Should everyone teach the Holocaust or only those who have had training? I ask this question because recently our ELA teacher went on medical leave and left as her lesson for the remainder of the year to have the sub
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The Fate of Algebra 2: Euclid, Cicero, or Boaler?
“The laws of nature are but the mathematical thoughts of God.” Euclid, in Euclid’s Elements. “We have established as the limit of this art [mathematics] its usefulness in measuring and counting.” Cicero, as quoted by Leonard Mlodinow. “The powerful thinkers
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The Magic of Books
Scene: My sister sent me a video of my niece this week. 15 months old, she is sitting as her mom reads one of her favorite books to her, and she parrots the words “a baby” on cue after her
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Enemy, Obstacle, Trap, Puzzle, Lie, Truth
Can you find the six title words in the puzzle above? A book I finished last week provides insights I’d never considered before about how to view problems. In the novel The Nix, Nathan Hill tells the story of a
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What Are You Reading?
As I write these words, Arizona officially is number 1 in the nation for the spread of COVID-19. Cases are spiking higher than we’ve seen since July. Teachers staged sick-outs this week as school boards voted to ignore state benchmarks
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Music, Reading, and Math Oh My!
ROAR! Students march around my classroom like proud, royal lions as Camille Saint-Saens music plays. The month of March is known to come in like a lion and out like a lamb. That’s why I always use this active listening
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Controlled Chaos
I did a Google search for “Teaching is…” and the first four auto-filled responses were a work of heart, a walk in the park, my jam, and my superpower. Yes, teaching is all of those things, but it was surprising
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Can I Still Teach?
This past summer, I joined one of my community’s Rotary Clubs. For years I had gone to Rotary as a teacher and requested funds for this or that project or to share this or that school update or student success.
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The Extra Degree
As a college athlete, coaches constantly challenged our team, especially in the weight room and at practice. Being “good enough” was not an option. They taught us to push through a last repetition or to finish a certain drill, because
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