After the Dust Settles For the past few days, I’ve been busy setting up my new classroom. I’m sure you know what that entails. For me, it’s a new beginning, and a chance to hopefully put some of this past year behind me. Yet, I wonder as I look at the now-empty student desks, will […]
Suzy Winter
Middle school Language Arts teacher in the private school sector and loving every moment of it. After 17 years of public school life, it is a welcome change, but I will always advocate and lift up my fellow educators. Our profession, no matter where the classroom, is not for the faint of heart, but for those who teach with all their heart.
Posted inInstruction & Curriculum
Critical Race Theory: When the Texas GOP Tried to Stop Teachers From Teaching About Racism
Last week, I read a headline on Twitter that gave me pause – Texas GOP Passes Bill to Stop Teachers From Talking about Racism. This morning I learned that Gov. Abbott just needs to sign off on schools teaching or discussing CRT (Critical Race Theory). I will be the first to admit that I […]
Posted inTeacher Burnout
Take a Sigh of Relief: End of the Year Reflection
Can you feel it? Can you see it? The end of the year is almost here. I can almost hear the collective sigh of relief from my fellow teachers everywhere. This past school year has been exhausting. For some – the halls have been dark and full of terror – literally and metaphorically. I do […]
Posted inCOVID
It’s Worth A Shot: A Teacher Reflects on Mandatory Covid-19 Vaccines
When I began my teaching career, I had to follow several routine requirements to proceed: fingerprinting, background checks, and vaccinations. These are the basic required vaccinations: Varicella-zoster; MMR (measles, mumps, and rubella); Seasonal influenza; Human papillomaviruses (HPV) (eleven through twenty-six years of age); Others as determined by the ACIP and state and local public health […]
Posted inCurrent Events in Education
Death and Resurrection: A Time for Repentance and Change Around Race
On an Easter Sunday, decades ago, my pastor baptized me into the faith. I do not exactly remember the words – but to an extent, they were, “buried with Christ in baptism, raised to walk in newness of life.” It is all symbolic of letting go of your past sins and receiving a fresh […]
Posted inCOVID
What Are Your Qualifications to Be an Educator ?
Well, the time has come for me to emerge from my Hobbit hole and embrace a new adventure come this fall, so I have begun the arduous process of writing resumes, and answering job applications as I move back into the classroom. One such question presented a “what if” scenario that has had me thinking […]
Posted inCOVID-19
When Teaching Middle Schoolers: The Most Asked Question is, “Are You Insane?”
“Oh, bless your heart!” “Do you enjoy torture and insane little heathens?” “You’d have to be crazy to teach that age group!” These are the questions other teachers ask me when they find out I actually enjoy teaching middle school. Those responses are what I usually hear when I tell people of my occupation, along with […]
Posted inInstruction & Curriculum
Opinion: Deliver Us from the Biden Administration’s Focus on Testing During a Pandemic
While working from home, I quite often have Spotify playing in the background when one of my favorite favorites came on — Deliver Us from Prince of Egypt. With the sting of the whip on my shoulder With the salt of my sweat on my brow Elohim, God on high, can you hear your people […]