Donald Gately Ed.D.
Category Archives: relationships
My COVID-19 Diary: Advice for parents of adolescents and teens
f you’re like me, you are probably wondering, “Am I doing this right?” This question applies to my professional life as well as my personal life. Without the normal face to face daily interaction, I typically enjoy with multitudes of people, I need to check in on myself as an educator and as a parent. So I thought I would share some essentials with parents who may feel the same or are seeking advice at this crazy time. Continue reading
My COVID-19 Diary: Culture outlasts quarantine
Somehow, given the magnitude of our current crisis, getting around to following up on a kid who took fries off another kids’ tray without asking, leading to some minor pushing, seems inconsequential. Continue reading
My COVID-19 Diary: Is that even true?
I suspect that many families are experiencing a phenomenon that occurs occasionally in my house. We have a multi-generational household in which a political debate could break out anytime all the adults under this roof find themselves in the same room together, which, as you might expect, occurs more frequently now than it did 6 months ago. Continue reading
My COVID-19 Diary: Principal in the Coal Mine #2
Don’t try to “win the quarantine”. Compelled to remain at home, the restless school leader conjures a host of what seem like reasonable ideas to make an impact during this unusual time. Be suspicious of this instinct. Continue reading
My COVID-19 Diary: Wednesday un-Focused
My son is a senior. The other day he told my wife, “I think my high school graduation is going to be on Roblox. I’m building my avatar.”
There is a science experiment going on in middle school lockers all over our country right now. What happens when ______ ( insert name of food item here ) is left to decay at room temperature in a narrow metal box for three months. Continue reading
My COVID-19 Diary: Goldilocks Tasks
In layman’s terms, this is often referred to as the Goldilocks Principle, not too hard, not too soft. Your nine-year-old is clearly not excited about cleaning that nasty area behind the toilet in your basement, a burden you’ve been putting off for months, and with good reason. The task should have a finite goal and be sufficiently challenging to take at minimum one hour and ideally an entire day, yes 24 hours! Continue reading
My COVID-19 Diary: Principal in the Coal Mine
As a middle school principal in the New York Metro area, I guess that makes me a “Principal in the Coal Mine”. So I’m going to offer just a few ideas for my colleagues who may be a week or two behind us here in New York (leaving open the possibility and the most ardent HOPE, that we can ALL avoid the dire consequences of this pandemic). Continue reading
My COVID-19 Diary: Friday un-Focused #2
My daughter’s idea: people can leave the house and go wherever they want but they have to always be riding a bicycle. If you get closer than 6 feet you’ll probably crash, so it’s mostly safe. I told her I would inform the governor. Continue reading
My COVID-19 Diary: Grandpa, why don’t you shake hands
My grandmother saved the string that you get on a cake box from the bakery. You know, the really thin red and white striped string. I never once in my life saw that string get used but she had it. She also re-used tissues. They were hidden in her sleeve (you never sneezed in from of Nanny). Continue reading
My COVID-19 Diary: Who’s in your PLN?
If we do not create a network using the tools that technology makes available, then our PLN will be confined only to those individuals who we interact with face-to-face. Continue reading
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In the middle of learning - by Donald Gately Ed.D 