One of the most engaging and sometimes infuriating side effects of being a teacher is that we see connections to teaching in the world around us all the time. We are constantly aware of how a trip to the museum or the beach could be a field trip, how TV shows portray school and teachers […]
Instruction & Curriculum
Posted inBook Review
Reading Outside of the Canon: Jodi Picoult’s Nineteen Minutes
Why this novel? At the end of the year, I ask my students to write advice and words of encouragement for next year’s class. I present their wisdom during my first-day-of-school presentation. For my juniors (both honors and regular), this phrase (or something similar) is the most common: Read Nineteen Minutes. Out of all of […]
Posted inAdult Learning, Instruction & Curriculum
Adventures in Real World English/Language Arts: The Planning Stages
I adore literature. Ever since I was a little girl, I loved books (I blame Beauty and the Beast). And eighteen years later, I am teaching American Literature and British Literature, it is a dream career. Then this summer things changed. The state of Louisiana realized that not every student is going to college, and […]
Posted inInstruction & Curriculum
Strategies for Establishing Positive Teacher-Parent Relationships
The importance of parent involvement in education has been studied extensively over the years, and findings show that by involving parents in a child’s school experience, children will have a more positive attitude about school, will make more effort to perform well, and will persist more with schoolwork (Jones & Jones, 2016). As such, parents […]
Posted inInstruction & Curriculum
To Test or not to Test: That is the Question
Picture this, lush green fields and ancient ruins of magnificent structures gazing over the tops of houses on the lanes. This is my view on the train from York to London. My family is from Yorkshire and I had the delight of spending time with them during my brief stop. However, I’m left contemplating a pressing […]
Posted inHow to Fix Education
Know Your Teacher Worth
I have an absolutely amazing older son. When my ex-husband left, Eli was there to help pick up the pieces. When I had my emotional collapse, again Eli came to the hospital everyday and even now continues to keep a close eye on me. He and I are never far from one another, with healthy […]
Posted inClassroom Management
Using Essential Oils in the Classroom
Holistic therapies and homeopathic remedies have been gaining in popularity and use in recent years. I will reach for essential oils as an alternative before taking over-the-counter medicines. Even some hospitals have started to diffuse essential oils to reduce workplace stress and promote natural pain relief. Teachers can use essential oils in the classroom to help […]
Posted inInstruction & Curriculum
Literature Circles in Middle School: Mini-Lessons
Rather than teach a full-class book at the end of the 2015-16 school year, I opted to have my 8th graders read in literature circles. They had the choice between six historical YA lit novels. Each day students met in their literature circles they had certain procedures they were expected to follow. Even though each […]