One of the things I’ve been reminded of this month is that learning rarely happens in a straight line.

Some of it has happened in my classroom as I continue refining robotics, visible thinking routines, and the way reading connects to our units of inquiry. I’ve found myself thinking less about “covering content” and more about making understanding visible. How can students see their own thinking grow? How can a classroom tell the story of learning rather than simply display finished work?

Some of it has happened with a crochet hook in my hand.

Learning a new craft has been a surprisingly good reminder of what it feels like to be a beginner again. Every loose stitch, wild edge, and finished project has reinforced something I ask my students to believe every day: progress comes from noticing, reflecting, and trying again. It’s difficult to teach a growth mindset if you never place yourself in situations where you’re growing too. Every summer I try to learn something new and this summer is crochet.

Reading has continued to shape my thinking as well. I’ve spent time reflecting on books that linger long after the final page—stories that ask how people become connected to places, to one another, and to the living world. Those questions continue to influence both my teaching and the way I think about education beyond the classroom.

Perhaps the biggest lesson this month has been a simple one: learning is richer when we create things. Whether students are building understanding on an inquiry wall, designing communities, or I’m learning a new craft after work, making something tangible forces us to slow down, notice details, and reflect on the process rather than just the outcome.

I’m hoping to carry that mindset into the new school year. Less rushing. More wondering. More creating. This year is a reminder to continue being more of a beginner and encouraging my students to think the same way