I recently read a post on Facebook… A psychologist walked around a room while teaching stress management to an audience. As she raised a glass of water, everyone expected they’d be asked the “half empty or half full” question. Instead,
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I Am Afraid of Babies
The word makes me shudder, cringe and cower. Unless it is preceeded by the phrase, “You’ve come a long way,” I don’t want to hear about babies. Or pregnancies. Shower? It better involve a spout, steam, and a whole lot
Read MoreWhat If? (Part 2)
How could providing test or quiz proctoring change the way we use our time as teachers?
Read MoreNational Board Renewal
I became a National Board Certified Teacher on November 19, 2004. At that time I was a kindergarten teacher and quite frankly I thought I would always be a classroom teacher. I had no idea the journey of accomplished teaching
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“I Discovered Something Crazy!”
I went treasure hunting. I sought the definitive metaphor to contrast the power of all that is wrong in education with the power of all that is right. Yin Yang? Nah. A transformative professional development doesn’t need to be balanced
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Reflecting on an old blog
Are You a Difference Maker? With the Super Bowl just a few days away I have been reflecting on my year. Wondering if I have been a difference maker for students, teachers, staff and parents. Several years ago I posted
Read MoreA Proper Thank You Note
I publicly thank our district for the level of support they gave our cohort throughout the National Board process. I hope that by doing this publicly, other districts might have a template they could follow in providing support to NBC candidates.
Read MoreThe Tassel’s Not a Hassle*
Sometimes it is frighteningly transparent who is profiting from access to our schools.
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Their, Them, Mine, and Us
I’m fortunate enough to have a staff that would be willing to have their data tied to the peformance of the whole school, support each other in improving the learning for all through flexible grouping. They are willing to sink or swim as a team. When I asked if such a unique declaration could be made, the answer was simple.
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Teacher Pay: The Opaque Fiction of Salary Schedules
There are pay inequities in teaching that are almost invisible to the public. Inequities that most teachers are not willing to discuss because salary is such a personal issue. Personal? You might ask. But I thought pay scales were public documents? Sure. They are. They are also fictional. Read on…
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