When education is hard to swallow

There are many times when education is hard to swallow. Look at education "reform" in this country. It's pathetic. But there are a lot more mundane day to day examples too. The truth is that we encounter these little things every day, sometimes so often that we fail to notice them. Sometimes when we do…

Another Day One

Somehow we're about to start a new school year. Again. As in, I'm still teaching. How? Who knows. I thought it would be interesting to take a little stroll down memory lane today and look back on the beginning of each school year I've taught, since they are all documented here. There are also some…

November 17th

I may have accidentally convinced my third graders that I am retiring during Thanksgiving break and not returning. They keep bringing me stuff to try to bribe me not to leave. Or in other words to prove their love to me. Yesterday I got a potted plant. Today I got a vase of flowers and…

A Bit of Perspective

It is not often that I take a step back from being disappointed with my line of work and actually appreciate what it is I'm doing. I should do that more often. But I'm more of a chronic critic than anything, and pointing out the charms doesn't come as naturally as pointing out the flaws.…

My First Day of Third Grade

I survived my first day of third grade, for the second time in my life. The difference is that this time I wasn't the awkward new kid coming in in the middle of the year. This time I was the awkward new teacher coming in the day before Day 1 and pretending to be in…

Two Lives Diverged in a Wood…

Robert Frost's words come to mind quite often, even when they technically do not apply. I hope that my loose metaphorical use of his poetry does not take away from his work, but that it may instead set the scene for the topic at hand. My best friend in high school was a girl named Allison.…

So Much To Do, So Little Time…

Well, my summer is over. I mean technically the season of summer doesn't begin until tomorrow, but all of my time has been spoken for, and I won't get but a minute to breathe. This week I am in Michigan doing training at Hillsdale College so that I can be on the same page as…

People Change

As a teacher I think a lot about how the kids I teach will turn out as adults. I wonder how many of the smart kids will give in to peer pressure to be careless with academics. I wonder how many of the part time bullies will turn into full time bullies. I wonder how…