Kirsten Dirks

Teaching is my happy place. Journalism & Reading Intervention - Indian Woods MS. National Writers’ Project Summer Institute ‘19.

[Kirsten Dirks @teacherdirks]

Sometimes, what we need most is someone to believe in us, which, in turn, enables us to believe in ourselves. Few things are as powerful as helping students foster and believe in their own strength. #smsd_PACK #WhyITeach

[Kirsten Dirks @teacherdirks]

So proud of the #IWMSJCREW they had their game faces on today at the middle school media workshop. Deepest gratitude to @tlovejournalism and everyone who worked so hard to make today happen. @theSMSD

[Kirsten Dirks @teacherdirks]

Getting my BISTest . Thank you Marty, Steven and @OurCornerstones #OneShawneeMission

[Kirsten Dirks @teacherdirks]

Hills and Woods: Journalism advisors and great friends!!! I could not survive without @RachelBasden!! #OneShawneeMission @KRidgway512

[Kirsten Dirks @teacherdirks]

Proud voter!

[Kirsten Dirks @teacherdirks]

What an amazing conference! So lucky to be able to attend. Thank you @theSMSD @SolutionTree @mikemattos65

[Mrs. Oglesby @mrs_oglesby]

Really enjoyed learning from @mikemattos65 today @theSMSD PLC Institute! Thank you for signing my book and taking a picture with @teacherdirks and I!!! #atPLC #MattosFans

[Kirsten Dirks @teacherdirks]

What’s a couple of years? 2019 in Phoenix. 2022 in Overland Park, KS. @mikemattos65 you continue to make my brain explode with insight and knowledge! Thank you @theSMSD!!! And @mrs_oglesby, we haven’t aged a day!!

[Kirsten Dirks @teacherdirks]

Because of an adjusted schedule, today I said goodbye to my kids for the first time since 2019. I cried. They may have driven me crazy at times but they’ll always be one of my kids and it broke my heart a little to say goodbye.

[Kirsten Dirks @teacherdirks]

You know you a certified teacher dork when you wear this to a full day district wide literacy meeting.@theSMSD thank you again @KRidgway512

[Kirsten Dirks @teacherdirks]

Overheard today between two high schoolers:
“Hey man, May the fourth be with you.”
“Nah, I’m waiting for revenge of the fifth.”

PURE AWESOMENESS. My brain almost exploded”

[Kirsten Dirks @teacherdirks]

@lazlothebuzz Facts. For sure. Good luck.

[Kirsten Dirks @teacherdirks]

Deepest gratitude to to @IwmsPta for our wonderful chalk art today! It made me smile and laugh and feel all warm and fuzzy!

[Kirsten Dirks @teacherdirks]

Poetry. “Into the Mystic. Written and recorded by Van Morrison. My absolute, all time, favorite song.

[Kirsten Dirks @teacherdirks]

My poetry. First drafted during the Greater Kansas City National Writers’ Project Summer Institute 2019. Inspired by George Ella Lyon’s poem “Where I’m From.” @GKCWP @gkcwpkline

[Kirsten Dirks @teacherdirks]

@teacher2teacher Trust your instincts and teach from your heart. A crucial, CRUCIAL part of teaching is knowing your students and moving at their pace. If they don’t get it… keep teaching it until they do.

[Kirsten Dirks @teacherdirks]

@teacher2teacher that within them is the power to do anything they set their minds to.

[Kirsten Dirks @teacherdirks]

“Lose yourself,” written by Jeffery Irwin Bass, Marshal B. Mathers, and Luis Edgardo Resto, is the song that inspired me to start using song lyrics to teach the elements of poetry…waaaaaaay back in 2004…

[Kirsten Dirks @teacherdirks]

Poetry. “Off the Ground” recorded by the Record Company.

[Kirsten Dirks @teacherdirks]

My sincere gratitude to @Madyson59438248 for glueing my absolute favorite coffee mug back together. You are extraordinary!!

[Kirsten Dirks @teacherdirks]

Continuing my celebration of national poetry month…. “This May Be Love.” Written by Jimmi Hendrix. Recorded by The Jimmi Hendrix Experience.