At sixteen, I decided that I wanted to become a high school teacher, and one of my main reasons to pursue this endeavor was because I believed teaching is a mother-friendly career. I’d be at work while the kids were in school; I’d be able to make their early evening activities’ events; I’d be at […]
Laina Porter
I am from Libertyville, Illinois (suburb of Chicago). I attended Truman State University to study English, Psychology, and Education. Since 2011, I have taught in Missouri: Southeast Missouri and St. Louis Suburbs. In 2016, I accepted a position with Truman State University (building administrator). In my free time, I enjoy writing, reading, and spending time with my family.
Posted inUncategorized
Family Planning as a Teacher
Last October, I told my boss that I was pregnant. Naturally, he asked about the due date. When I said that the baby was due two weeks after school ended, he said, “Perfect timing!” I sighed relief. When I was pregnant with my first child, my principal was not supportive; she suggested that I intentionally […]
Posted inHigh School
13 Reasons Why: Conflicting Reviews
Jay Asher’s 13 Reason Why was the first young adult novel I read during my student teaching. When the librarian spoke to my freshmen about novels for a choice project, I was drawn to the premise of the story: Before completing suicide, a sixteen-year-old girl (Hannah) records the reasons for her choice on audiotapes and […]
Posted inInstruction & Curriculum
Gatsby for the 21st Century Student
I told my Freshman High School English teacher that even though I loved to read, I didn’t care for English class because we never read anything “cool.” A year later, I returned to her classroom to recant my previous statement. I fell in love with English class when I read The Great Gatsby. As a […]
Posted inHigh School
Let’s Talk About Race: Jodi Picoult’s ‘Small Great Things’
Racism is different. It’s fraught, and it’s hard to discuss, and so as a result we often don’t – Jodi Picoult. Every year that I have taught, To Kill a Mockingbird has been in the curriculum. As a lover of literature, I am excited to share this masterpiece with my students. And every year, most students […]
Posted inProfessional Development
A Broken Teacher Evaluation System
About this time last year, I comforted a co-worker after her first post-observation “conversation.” The principal had berated her without allowing my co-worker to defend her lesson plan. Just a few weeks earlier, I had been the target of a post-observation meeting. The principal claimed that my lesson plan was ineffective and not “best practices,” even […]
Posted inCurrent Events in Education
2016 Governor Races: An Education Focus
With the heated debate about which presidential candidate to vote for (or to not vote in general), Americans aren’t spending the same efforts when considering local elections. Twelve states will be electing governors: Delaware, Indiana, Missouri, Montana, New Hampshire, North Carolina, North Dakota, Oregon, Utah, Vermont, Washington, and West Virginia. As of September 7, 2016, […]
Posted inUncategorized
The Struggle Is Real: Teacher Physical Wellness
Thanks to Facebook, everyday I am reminded of past posts. Being the beginning of the school year, most of my old posts are pictures. Wow, was that me as a freshman in college? Pictures of me disappear shortly after my teaching career began. Maybe it’s due to time or the lack of anything Facebook worthy. […]