Part of a homeroom teacher’s job is distributing - and keeping track of - all manner of handouts and forms. Here’s an area for which technology is actually an improvement. Years ago, there was an endless stream of forms, and now, of course, there are emails and parent portals for many items. In my district, … Continue reading #16 – Homerooms and fund-raisers
#15 – Union label
Every year at about this time, our NJEA cards arrive in the mail. Those of us who teach in this state know that NJEA stands for New Jersey Education Association; however, no matter what state you’re in, if you are an employee of a public school, I hope you have an association - a union … Continue reading #15 – Union label
#14 – 'April'-ing
Sometimes - especially for ELA teachers - the endless grading just becomes too much. Some are major essays and cannot be ignored, of course. Some are quick assignments that give you a good read on where students are - or aren’t - in a particular area and shouldn’t be ignored. Sometimes the assignment must be … Continue reading #14 – 'April'-ing
#13 – 'State' A's
At a quick glance, it appears that an A may not happen for this particular writer in language arts. The question is: Why is the goal always straight A’s when they are not generally attainable by most? I’m glad to see that this writer would, at least, accept an occasional B - but this, too, … Continue reading #13 – 'State' A's
#12 – Letter to my (your) future self
Just about exactly a year ago, on a very similar, magnificent, not-quite-fall Sunday, I spent hours reading and commenting on students' first real writing piece for me: Letter to My Future Self, which was also a letter to me, as a way to get to know them. There were a lot of letters - 67 … Continue reading #12 – Letter to my (your) future self
#11 – Back to School night
Tonight was Back to School Night at my former school. Tonight, at about the time of this writing, a group of very exhausted educators is hobbling outside after putting on a two-hour show, smiling and nodding and trying to be their best after a full teaching day, and needed preparation for the night, and perhaps … Continue reading #11 – Back to School night
#10 – 9/11, again and again
Today, I bring you a photograph of a local 9/11 memorial and, below, a song - "I'm Proud to Be an American" - the song that we heard over the intercom every year to commemorate this devastating day. That first year, I don't believe it was played until several days afterwards, but once it was, … Continue reading #10 – 9/11, again and again
