Next week, I will celebrate the beginning of my tenth year in education. Teaching is a career that is always changing. One can never get too comfortable because before you know it there is something new. New standards, new strategies, or a new curriculum. One thing that never changes are the kids. The students are […]
Posted inSeries
Rural Schools Journal- Entry 2
Mr. McConnell’s Rural Schools Journal Entry 2 (7/14/2016): A look from inside the school My first “Rural Schools” journal entry described a slice of our country- America and how the last few decades have impacted that quaint little world. It ain’t quite Walton’s Mountain, but it might be the closest thing you’re going to find […]
Posted inInstruction & Curriculum
Why You Should Start the Year With A Personal Essay Unit
I love teaching my personal essay unit. I developed most of the classes and exercises way back in 2005, and I have been tweaking them ever since. But I always sandwiched the unit in between two books in the spring or ended up rushing through it so I could finish before some vacation or other. […]
Posted inInstruction & Curriculum
Mathematics and the Fallacies of Political Propaganda
During any election year, Americans can expect to be inundated with political propaganda on the television, radio, and social media . One characteristic of any campaign is the use of statistics about almost everything that is used as a political strategy to win votes. [fusion_builder_container hundred_percent=”yes” overflow=”visible”][fusion_builder_row][fusion_builder_column type=”1_1″ background_position=”left top” background_color=”” border_size=”” border_color=”” border_style=”solid” spacing=”yes” […]
Posted inAsk a Teacher
Can Teachers Really Be Excellent At Everything?
Imagine this: You’re a beginning teacher, fresh out of college. You’ve done a few weeks (maybe a semester) of teaching on your own. You’re thrilled to be hired to teach in your own classroom. You can disregard the low starting pay and the multiple subjects you need to prepare to teach every day. This is […]
Posted inHow to Fix Education
To Confront or To Not Confront? Preparing for a Difficult Conversation with a Co-teacher
“That’s not what we usually do.” “Well, if it was me, I’d…” “In so-and-so’s class, we’re…” “I think of it this way…” “You’re a young teacher…” Some of these conversation starters can lead to effective dialogues and lesson enhancements. However, when your co-teacher is saying these things out loud during class in front of twenty […]
Posted inConfessions of a Teacher
Death of a Teacher’s Husband: My Lesson Plan for Survival
My husband of ten years just passed away. School starts in three weeks. My husband has always been right there with me in the trenches, whether I was teaching or acting as administration. He encouraged me, he was proud of me, and he kept me sane; now he is gone. While death isn’t the only […]
Posted inInstruction & Curriculum
10 Memes for Back to School
Back to school is near and teachers are feeling some type of way. We’re excited about decorating our classrooms and meeting our new students, but being in meeting all day we would rather pass on. Enjoy these memes and tell us what you’re most excited about in your back to school routines. How many times […]