Month: August 2017

"No Child Left Inside" · Books · Conversations with Kids · Education · Growing Up New Hampshire · Nature-Based Learning · Through the Power of Sport

On the Night Before School Begins, Our Last Batch of “Dear Mary from Birmingham” Letters

hkrillLeave a comment

Tomorrow, this bulletin board will greet my students on our first day of school.  No matter how many years into this teaching gig I get, I’m still an excited school girl the night before.  Change. Transition.  Adolescence.  Friendship.  Work ethic.  Big dreams.  Little dreams.  Balancing what we love with what we must do.  Finding our… Continue reading On the Night Before School Begins, Our Last Batch of “Dear Mary from Birmingham” Letters

Conversations with Kids · Education · Family life · Mom is Doing Her Best · Politics Aside

August 26, 1920: Giving Women the Right to Vote? How Dare you!

hkrillLeave a comment

Hard to imagine our ancestors thinking, “How dare we give women the right to vote?  Hard to imagine brains who were shocked and awed by this appalling concept.  Hard to imagine there was a time when people fought hard to prevent women from voting.  Not just a few people either– the majority of folks in… Continue reading August 26, 1920: Giving Women the Right to Vote? How Dare you!

"No Child Left Inside" · Conversations with Kids · Education · Growing Up New Hampshire · Local · Nature-Based Learning · Through the Power of Sport

“Dear Mary from Birmingham” Letters: Batch 4

hkrillLeave a comment

As I’ve officially returned to school this week for professional development, I await the arrival of my students one week from today.  Sitting in meetings with colleagues, my eyes often turn to wonder outside the window, and I remember our hiking experiences this summer with our girls.  Why is it that writing comes so much… Continue reading “Dear Mary from Birmingham” Letters: Batch 4

Accessibility · Adaptive Parenting (an adventure itself) · Conversations with Kids · Education · Family life · Through the Power of Sport

August 15, 2017 Christopher and Dana Reeve Blog: “What about the daddies who can’t slingshot?”

hkrillLeave a comment

Recently, our six-year-old daughter asked if other daddies might be sad if they couldn’t slingshot. Perplexed, I thought she meant using an actual slingshot as in caveman style sling and rock to kill an animal. I think I said something like, “Well, not all people like to hunt.” She gave me a funny look because… Continue reading August 15, 2017 Christopher and Dana Reeve Blog: “What about the daddies who can’t slingshot?”

Conversations with Kids · Education · Politics Aside

Thinking of You, Charlottesville, With Both Hope and Humanity

hkrillLeave a comment

So, as a teacher in a small town, I generally tread carefully with social media, trying to model for my high school students the power of words– when to use our strongest language and when we should just listen.    This is one of those times when helping our kiddos to articulate what makes them… Continue reading Thinking of You, Charlottesville, With Both Hope and Humanity

"No Child Left Inside" · Conversations with Kids · Education · Growing Up New Hampshire · Local · Nature-Based Learning · Through the Power of Sport

“Dear Mary from Birmingham” Letters: Batch 3

hkrillLeave a comment

  Here are some more strong letters in defense of our challenging White Mountain trails: Dear Mary Altz-Smith, My friends and I frequently hike in the White Mountains during the summer. Today, we hiked Indian Head on June 20 with my summer hiking group, Girls of Summer. We are a  strong group of girls who… Continue reading “Dear Mary from Birmingham” Letters: Batch 3

Conversations with Kids · Family life · Local

Remembering Why We Love Orphan Annie and her Sunshine

hkrillLeave a comment

I took my little girl to see Annie the Musical last night at Jean’s Playhouse in Lincoln, NH.  Actually, my parents took us; the theater was jam packed, and we were wowed by everything: Annie and the orphans, Sandy, (played by the beloved pet of our local second grade teacher and his wife),  Ms. Hannigan,… Continue reading Remembering Why We Love Orphan Annie and her Sunshine

"No Child Left Inside" · Conversations with Kids · Education · Growing Up New Hampshire · Nature-Based Learning · Through the Power of Sport

“Dear Mary from Birmingham” Letters: Batch 2

hkrillLeave a comment

A continued conversation of our response letters from Girls of Summer: Dear Mrs. Mary Altz-Smith, The letter that the you wrote to The Union Leader was very disappointing. You obviously have never been in the in the real outdoors of New Hampshire. Have you ever been on an actual hike before coming to our challenging… Continue reading “Dear Mary from Birmingham” Letters: Batch 2

"No Child Left Inside" · Accessibility · Adaptive Parenting (an adventure itself) · Family life · Nature-Based Learning · Through the Power of Sport

When Making Family Memories Takes Years Off Our Lives in Only the BEST Ways…

hkrillLeave a comment

For the record, for all of you judging the safety represented in this photo, this Boston Whaler containing my family is within the legal weight limit, and our son, in the green sweatshirt, is wearing his lifejacket beneath his sweatshirt.  We are away on vacation visiting my brother and his family on Martha’s Vineyard, and… Continue reading When Making Family Memories Takes Years Off Our Lives in Only the BEST Ways…