When I taught high school English, I worked hard to help my students avoid and move beyond the five-paragraph essay. In fact, I almost went crazy trying to pull better-than-five-paragraphs-essays out of my seniors. I was apt to tell students, “you are stuck in a five-paragraph box! GET OUT OF THE BOX!” I swore I would […]
Middle School
Posted inAsk a Teacher, From the Front Lines, Middle School, Parents
Balancing Teaching and Mothering
I’ve always been a working mom. I guess I should qualify that – I’ve always been a work-outside-the-home mom. Since I was in my thirties before I had both children, I spent several years teaching before they rocked my world…and to be honest, it was a struggle to figure out how I could balance it […]
Posted inCurrent Events in Education, Middle School, Social Justice, Social Studies
Haunting Film about Ellis Island
In 14 minutes, social studies and ELA educators can take advantage of a haunting new titled  Ellis about the buildings on the island between New York and New Jersey. Ellis Island served  as a United States immigrant inspection station from 1892 until 1954. The  2015 film is now available on Youtube and stars Robert De Niro. The setting […]
Posted inClassroom Management, Featured, Middle School
Life in the Middle… School That Is!
For many students success in middle school can determine whether or not they can navigate high school and leave with a diploma. This fact means that we as middle school teachers should guide our students to think on their own and make wise choices. While teaching 8th grade, I would begin the year giving more […]
Posted inCurrent Events in Education, Elementary School, Featured, From the Front Lines, High School, Instruction & Curriculum, Middle School, Opinion, Parents, Uncategorized
It's Time Teachers Curb Homework
Yesterday, my wife came home with her laptop bag. Again. And it’s not her fault. After working another 9-hour day, that wasn’t enough. She had to put in a bit more time to finish off a few projects so that they were ready for the clients in the morning. My wife doesn’t regularly do this […]
Posted inUncategorized
What Teachers Are Really Searching For Online
Wonder what teachers are really searching for online? I can tell you – it’s not just lesson plans or decoration ideas. It’s not just how to deal with the unruly child, or how to motivate a reluctant reader. Those searches would be understandable. What teachers are really searching for online is this: jobs for retired […]
Posted inCommon Core, Educational Apps, Instruction & Curriculum, Languages, Literacy, Middle School
Four Reasons Why I'm In Love With Chromebooks In The Classroom
I cannot deny it any longer – I’m in love with Chromebooks. Chromebooks have transformed my teaching. All those times in the last 25 years when I used to say, “Well, that would be easy if I had a class set of computers” has turned into my reality. Chromebooks have become a wonderful tool for […]
Posted inAsk a Teacher, Common Core, From the Front Lines, Instructional Strategies, Literacy, Middle School
Maybe It's The Time Of Year: Taking Another Look At Confrontation In The Classroom
It was just a lesson on folktales, really. We’ve been reading a variety of stories from around the world in my 8th grade English classroom – sometimes with partners or small groups, but yesterday I asked my students to tackle reading “Davy Crockett” alone. Their essential question was familiar at this point: “What do folktales […]