Category Archives: Education

“first day of no school” –one heart revels; another heart breaks

Posted on September 10, 2015 by bakrawiec

“first day of no school” How those words made me smile when I read them yesterday, mid-morning. They were messaged to me, thanks to Twitter, from a new Outer Circle friend, reflecting on her retirement. As was true for me, … Continue reading →

Posted in Children, Education, Parents, Retirement, School | 2 Comments

shall we dance?

Posted on August 31, 2015 by bakrawiec

“I’m dancing as fast as I can….” How many times I heard that polite delayed workflow explanation from my beloved editorial assistant, who amazed me with many of her long-learned tricks of the trade, including her policy of giving me … Continue reading →

Posted in Education, Employment, Retirement, Transitions | 5 Comments

a tale of two supervisors (real-ly!)

Posted on August 21, 2015 by bakrawiec

Once upon a time, a long time ago, at two different times and places, two department chairs came in, unannounced, one to an eighth grade social studies class, and the other, to an eighth grade language arts classes, both with … Continue reading →

Posted in Education, Evaluations, Observations, Supervisors, Teachers, Teaching | Leave a comment

game called on account of darkness

Posted on August 19, 2015 by bakrawiec

When our son started playing Little League baseball and International youth soccer many years ago, the neighborhood parks didn’t have artificial lights. And so it happened now and then that the games were called on account of darkness. I thought … Continue reading →

Posted in Children, Education, Employment, Playfulness, Retirement | 2 Comments

cleaning up my own messes

Posted on August 18, 2015 by bakrawiec

Having been privileged these last ten years to interact with a thousand or more children transitioning into their school years, I‘ve seen up-close what R. Fulghum observed. From social behavior (playing fairly, keeping one’s hands to oneself, etc.), to personal … Continue reading →

Posted in Children, Education, Kindergarten, Lessons, Lifelong Learning, Retirement, Transitions | 2 Comments

more Phoenix than Pigeon

Posted on August 17, 2015 by bakrawiec

When facing new challenges and insecurities, as in retirement, it’s good to think back to past victories over unlikely starts, don’t you think? My most unlikely start came when my thirty-something-year-old husband, and father of our eight- and eleven-year-olds, learned … Continue reading →

Posted in Computer Lab, Computers, Education, Library Media Specialist, Retirement | 3 Comments

Retiree regret? (a.k.a. buyers’ remorse)

Posted on August 16, 2015 by bakrawiec

Here I am, down to about two weeks before retirement. Fourteen days, which are about all the notice that employees in other lines of work need to give employers before resigning. My employer required sixty days. Because I have not … Continue reading →

Posted in Education, Employment, Retirement | 7 Comments

Biographically speaking…

Posted on August 12, 2015 by bakrawiec

As mentioned in the prior post, every librarian has a unique vision for developing the collection under his or her stewardship. In my case, when I started in the library from which I am retiring, I appraised the collection, and … Continue reading →

Posted in Books, Children, Education, LIbrarians, Library, Library Media Specialist, Reading, Retirement | Leave a comment

morning after: lame duck librarian

Posted on August 11, 2015 by bakrawiec

Assuming that the Board appointed my replacement last night, I’m even more officially a lame duck librarian this morning. Meanwhile, until my work account ends on August 31st, I continue receiving email notifications concerning boxes upon boxes of new books … Continue reading →

Posted in Books, Children, Education, Employment, Librarian, LIbrarians, Library, Library Media Specialist, Retirement, School, Seniors, Teachers, Teaching, Transitions | Leave a comment

Replaced…will (should???) anything remain?

Posted on August 10, 2015 by bakrawiec

Retirement is getting “realer” and “realer.” July 13th, the Board of Education accepted and approved my resignation as an elementary library media specialist for retirement purposes. Tonight, just about one month later, they are expected to approve the hiring of … Continue reading →

Posted in Children, Education, Employment, Librarian, Library Media Specialist, Retirement, Transitions, Work | Leave a comment