Nar the Schoolmarm

            I’ve had a lot of free time on my hands since November 2024. I got laid off and haven’t found another full-time job in my field or any field. I’ve had some part-time contract work, and I am grateful for that, but I’m itching to have some structure again. Without a schedule, my brain ferrets are out of control. I can’t focus. I put the ‘fun’ in ‘executive dysfunction’. I spend a lot of time staring off into space. But I’m thinking about things. All the time. Too much.

I’ve been toying with the idea of putting together some content and materials that would act as an introduction to yet another version of kitchen/hearth witchery, as well as a way of teaching others how I do things. Beginners still benefit from the basic building blocks, and more experienced practitioners get another perspective on the craft. 

When I first had the thought to combine my background as a teacher with my experience as a kitchen witch, I had a lot of in-person classroom experience but not a lot of online teaching experience. I’m kind of a low-tech witch and person in general. I use very little social media. I prefer physical media to streaming. We don’t have any paid streaming services in our household right now. And, above all, I have never liked depending heavily on technology for teaching purposes. There are a couple of reasons for this. 

The first is Murphy’s Law. If you base your lesson and materials around the internet, or a slideshow or video, chances are very good you will have trouble accessing it when you need it. I always give myself extra time to get comfortable with a platform or piece of equipment before I utilize it, and I make sure I have a contingency plan. 

Second, depending solely or largely on virtual classes and activities to teach students is going to lead to students who haven’t learned very much at all. What I mean is, there is very little engagement or active learning when students are just clicking the mouse or watching videos. 

Before anyone gets up in arms over that statement, know that I am basing it on my experience in the classroom. Students knew I wasn’t the high-tech teacher, but they got used to it. Some of them even surprised themselves by how much they understood and remembered. We need to write, not just type. We need to read and think, not just pick from a list of options. All of those things are useful, together. 

           Why, then, do I want to put together an online kitchen/hearth witch course if I am such a Luddite? Again, we’re aiming for a combination. My combination consists of downloadable online content, printable practices, and virtual discussions. This isn’t the type of class that has formal assessments, but I have planned a few lessons and activities for students to explore what they’ve read and put it into practice. 

This is another attempt to reach out and form connections and community. It’s also a way I might be able to use my education, background, and talents in a new way. Maybe posting this and preparing for it means I will get a job and have no more free time. You just never know. 

I am considering using Patreon to set this up for the materials and any video hangouts or tutorials that I do. Right now, though, I have a lot of notes, plans, and beginnings, but I haven’t managed to hyperfocus on any one of them hard enough just yet. At least we know I’m very, very good at getting distract —---