Over the last few months I’ve had the good fortune to participate in a number of professional development opportunities.  Not surprisingly, the vast majority of presenters I’ve encountered have made a point of reminding me that the world is changing and we need to provide our students with a “21st century education”.  To paraphrase a [...]

Music was a required course where I went to middle school.  Those who could sing joined the choir and the rest of us were drafted into the band.  Since I was tall for my age, it was decided that I would learn to play the most popular instrument in all of rural Minnesota: the tuba.  [...]

This weekend my seven year old daughter played her last soccer game of the spring season. Her team, the Angels, has been together for quite some time and the girls practice almost year round. Because of their skill level, they “play up” and compete (successfully) against eight and nine year olds. In short, and while [...]