I get really tired of excuses. In fact, in my classroom when my 8th graders try to excuse their behavior, lack of homework, or unpreparedness I tell them kindly yet firmly, “Excuses are useless.” Initially quizzical looks form on their faces, and then they start to stammer…which is exactly when I interject my reasoning. […]
teens
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 […]
Posted inOpinion
R-E-S-P-E-C-T… Show Some
Yes, I totally get teenagers. Although they are not my favorite group to teach, I do understand what is going on in those bodies of theirs. I have two teens of my own, and one adult child, so for those of you who are just beginning the ‘tween’ journey into this rite of passage, many […]
Posted inChild Development, Featured, From the Front Lines, Instruction & Curriculum
Moving Into Young Adulthood – The Development of Our 14-16 Year-Olds
Those of us who are fortunate enough to watch our fourteen-, fifteen- and sixteen-year-olds develop into young men and women sit with bated breath as they begin making choices in life that will stick with them for some time. Let’s see where these kiddos are in their five areas of development. Cognitive Development: These kids […]