Year 9 of my Challenges.

Not quite like the cool kids in double digits.

But that’s ok!

#beniceortheywillnotreadyourstuff

Yeah, yeah.

I looked at last year’s introduction and found my last bullet point to be telling. I said that I was “cautiously optimistic” about my writing. I’d hit a pretty good streak of writing all days in March for a few years. Last year was tough. This year’s been tough. So we’ll see how it goes.

  • If you don’t know me, I’m Darin, and I teach sixth grade in Iowa.
  • This is my 29th year of teaching, and my first in my current position. I left a district that I’d been part of for 23 years for this challenge, and oh the challenge it’s been.
  • I love music, basketball (and most sports in general), gardening, camping, family, and creating piles in my classroom.

#noliethere

  • I’ve been a prolific writer, but that’s dropped off in the last year and a half. I’m not sure why because I find this therapeutic in a way, but it’s just not happening at a level that I’m used to.
  • My kids are grown and out of the house, doing adult things (like not calling their parents).
  • My wife is a teacher in the same district I’m in. Much of this is one of those “full circle” kind of things because we started our careers off together in Alaska, 29 years ago, teaching right across the hallway from each other.
  • I coach basketball, with my wife, another full-circle moment because we started off coaching together as well.
  • I’m constantly amazed at the level of writing during this March Challenge and on Tuesdays. Sometimes, I cringe when I submit my posts because the level of writing here is top notch and mine is, well, not.

#IamfineYouarefineWeallarefun

  • I just had a student bring me a loaf of banana bread, explaining his process. That’s the way of my classroom this year, random stuff and Spanish, all wrapped up in the tortilla of life.

I don’t know, if you’ve got something you want to know, ask. I’m an open book. As silly as it sounds, my blog is a happy place for me. Somewhere that I can express myself freely without stumbling over words. Otherwise, I look forward to reading and responding.

And I’m done before 11:47 PM. Maybe I can do this!

Happy Challenge to all! 🙂