have to live my teaching life forward.

Twenty-two years after my first child, I’m definitely understanding life in reverse. She finshed college, launching now into her adult life. My baby is leaving soon, moving across the country. I’ve almost got an empty nest…isn’t that a perfect excuse for understanding life backwards? Second guessing everything I didn’t do? Seeing where a + b didn’t exactly = C, but realizing that it’s ok? I understand fully Catlin Tucker’s comparison of teaching and parenting as a ‘delicate dance’. Suddenly, I’m realizing that the 22 years of parenting have really become the backstory of my teaching life.

Life must be understood backwards.

That one, short moment of kindness by a flight attendant – a moment like so many others that we don’t even realize can define our future selves and inform how we see ourselves. And as parents how many of those moments define our children; how does our back story cause our children’s reflection to shimmer or shatter?

Life must be understood backwards, yet lived forwards. I don’t think we can avoid it – or embrace it. It just is. It’s the gift of aging. Maybe all we can do is just choose kindness – simply asking someone what you can do for THEM. You never know whose story you might be changing.

Jennifer Wolfe

Jennifer Wolfe, a writer-teacher-mom, is dedicated to finding the extraordinary in the ordinary moments of life by thinking deeply, loving fiercely, and teaching audaciously. Jennifer is a Google Certified Educator, Hyperdoc fanatic, and a voracious reader. Read her stories on her blog, mamawolfe, and grab free copies of her teaching and parenting resources.

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It’s A Purge Party – And You’re Invited!

Back in May, a few weeks before school let out for the summer, I decided I needed to have a purge party. In the last 27 years, you see, I’ve taught a huge variety of curriculum and grades, I’ve gone from overhead projectors to DLP to Chromebooks and devices, and yet my paper files were still there, haunting me from five huge, overstuffed beige metal filing cabinets.

I knew I couldn’t do it alone. I needed support…and fortunately, as every teacher knows, there are ALWAYS kids who love to help.

Grateful, tired teacher with purge party helpers.

Here’s how the purge party began:

I thought it would be simplest to start with my bookshelves. This year I returned to dedicated time for READING in my classes, and boy, did we all love it. Every day starting off with 10 minutes of relax and read helped us all to calm down, focus, and get lost in stories. And as a result, I bought new books…which meant purging titles I have had for decades. I didn’t think it would be too big of a deal – books are books, and surely I could make some space without too much heartache.

Letting go of books, to me, is like leaving old friends – and I realized just wasn’t up to that part of the purge party, so I asked some of my most voracious readers if they’d like to help…and boy, did they help!

We purged out an entire bookcase, and then she ORGANIZED what was left! Best of all, as I tried to sneak back some beloved titles, she reminded me that, “OMG, Mrs. Wolfe, you have TOO many books about baseball…and no one is going to want to read that one -just get rid of it!”

This is one huge reason my purge party was a success – I was reminded that while I might feel huge attachment to the books in my room, kids in 2018 have different tastes and I needed to make room for more current titles.

A few other students caught on to the idea of my ‘purge party’ – and to my huge surprise, volunteered to come back the day after school was out to help.

I honestly couldn’t believe they showed up. I HAD promised them a treat from Dutch Bros….but to show up eager to help at 8:30 a.m. the first day of summer? I’m the luckiest teacher…

Here’s how the purge party went:

The purge party went something like this: I open a file cabinet drawer, said just recycle everything, they look at me like I’m crazy, and then proceed to fill my green bins over and over and over with 27 years worth of PAPER.

I tried not to hyperventilate. I tried not to dig through the file folders and workbooks and transparencies, and just let them PURGE.

It was hard clearing out all those memories; I’m transitioning back to 7th grade ELA next year and this felt like the perfect time for purging. I’m grateful to be surrounded by loving students willing to not let me look back, and instead keep supporting me, pushing me forward and reminding me of the fun year they had. And not one part of that ‘fun’ came from those metal drawers.

In truth, I haven’t even touched those five filing cabinets for years. I was trying the ‘if you don’t see it/touch it/use it’ theory to make purging easier for me. I was never again going to teach French, or Yearbook, or 7th grade History…and if by some chance the Universe sent that curriculum my way again, I was now opening up the possibility for something new to enter.

It was a long, emotional day for me. The kids ate pizza, got caffeinated and silly and somehow, by 2:30, the purge party was done. Most of the kids stayed the entire time, supporting me and each other as we cleared out the old and made way for the new possibilities. I’m not sure any of us were really ready to leave, actually.

The purge party continues:

The success of my purge party inspired me to continue at home. This summer, I’m starting to clear. I’ve done some drawers and closets, and already made two deliveries to the donation center. I’ve brought bags of books to the Little Free Library around the corner. I’m scratched by rosebushes by clearing dead debris in my garden. I’m spreading new mulch and propping up lilies that bloomed so big they fell over. And I’ll be honest – I’m feeling a bit anxious about it all…just like watching my classroom memories disappear into the recycle bin, my home holds 24 years of memories. I have to learn that right now, clearing out doesn’t mean the feelings are going; instead I’m allowing space for possibilities as we enter this new phase at home and embrace the empty nest.

So this week, on my solo staycation, I’m taking the quiet time to pay attention to the places at home and life that are out of balance and making a daily practice to purge, to put away, and to allow the light to shine in and on and through, one minute at a time.

I hope you’ll join me on this one. I could use some friendly energy to help me ride out the flood of memories I’m sure will come. I’d really rather not have a purge party for 1! Give me a shout out and let me know if you’d like to be here with me in spirit!

Jennifer Wolfe

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Podcast In The Classroom With WeVideo – Get Started Today!

I just finished filming a Google hangout with WeVideo for their Video Creator Rockstars group about how to use it to podcast in the classroom (blush) and it was so much fun, I wanted to share some of my podcasting tips with you!

The theory behind podcasting for students:

Give students a voice, choice, and agency
- Teaching students require relationships, connections, and showing kids that you value what they are learning and how they learn it. Podcasting allows kids’ voice to come through on things they think are really important.
Teaching skills for the future
- Podcasting is one of the communication tools of the future. Podcasts are a new frontier – and the possibilities are endless! Teaching podcasting allows students to practice the 4c’s of future-ready students: Communication, Collaboration, Critical Thinking, and Creativity.
Creating a platform for the entire year – and beyond!
- Teachers could think of podcasting as a platform for sharing student thinking all year long – or in smaller chunks of units and lesson assessment.

The impact you see in kids making a podcast:

Excitement! Engagement! Creativity! Collaboration! Critical thinking! Communication! Fun!
- When my class is podcasting it’s BUSY – and kids don’t want to leave the room! Don’t be afraid to have the whole class recording all at once – you can make inexpensive recording studios (see below), create a sign up sheet, scaffold in stations, use a closet for recording, or just accept that it’s not going to be perfect studio quality sound – it’s real-life background noise!
The belief that they could ‘do’ this – confidence building
- When students can show what they know in different ways, it turns them into possibilitarians – they believe in themselves and their ability to shine.
Pride – positive peer feedback
- When kids can share their thinking, with pride and control over the final product, and receive feedback from their peers, they are PROUD of their learning!
Storytelling – thinking through concept, creating an outline, following narrative arc
- It’s important for kids to start with some sort of idea rather than just going off the cuff in their podcast. The trick is to not OVER SCRIPT – which happens. I like to have kids listen to and analyze podcasts for the storytelling elements, and see what they like and what they could duplicate in their own podcast.
The realization that it isn’t/doesn’t have to be perfect the first time – revision, doing it the best they can
- Growth mindset? YES! Using their phones, WeVideo, and creating take after take helps strengthen the idea that life isn’t always done in one ‘take’ – redoing, rethinking, and revising are future ready skills we want our students to adopt.

Low budget ways to set up a recording studio:

Cardboard boxes and packaging tape
- This is seriously low budget, but I think if kids start here they could come up with creative ways to modify their box to meet their needs.
Plastic milk crates with 12×12 foam
- This method involves a bit of money, but not much. Amazon sells foam squares that are perfect liners!
iPhones, microphones, headphones
- Not necessary, but if you’re doing long-term podcasting it’s a nice investment.
Beanbags as buffers
- Something about covering their box in beanbags (pillows would work, too) not only made for better sound quality but provided a safe space for insecure first-time podcasters!
Tablecloth or sheets for kids to ‘hide’ under when recording
- Some kids really like no one seeing them…and helps a bit with the sound quality.

Coming up with topics:

That’s up to the kids – it needs to be generated by them.
- I like using our essential questions as a springboard, and then let them take it in any direction they like. They really should have ownership of the content!
Let them listen to lots of podcasts to engage their interest and teach them what a podcast IS.
- Common Sense Media has lots of good suggestions for all grade levels.
- Consider taking a poll on a Google form with any podcasts they currently listen to (see my hyperdoc for some ideas).
Consider making a year-long podcast that they can add to at intervals
- I’m considering using podcasts as a requirement for them with each literature/novel unit. I could also see adding to it with their book recommendations, suggestions for next year’s students, or just sharing exciting news about being a teen!

The impact I saw on students:

Students were excited! Empowered!
- They felt like they were really getting their voice out to the world…to other students. They said it was the best assignment they’d ever done!
Collaboration
- I had a group of four who divided work into script writing, recording, being the ‘special guest’ and one doing most of the tech work
- Another cool thing that happened was students who wanted to work alone ended up finding guest interviewees- their parents! I thought that was a cool way to expand the project.
Gives students a different avenue to show what they know.
- Showing their passions really gave me insight into them as a person, and in fact, inspired me to encourage them to keep their podcast going!
- It makes your textbook come alive! Use podcasts for assessment – use the tips in your textbook teachers edition for ideas, and then go from there!

Tips and tricks:

Don’t be afraid to start.
- It doesn’t have to be perfect – making mistakes and figuring things out is part of the process.
- Let your students teach you (and other students) all the tricks and tips THEY learn!
Better listening if it’s conversational – not too scripted.
- Use an outline (see my hyperdoc for an example) and break it up into different segments. Long talking/reading gets boring. Encourage them to break it up with music, sound effects or switching topics.
Pairs are better than singles.
- Most kids who worked alone tended to read a script and it sounded like an audiobook, not a conversational podcast.
Use Padlet to share links
- This allowed all students to listen to their peers and ‘see’ what others were thinking. You could require them to listen to For long-term curation, consider using a Google Site that can be accessed publicly. You could also create a Google classroom and share the link with the kids to add their content.
Try a Podcast hyperdoc – (click the link to use mine!)
- Hyperdocs gives the examples, an outline, scaffolding ideas, a rubric, opportunities to share publicly, and most importantly, a reflection form. Letting kids share what worked, what they would change, what they learned is crucial to help them think through the learning process.
- Mini-deadlines are key!
Graphics are not needed
- Unless they’re going to submit for RSS and syndicate their podcast publicly.
Let kids play with voices
- For emphasis, for creativity, for adding interest to the topic being discussed!
Try a podcasting ‘field trip’ – 826 Valencia is one option
- Submit kids podcasts to ‘real-life’ podcasters – and ask for feedback!
When kids get stuck…
- Encourage them to problem solve it themselves. I like the “3 before me” rule…

Overcoming fears:

Kids don’t like to hear their voices…get over it
- Honestly, this was the only fear I heard. Some struggled with workflow (they got so caught up in their ideas they didn’t get started).
Keeping the momentum going
- Divide up the responsibility. Create the podcast as a backchannel, and let the kids take over!

Rallying other teachers at your school:

Get it started
- The other teachers will join you when they see your students excited!
Start a book podcast
- Get the librarian or other English teachers to take it over and have genre months, author spotlights
Start a whole school podcast
- Different departments could take over each month
Start a podcast for your program
- AVID, SPED, GATE – share your specific stories

Excited to do a podcast? Here’s a link to my first blog post: http://jenniferwolfe.net/2018/05/podcasting.html

Here’s a link to my ‘Approaching Adulthood’ Padlet of podcasts: https://padlet.com/jwolfe14/x3u4y3gxt4or

Remember: Happy teachers will change the world! When you’re happy, your students know it – and it’s contagious. You’ll have a fun job and you’ll be giving students real-life transferable skills. You’ll show your students that they matter, that you SEE them. Our students have a voice – creating platforms for our kids to share are the best gift we can give our students!

Jennifer Wolfe

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5 Tips For An Awesome Solo Staycation

Everyone Needs A Solo Staycation

It’s finally summer – teachers know that we’ve logged our hours towards summer vacation on all those afternoon unpaid meetings, late nights spent grading, weekends logged on to the computer creating lesson plans, and working through our lunch hours. One strategy I’ve used to keep centered as I raise two kids and teach middle school is the summer staycation. Staycations are another reason that summer isn’t just for vacation anymore!

solo staycation book — I’ve got a great list of books I read in 2017 – http://jenniferwolfe.net/2018/01/the-best-books-of-2017.html

My summer staycation is solo – no kids or husband allowed. I build up to it each year, keeping a ‘to-do’ list of all those big projects I can’t seem to get around to while juggling my job, dinner, dishes, laundry and sports activities. Sometimes the list involves a big project – painting a room, re-doing the garden, or cleaning the carpets – and sometimes it’s a week of ticking off the myriad of organizing and tidying-up projects I’ve wanted to conquer since last August. Always it involves following a few simple rules to re-focus, re-group, and remember who I am.

Solo Staycation Rule #1: Be prepared.

The key to a successful solo staycation is to have an idea of what I want to spend time doing. Keeping a list during the school year helps me remember those nagging projects that would simplify my life cleaning out a memory chest, organizing the digital photos, or cleaning out the pantry, for example. Being prepared also sometimes involves scheduling some help – having a repair person come, or having a girlfriend spend an afternoon helping choose paint colors. Plus, checking off items on my list feels great!

Solo Staycation Rule #2: Stay home.

For me, staying home for a staycation means spending time alone. So much of a mom’s life involves serving others, so I take this time just for me. I try not to spend too much time socializing or shopping – I like to hunker down with a stack of magazines, some great novels, and the Oscar-winning movies I never saw, and just indulge myself. Staying home helps me focus on creating a happy home environment, and doesn’t break my budget!

Solo Staycation Rule #3: Plan each day.

I’m a natural planner – I like to accomplish tasks each day, and my staycation is no different. Without anyone else to take care of, my ‘me-time’ is drastically increased (no dishes or laundry, and the house stays clean!). The first day I tidy up like a whirlwind, leaving me hours of uninterrupted free time. Breaking down mornings and afternoons gives a little structure, and gets me off the lounge chair!

Solo Staycation Rule #4: Create a welcome
home celebration.

The key to repeated solo staycations is to ensure your loved ones know you missed them, and that you appreciate the time alone. Take the last day and cook a nice meal (with their favorite dessert), cut some fresh flowers, and update your Facebook status to elevate the excitement
of their return. Try this pasta recipe I demoed on TV a few months ago. The smiles on their faces when they walk through the
door will make you remember why you work so hard all year long!

Solo Staycation Rule #5: Don’t feel guilty.

Being a mom is easy – but being a great mom takes a huge amount of hard work. Don’t feel guilty about taking time for yourself – you will reap the rewards tenfold by having a more centered, positive, cheerful outlook after having spent some time just for you.

Jennifer Wolfe

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How to Fit Exercise into Your Day

How to Fit Exercise into Your Day

With people’s busy lives, trying to fit in time to exercise can be difficult. It isn’t always that you don’t want to, it can often be that you are too tired, or that there are other things you need to do such as cleaning or preparing dinner. However, no matter how busy you are, there should always be a little time for you to do something, even if it’s just for five minutes. Here are some easy ways that you can add some activity to your daily routine.

Exercising at Work

You might think that exercising at work is a bad idea, especially if you have an office job where you are sitting down all day. However, there are many exercises that you can do even while sitting in a chair. When you are on your lunch break, there are even more opportunities to get active. Why not take a walk to the local sandwich bar or just go for a walk around the building? Instead of taking the elevator to your floor, think about taking the stairs. Not so good if you work on the ground floor, but still a good idea.

Getting Around

If you are the type of person that uses their car to go to the local stores, then perhaps you can change those habits by walking down there or taking a bike or skateboard like those in Rideasf.com? Although it might be a little tough at first, especially if you live on a hill, you will soon get used to it the more, you do it. You can also think about ditching the car for work and taking public transport instead. If you do, take the bus or train, then think about getting off a stop early and walking the rest of the way instead.

Get Up a Little Earlier

Although no-one likes to get up early, it could be the perfect time to fit in a little exercise. All you need to do is get up fifteen minutes earlier than you normally do and try some gentle yoga or maybe some stretching. You might think that this will make you more tired, but in fact, it can help to wake you up in the mornings. That is because there is a chemical that is released when you exercise that mimics the feeling of euphoria. That is what makes exercise to good for people with mental health issues.

Exercise While Watching TV

There are many ways that you can exercise even when watching TV. You can get one of those exercise balls and sit on it while you are watching. It will help you to work your core muscles and burn calories at the same time. Another option is to have an exercise bike and ride while watching the TV.

No matter how busy you are, there is always some opportunity for you to get active and include exercise in your daily routine, no matter where you are.

Jennifer Wolfe

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Understanding Our Backstory – A Little Kindness Goes A Long Way

Choosing Kindness

What is the backstory of your life?

What’s the backstory of my life?

Life must be understood backwards.

Here’s how the purge party began:

Here’s how the purge party went:

The purge party continues:

The theory behind podcasting for students:

The impact you see in kids making a podcast:

Low budget ways to set up a recording studio:

Coming up with topics:

The impact I saw on students:

Tips and tricks:

Overcoming fears:

Rallying other teachers at your school:

Solo Staycation Rule #1: Be prepared.

Solo Staycation Rule #2: Stay home.

Solo Staycation Rule #3: Plan each day.

Solo Staycation Rule #4: Create a welcome home celebration.

Solo Staycation Rule #5: Don’t feel guilty.

Solo Staycation Rule #4: Create a welcome
home celebration.