To my students about this blog...

Students:

​A couple months ago, I read a book called Essentialism, which is a disciplined pursuit of less, or a less is more philosophy. It really affected how I see the tasks I commit to and how I evaluate what is, well, essential. Full disclosure, this has been the year where I decided to not just settle with the cherry I already had on top, but to heap more toppings on my proverbial sundae. 

One suggestion from this philosophy meets self-help book was to cut tasks that nobody would miss. I thought: this is my class blog. I love blogging for my students and keeping an online record of our classroom experiences and assignments, but -- who even reads it? How much purpose does it really serve? 

That's not a knock on you guys. This blogging format was an experiment that began last year with the hopes of offering a more complete picture of class. Before then, I'd always kept my class web site like this, and now that I'm a year and half (give or take) into the weekly blog, it seems to make MUCH more sense for all of us to revert to my previous organization. 

So this is just to say that I have decided to discontinue my weekly blog posts updating you on your assignments. I will, however, post all of your Senior Footprint goodness when the time comes, and make sure you and your reflective videos live an infamy on www.hilliardsclass.com. 

Next year, I'm going to get back to what's essential -- task sheets, texts, and ancillary materials, with maybe a blog or two thrown in the mix. 

Change is evidence of progress, yes?

For you guys, keep on keeping on. I'm so proud of you, your hard work, your intelligence, your creative spirit, and how far we've come as a classroom community this year. You guys make my job easy, and I am always and forever grateful. 

Signing off (for now) and only on this weekly blog. I'll be around IRL. ;-)
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All the best,
Mrs. H

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