We've had some beautiful days this past week.

This delightful sculpture is "Luke & CP30" by Patrick Amiot. Spotted at the Sebastopol Center for the Arts. Mary and I stopped by the gallery yesterday to check out the exhibition of artists participating in this year's ArtTrails. The work on display was absolutely fabulous. I was so impressed.

I passed under these branches and their pine cones, lost in my thoughts while walking, then realized that I'd seen something beautiful and ran back to admire them.

Love is buying two donuts, and the second one survives until your wife comes home. 🍩🤸‍♀️

Life at the scale of a mushroom... It's a jungle out there!

When you take long strides, remember to also watch for the small steps needed along the way. This morning, I made good progress on Fate's Attendant, but then realized I'd made a mistake with power progression. It was an easy fix, but I had to go back to recheck all the other numbers.

82 pages of Fate's Attendant are now available according to Royal Road's stats. 😊 As with everything else on that site, everything is free to read. www.royalroad.com/fiction/1287...

You find the most interesting things when driving the back roads of Sonoma County.

It's official—I'm working on a new serial! Hong Fei is a broken soldier whose cultivation has been shattered, yet fate deals him (literal) cards that might change everything. The first chapters are here: www.royalroad.com/fiction/1287.... #Xianxia #LitRPG #DeckBuilder #GiantBadgerForTheWin

we have both computers and science fiction because Byron was so insufferable it inspired all the women around him to come up with elaborate reasons to get away

I give similar advice to writers. Get the story out, that first draft needs to be on paper before the magic of revisions and editing can even happen.  #WritingTips #FirstDraft #CreativeWriting #WritersLife #Storytelling #WriteYourStory #EditingProcess #WritersCommunity #Inspiration #WritingAdvice

More birds in flight. This time, they're man-made. #FoundArt

All sorts of characters keep me company while I'm writing. Here's Keroppi, an especially squishy version. Look at him jiggle. It makes me smile every time I see it. 😂 #keroppi #sanrio

I got strong Three Stooges vibes from this one. 😂

Two turkey buzzards in flight. The rest of the wake was on the ground nearby feeding on dead skunk. (The smell was something else, let me tell you.)

I "read" the Lord of the Rings in high school. The quotes are there, because I enjoyed the parts with Legolas and Gimli and skipped everything focusing exclusively on the hobbits. Surely, not what was intended.

Some musicians are simply a joy to listen to, no matter what they produce. Postmodern Jukebox is one. Here's an incredible rendition of House of the Rising Sun: www.youtube.com/watch?v=BoYs...

This beautiful lady is Ginger, the greeter at La Haye Art Center in Sonoma. When Mary and I approached, she walked in ahead of us to let the artists in residence know a guest had arrived. #workingdogs

"My middle name is Fun. I'd said it so often that I finally changed it legally. It's on my driver's license and everything." At Tiddle E. Winks just off of Plaza Park in Sonoma.

Brain at 5 am: Wake up, there are typos to fix. Me: I'm sleepy. I'll do it when I get up. Brain at 5 am: There's the chapter structure, too. It needs more clarity. Me: I said, when I get up. Brain at 5 am: How about I just repeat myself endlessly... Me: ... Me: It's not too early. I'll do it now.

🤔 ""Can teachers really spot AI writing?"" Here's how I answered that question for my 9th graders—with a twist they never saw coming. www.litandtech.com/2023/06/how-... #Teaching #EduSkyAI #EduSky

Monthly reminder: Many people have a book in them, but it takes a special kind of freak to leave the Land of Laziness, cross the Plains of Procrastination and Insecurity Mountain, find the Blade of No One Made You Do This, and use it to cut your chest open and yank that book out.

Happy birthday! It's a pleasure to share this lovely artwork.

More evidence that I've married a teacher. There's a big jug of the stuff to the left, just out of view. 😂

Look at that fried chicken. From the folks at Belfare. I don't know if they're always at the Tuesday farmer's market in Petaluma, but it was worth stopping for.

Seeking out impactful conversations about what works in education? Connect with Edutopia All Stars: educators, writers, and community builders who make Edutopia's work possible. 💬🌟 #EduSky

This wasn't a take I expected to read today, but now that I have... I don't think he's wrong.

I don’t have a stable BOY routine, but in the first week of school in every class, secondary students should: •read something meaningful to the subject •write organically about themselves •say their name aloud •talk to their peers These activities give data about the soft skills of any class.

"📊 Curriculum Planning Simplified! Year at a glance Beautiful organization Easy customization Ready-to-use template Grab your copy here 📅 www.litandtech.com/2018/07/curr... #EduSky #TeacherPlanning #EdOrganization #TeacherTools"

I’m writing an article for @edutopia.org about making the most of Back to School Night. Teachers, share some of your favorite ways to show families and caregivers what it’s like to be a student in your class! Feel free to reply to this thread or DM. Thanks!

Spotted these hungry little fellows while out walking. They appear to be some kind of #leafbeetle but searching online didn't help with figuring out which specifically.

⭐ COMING SOON! ⭐ We're building a space on Edutopia.org where you can pose (and answer!) questions for your peers... ...and we need your help to launch it! You’ll get exclusive early access and a gift card as thanks for your time. Express your interest here: bit.ly/45LqVbt #EduSky

I'm a very sentimental person, so this was special. @cathleenbeachbd.bsky.social was the first teacher I *ever* interviewed at @edutopia.org four years ago. An endless supply of positivity, ideas, and a bright guiding light in education. I was honored to finally meet her in person at #ISTElive ⭐

My big reframing for next year is not operating in scarcity mode; I will not let what is broken with the system define me as an educator.

I happened to be in Point Reyes yesterday and stopped by the bookshop there. It's a place with a lot of characters, as well as good books.

The last @edutopia.org chat brought home how much the inner workings of a school are interconnected—a web of relationships and practices, both formal and informal. Reaffirmed was the idea that there are no silver bullets, only sustained effort across many different points in the system.

I love it when communities do things like this.

A sign you're married to a teacher. 😂

Have you ever thought about writing for @edutopia.org? A wonderful team of educator-authors is answering questions about how it's done. www.edutopia.org/article/ama-... #EduSky

Your perspectives help bring this topic into focus. 🔍 What did you learn from the conversation? Drop your final thoughts below. And stay tuned for our next #EduInFocus discussion!

That’s a wrap on this #EduInFocus! Thanks to everyone who joined this slow chat, shared insights, and explored making instructional rounds matter. 💫

The final question in this #EduInFocus slow chat: What’s something you used to believe about instructional rounds, but no longer do? We’d love to hear your thoughts! 💭

Yes! There’s real power in seeing great teaching in action. It’s often the only way to uncover the quiet expertise that doesn’t always surface in meetings or surveys. Rounds can turn that everyday magic into something visible and shareable. #EduInFocus

Q2 in this slow chat: What insights have your rounds uncovered, and how have they informed next steps? Join the conversation anytime using #EduInFocus. 🔍 💬 Look out for the next question tomorrow at noon PT.

Q1 for this week’s slow chat! How do you build a culture where instructional rounds are about growth, not judgment? 🌻 Share your response using #EduInFocus — and stay tuned for more questions, dropping each day at noon PT.

Ready for our #EduInFocus slow chat? This week, we’re discussing how to make instructional rounds matter. 🎤 Hosted by @jorgedoespbl.bsky.social 💬 1 question per day, Tuesday through Thursday ⏰ Reply anytime The conversation kicks off this afternoon—stay tuned!

We have specific words for employed writers: Screenwriter, Author, Copywriter, Journalist, Critic, Editorialist. But if you write, you are a writer. Don't let anyone tell you - or even tell yourself - that you aren't a real writer until you are paid or published. I'm here to tell you that you are.

#education #teachers

Thanks to everyone who responded to our question about calming a chatty/chaotic middle school classroom! Our new article, based on all this excellent, teacher-tested advice, is out now: www.edutopia.org/article/23-w...

Eight takes part in a deadly race to the ruins of an ancient capitol and finds himself risking everything he holds dear. New Blood, Old Bones is now on Audible! 🎧 #EightSeries #LitRPG www.audible.com/pd/Eight-New...