I recently had a crash course in what is called ‘Manifestation Determination’ or ‘Manifestation Meetings’. I had never heard of these until this week. Now mind you, I am by no means a special education teacher, nor do I claim to know much about all of the forms and paperwork that these saints endure. I […]
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Posted inClassroom Management, Instructional Strategies, Middle School, Social Studies, Technology, Uncategorized
21st Century Classroom Management is… Fun?
Recently a veteran colleague and a teacher in training posed questions concerning classroom management and power struggles with students. Years ago the approach to dealing with students who test the boundaries of rules was quick and strict reprimand. Students were graded on neatness, orderly and timely manners, for being quiet unless called upon. While there […]
Posted inCurrent Events in Education, Uncategorized
Philadelphia Teachers Contract Cancelled
In my article “Teacher Activism,” I explained the background of the takeover of the School District of Philadelphia by the state of Pennsylvania. The District is still under the control of the School Reform Commission (SRC) which is not elected nor does it have any taxing power. Until 2013 the SRC managed to negotiate contracts with […]
Posted inCurrent Events in Education, High School, Uncategorized
The Looking Glass of the School to Prison Pipeline: Why Reading Abilities Matter
“Mrs. Warren, I love you!” Andrew (one of my students) yelled as I gave him a high five after connecting the events to the story in A Lesson Before Dying and the trial of Troy Davis. The other kids laughed at his outburst, but we kept moving so that we could finish the discussion and […]
Posted inFrom the Front Lines, High School, Instruction & Curriculum, Literacy, Uncategorized
The Loneliness of the Post College New Teacher
“The weekends are the hardest.” a young, new coworker friend of mine said, “I think I’ll get another dog, it’s too lonely.” I remember reading somewhere that some of the loneliest people in the world are those of the newly graduated college student, and it seemed that my young, coworker friend was no different. It made sense […]
Posted inInstructional Strategies, Middle School, Uncategorized
Classroom Management in Middle School
Middle school students are both exciting and difficult to teach. They are exciting because they are moving toward adulthood and constantly changing. They are difficult because they are not fully mature and often lapse into behaviors of younger children. Finding classroom management techniques that work at this age takes some trial and error. Here are […]
Posted inInstructional Strategies, Literacy, Uncategorized
Turning that Picture into Writing
On my bathroom wall at home, I have a large framed drawing my son made in first grade. It has a lot of underwater action, including thought bubble over the shark saying “I am the king of the ocean.” Another thought bubble over a fish close to the shark’s mouth reads, “I am going to […]
Posted inInstruction & Curriculum
Reconsidering Columbus: A Day Worthy of an Alternative
For decades, students in elementary school classes have admired portraits and sang songs telling the tale of America’s hero, Christopher Columbus. In his well-documented 1492 journey, Columbus — en route to India — stumbled upon what would become the Americas; Hispaniola to be exact. The rest of his journey is…history. Somewhere in the depths of […]