Buster. Funny first name, right? Especially for someone who has earned the right to go by his actual first name rather than a silly, southern nickname given to him when he was an infant. His actual first name is Hubert. He was the firstborn in my family and is a junior so his full name […]
Confessions of a Teacher
What are the confessions of a teacher? Read these articles and find out.
Posted inConfessions of a Teacher
Anne: The Hardest Child to Love
For twenty-seven years, I stood at the front of a classroom believing two things could change a child’s life: love and expectations. My classroom was not easy. We worked hard there. We learned manners there. We respected one another there. We looked adults in the eye, said “yes ma’am,” and learned that teamwork mattered. Some […]
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Viral TikTok has students struggling to read basic sentences
A TikTok video titled “Can You Read,” where a student asked his peers if they could read simple sentences, has caused chaos at a Philadelphia Charter School and has reportedly gotten the students threats of expulsion. The video posted by TikTok user, @whatthevek, has garnered over 14 million views as of today and has […]
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An emotional sponge in the classroom
The teaching world felt like it was under my fingertips. At 22 years old, walking into my first classroom as a third-grade teacher, I was certain I had everything I needed to help my students succeed. I had passion, training, and high expectations. I had read the statistics about teacher burnout and high attrition rates […]
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I Thought Using Lysol Was Against the Hague Convention
It was Monday. As usual, we were sitting in the conference room. The room overlooked the football field. Kids hopped the fence and cut through the graveyard behind the school. I sipped my coffee and smirked. I wondered why a boy and a girl were going to the graveyard so early. Smoking? Vaping? Then the […]
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Introduction to Gratitude Tour: An educator’s journey in retirement
In my final years of a career I’d not planned and sometimes questioned, multiple events led me to think about how very grateful I was for past Heads of School, colleagues, students and even high school friends who’d carved out a career in teaching. In the spring of 2024, I was wrapping up my 26th […]
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The evolution of teaching in American Schools
“How dare you count my child absent?” “Why did you grab my child by the face?” “My four-year-old daughter says her teacher pushed her down. What are you going to do about it?” “That teacher called my son names in class.” “You’re not a fit.” Welcome to the daily accusations aimed at educators across the […]
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The Philadelphia Eagles game that taught the teacher
Ned O’Malley lived for two things: teaching and Sunday football, specifically the Philadelphia Eagles. Monday through Friday, he was “Mr. O’Malley,” the energetic social studies teacher at Franklin Middle School in the suburbs of Philadelphia. But come Sunday, he transformed into “Coach Ned,” the ultimate Eagles fan. Every week started the same way. Monday mornings, […]