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it’s slow and difficult at first
lots of mistakes and
compounding disappointments.
the actual product seldom like the
perceived perfected product.
get your hands dirty
it’s easier than you think.
name the things you want
and pour your time into them,
show them love by willing them to life.

i spoke to my class today
what it means to see the world
through an artisanal lens:
unique.
homemade.
in an artistic manner.
with care and attention.
no uniform or mass production
not convenient or easy.
never disposable or ignored.

we discussed this concept
as a theme for the year.
we will work
to make our notebooks
and the thoughts in them,
and our relationships,
and our ideas,
and our classroom interactions
and our work to be:
unique.
homemade.
in an artistic manner.
with care and attention.

i spoke of
my pickles
and bagels
and dumplings.
we watched ms. ribeiro by sarah kay.
i teared up and rubbed the gooseflesh
as i do every time i hear the lines-
she taught us to share.
she taught us to listen
when someone else is speaking.
and then she let us go.
we were dandelion seeds
released to the wind.

how can we make this year unforgettable?
i’m tired of running through instant
mass produced curriculum and content.
let’s make some magic this year-
you and me.