To prevent fatigue in your arm muscles, try climbing like a \u201cconfident crab\u201d with your arms extended<\/a>, and not like a \u201cscaredy-bear\u201d with your arms bent\/tucked in.<\/p>\n\n\n\n (crab<\/a>; bear<\/a>)<\/p>\n\n\n\n This week I\u2019m working on being a \u201cconfident crab\u201d in my teaching prep<\/strong> \u2013 reaching big to set myself (and semester) up for success, so that I don\u2019t get exhausted\/burn out later. <\/p>\n\n\n\n For me, this means connecting with others to brainstorm, troubleshoot, and “fill my teaching cup” to the brim, before the semester begins.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Tuesday, Aug 11th<\/mark><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n Wed, Aug 12th<\/strong><\/mark><\/p>\n\n\n\n Thurs, Aug 13th<\/mark><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n We each have many goals, needs, and interests in our professional (and personal) lives. And, sometimes faculty life can be lonely<\/a>. How often do we sit down to think about our support networks? How can we sustain ourselves and our work this coming year?<\/p>\n\n\n\n You might give yourself the gift of remembering – and expanding! – your network<\/a> before the semester begins. It can be helpful to identify colleagues and friends who are good brainstormers, feedback-givers, advocates, emotional support, models of balance, and so forth:<\/p>\n\n\n\n I\u2019ll be in the CfT tomorrow, Tues, Aug 11, from 10am-1pm<\/a>, if anyone would like to drop by to chat, brainstorm, or talk about fun things they did this summer (I began a rewilding journey<\/a>).<\/p>\n\n\n\n if you\u2019re looking for a thought-partner, you can always book a one-on-one consultation<\/a> with us \u2013 Lauryl and I love to ideate and troubleshoot.<\/p>\n\n\n\n And, if you\u2019re looking for collaborators, skill guidance, brainstormers, and even emotional support all in one place (!), we\u2019ll be hosting two communities of practice (CoP)<\/strong><\/a> that will meet a few times throughout the fall semester; each session will have time to have focused discussions and protected work time:<\/p>\n\n\n\n We know that some of you are returning from summer travel and\/or aren\u2019t back to campus yet. There are a few virtual workshops on the horizon:<\/p>\n\n\n\n I also highly recommend two Chronicle e-newsletters:<\/p>\n\n\n\n And for those of you who like to get away from your screens and\/or are on Team Commuter with me, the 60-Second SoTL podcast<\/a> offers brief summaries of recent research on the scholarship of teaching and learning (SoTL).<\/p>\n\n\n\n Scuttle on, confident crabs! \ud83e\udd80 <\/p>\n\n\n\n AI was not used to support\/write this post.<\/em><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" By Kate Cammack, CfT Co-Director My two boys (10 & 8) just finished camp at our indoor rock climbing gym, and came home with some good advice. To prevent fatigue in your arm muscles, try climbing like a \u201cconfident crab\u201d with your arms extended, and not like a \u201cscaredy-bear\u201d with your arms bent\/tucked in. (crab; … <\/p>\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/thecraft.sewanee.edu\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/image-2.png\")
<\/figure>\n\n\n\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/thecraft.sewanee.edu\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/image-1.png\")
<\/figure>\n<\/figure>\n\n\n\nWhat’s going on this week<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n
\n
\n
\n
Connect with others<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n
![\"\"](\"https:\/\/thecraft.sewanee.edu\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/image-1024x776.png\")
<\/figure>\n\n\n\n\n
Virtual workshops & resources<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n
\n
\n