If I build it...will they come?

I've been away from my website and blog for a very good reason. Actually, for four very good reasons. Namely, the four schools that I teach in.

Yes, that's correct -- FOUR.

There are perks to working in a different school every day, but there are lots of challenges too. I want to provide the same opportunities and types of enrichment for ALL of the children I work with, but not all things are equal. Here's a quick breakdown:

• School #1 - My classroom is a closet (literally) that I share with another teacher. We are there on different days. There are 24 K-3 homerooms in this building.

• School #2 - My classroom is a sectioned-off corner of the auditorium that I share with 2 other teachers and a physical therapist. We are there on different days. There are 16 K-3 homerooms.

• School #3 - My classroom is large enough to see about 8 students at a time, max. I do not share this room. This school has 23 K-3 homerooms.

• School #4 - My classroom is a full-sized room and a dedicated makerspace. There are 20 K-3 homerooms.

So given these diverse constraints, how can I possibly level the playing field for the students in all four schools?

After spending much of the summer planning, organizing, shopping, and prepping, I think I've found a solution. For lack of a better term, I've built a "Grab and Go" Makerspace in each school. The classroom teachers can visit my room -- whether it's a closet or a full-sized room -- pick up something fun for their students, use it, and return it when they're done. They can access these resources on the days when I'm not in the building. The activities will change monthly so that there will always be something new to do. And the same activities are available in every building!

The only thing that remains to be seen, is WILL they come? I work with some of the best, most dedicated, and committed educators in the world, but they are also some of the most exhausted, overwhelmed, and stressed people in the world. Creating this space was inspired by a desire to not give them one more thing to do, but to actually give them one less thing to do. A desire to have worthwhile, critical thinking, creative challenges for their students without putting one more burden upon their shoulders. It was meant as a gift for people who deserve one, and so much more.