As I walk in Target (for no reason at all) to mindlessly scroll the candles, I am stopped in my tracks. I can’t believe what I’m seeing! The colorful, seasonal display for Back to school is set up. All I can do is shake my head at the reality that summer is ending (particularly here […]
Posted inInstruction & Curriculum
The Most Dangerous Teachers in Your Building
You know them when you see them…or hear them. “I’m tired of this school.” “I can’t wait until this year is over.” “I’m just here for my check.” “I can’t stand any of these children.” I’m sure that halfway through reading those statements above, someone (or a group of someones) came to your mind. Am […]
Posted inBack to School
Digging Into Learning: Using Archaeology in the Classroom
There are some subjects that fascinate us. Archaeology is one such subject. Archaeology can take us to Egypt and the tombs of the Pharaohs, or unravel the mysteries in our own backyards. Many people go through an archaeology phase, though few become archaeologists. Plus, everyone likes digging in the dirt. The Society for American Archaeology […]
Posted inInstruction & Curriculum
Shaking Up Short Stories
Summer break is running out for many school districts around the county, and teachers are slowly starting to get back into planning mode. For secondary ELA teachers, that means digging out the short stories they will be teaching this year. Many teachers use short stories to teach Reading standards with the idea that students can […]
Posted inInstructional Strategies
Getting Students to Write (Part 1)
Getting students to write can be difficult. For students who don’t like writing, being confronted with a lengthy writing task will turn down the will and up the resistance quick. Think about it: they are uncomfortable for a reason. Who knows why: unsure of their skills, confused by the task, maybe just uninterested in that […]
Posted inInstruction & Curriculum
Are You a Broke-Down Teacher?
This year, I’ll be teaching at a brand new school, in a brand new county, in a brand new state, and in a brand new country. I’m full of anxiety, excitement, and the usual question of “Can I really do this?” When I interviewed for the position, I asked the normal questions to find out […]
Posted inFine Arts
Toni Morrison: Spilling over the Corners of Text
The developers of the Common Core, famed for limiting student readers to the “four corners of the text,” may not have selected to teach Toni Morrison novels to high school juniors or seniors. How could those admirers of New Criticism who believe that the student should not stray from a “painstakingly crafted text” ever negotiate […]
Posted inInstruction & Curriculum
Why Your School Doesn’t Need to Adopt a “Social-Emotional Curriculum”
Curriculum adoption is a persistent conversation education. Schools and districts continuously evaluate new programs and texts to best support teaching and learning. School districts adopt curriculums often on a predetermined, cyclical timeline. Veterans teaching the same grade levels or subject areas for decades are learning new practices and methods, regardless of their history of student […]