My students are often shocked when I tell them the reality of Memorial Day. When I ask them about the holiday, they tend to believe it had its roots in World War II, the same war that was fought, in
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The Last Day
Wow, today is the last day with kids. Where has the year gone? When I reflect back I know we have a long way to go, but we will achieve greatness. Some accomplishments that may go unnoticed as we pack up the
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You Must Write Your Teacher Life
Why every teacher should be a writer.
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Monty Python and the Metaphorical Impalement
I’m confident that Rosa Parks didn’t “begin to have the difficult conversations” about bus seating.
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How Will We Walk the Talk? Part Two
“We did not put our ideas together. We put our purposes together.” Adam Kahane, Solving Tough Problems John Prosser is there. A teacher leader involved in policy-making. He began as a middle school teacher in the Seattle Tacoma area, then
Read MoreThe Obstinacy of Hope
I endeavor to explain how I see hope as essential to a teacher’s job, and yet not quite the syrupy-sweet thing that many interpret from Dickinson’s famous poem. It’s more beaky.
Read MoreIt’s Cultural
As a school administrator, I get dozens of emails a week from companies selling programs designed to facilitate any number of "school reform" efforts. I put "school reform" in quotes the way someone might put air quotes around "day off"
Read MoreHungry Students
"Mr. Spencer, we don't have enough breakfasts for the whole class," a kid complains. I double-check the numbers. Zero absent on Cocoa Puffs day, which means that unlike yogurt day, they're all having breakfast. A boy pulls me aside and
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Winding Down
The last time I looked at my calendar it was February. Where has the year gone? We are now fast approaching the end of the year. It didn’t hit me until this weekend, less than 15 days of school left.
Read MoreAre We Ready?
When I achieved National Board Certification I declared that I found my voice. For the last six years, I have used my voice with some proficiency to advocate for teaching excellence. Saturday afternoon I found myself representing Arizona educators
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