A brilliant red Maple leaf fluttered to the ground in front of me yesterday. This simple movement transported me back over 30 years ago to a mail room on a college campus. I was 18 and away from home for the first time. Needless to say, letters from home were my lifeline. I was determined to be independent, but at the same time I was sick for the familiarity of home. I opened the letter from my grandpa ...
"Pray for this kid?!!? You've got to be kidding, unless you mean pray that he moves away." Years ago, a wise colleague advised me to pray for a student that was driving me crazy. At first I thought she was already crazy, but she assured me that it would improve the relationship. I was reluctant. I didn't want to improve the relationship. I just wanted his family to decide to move 3 states away. I felt ...
Beautiful fall days like this only add to my enjoyment as I stroll to the mailbox. For some crazy reason, I've always loved walking to the mailbox. I love mail. The slow kind. Something that I can hold in my hands and read and re-read. I even like some junk mail (I said some). Today, when I opened the box, this quote jumped out at me "I want to be taught by teachers- not politicians." It was on an ad against ...
This was the beginning of my journey against Common Core. From an earlier post, My Thoughts on the Common Core, I explain how I felt at the end of my teaching journey at my past district. But this is how it all started. When Common Core first started, my colleagues and I were all told this was a change in curriculum. Our thought was "Here we go again. Another change." We moved on. ...
I just finished reading an article titled Why I Want to give up Teaching. I can relate to many of the things mentioned by the author. I had already been on this train of thought lately. I have so many questions rolling around in my head and not many answers. I have been reflecting on my years in the classroom and can sum it up with something like this: - I spent countless hours creating meaningful ...
I've been reading some other posts and noticing an increasing number of frustrated teachers and some that are even considering leaving the profession. I believe that teaching is a noble profession. However, at times, it is also one that will try even the most patient person. Demands are increasing, while resources are diminishing. It seems that most educators are being asked to spend more of their ...
