Posts by Matthew Dicks

I celebrated my birthday last month. It feels like one thousand years ago given the current state of the world. I can be a difficult person when it comes to presents. I am much more interested in eliminating things from my life than adding to it. The accumulation of stuff does not interest me. In…

On episode #91 of the Speak Up Storytelling podcast, Elysha and I talk storytelling! In our follow up segment, we congratulate listeners on their new baby! We also launch our Patreon campaign, announce an upcoming virtual storytelling workshop and solo show, and a weekly free storytelling workshop for kids on Facebook Live and YouTube. STORYTELLING…

One month ago today, against the advice and counsel of scientists, doctors, and public policy experts, Trump said, “When you have 15 people, and the 15 within a couple of days is going to be down to close to zero, that’s a pretty good job we’ve done.” As of this morning, the United States has…

I’m a very fortunate person. I’m married to a clever, funny, beautiful woman. We have two uncharacteristically well-behaved children. I have a remarkable group of friends. I’ve been teaching elementary school for 21 years in the same great school, and in the same classroom for almost all of that time. I’ve also been fortunate enough…

I am so impressed with my colleagues today. The teachers, principals, and superintendents who have worked at a record pace to develop and deliver curriculum and instruction to children across America. For every second of our careers, we have delivered curriculum and instruction to children in a classroom, using skills and pedagogy honed through years…

Charlie was counting coins yesterday as part of a his math lesson. I was helping out a little. Nickels and quarters can look alike to a little boy. As he worked through the various combinations, he landed upon 15 cents. “Look, Dad. Two ways to make 15 cents.” He was right. Two ways to make…

Over the last week, no fewer than two dozen friends, readers, and followers have sent me messages letting me know that when Shakespeare was quarantined because of the plague, he wrote King Lear and possibly Macbeth and Antony and Cleopatra. A handful of friends and readers have also told me that when Issac Newton was…

Let us remember that in this time of the pandemic, when our leaders in Washington failing to take the actions necessary to keep us safe, it’s the grocery store employees, pharmacists, gas station attendants, mail carriers, first responders, delivery drivers, and anyone working in a hospital or medical staff are honest-to-goodness heroes right now. Anyone…

I’d like to suggest that we all be as gentle as possible with each other in this unprecedented time. I’m thinking specifically about the paradox of preparation: Outstanding preparation and precaution often yield outstanding outcomes, but these outstanding outcomes often cause the preparation to seem unnecessary, silly, or an overreaction. Japanese officials were characterized in…

Two weeks ago, before our country came to a standstill and life changed so profoundly for so many of us, I was stepping toward the counter at a 7-11 with a Diet Coke in my hand. A man was already standing at the counter, but off to the side. Not exactly in line. You know…