Waiting to Exhale Before I Choke
For the next two weeks, I am on March Vacation. Like most independent schools, my place of employ follows a traditional prep school calendar. Thus the reason my place of employ breaks in March for two weeks. Independent boarding schools take three weeks off, essentially closing things down for the month of March. I’ll admit: [...]
It Depends On How One Views the Situation
or…a teachable (anti-racist) moment for teachers. I’ve recently become a fan of a teacher blog, whose target audience is language teachers. I enjoy most of their posts and ideas. But, the one promoting a Mexican Lotería app isn’t one of my favorites. The reason? Some of the game board images are stereotypical, even downright racist. [...]
I’m Done
Are you able to recall an incident which greatly disappointed you, but, logically, it really should not have greatly disappointed you? My eighth grade Onesies greatly disappointed me recently, and, the situation is one that I really should not have taken so personally. The Situation: Approximately 50% of the class (there are 13 enrolled in [...]
Where One Hopes for The Best, and Often Gets the Worst
Well, perhaps the second part of my post’s title is saturated in a bit of hyperbole. But, I’m going somewhere with this. So, please bear with me. Things in my corner of the world are going pretty well. As I tweeted yesterday morning to a FL colleague who teaches at an independent school in Charleston, [...]
The Bane of My Existence
As a teacher, two things I detest the most are marking student work, and, computing end-of-trimester grades. Along with lost keys and mislaid eyeglasses, they are the bane of my existence. As much as I strive to be fair and balanced in my approach to assessment and evaluation, I feel that I always somehow fall [...]
The Culture of Expectation
I was talking with a friend recently – my asthetistician, to be exact, but I also consider her a friend – while getting my monthly professional facial treatment. We talked about the recent days-long power outage, our parents – hers about the same age as mine- and life in general. We then somehow got on [...]
Delegating Up
“Delegating up” is my new mantra for the current school year. I am learning to recognize my limitations on the job, which isn’t an easy thing for a perfectionist. Doing things, “right and in order” (a phrase courtesy of the head deacon at my church) is very important to me, not only for myself, but [...]
The First Day – Again
On Friday, which was yesterday, I officially embarked on my 18th year as an educator. It was a good day. Aside from the usual knuckle-headed behavior from a few 9th grade boys, the students seem interested in and willing to learn, albeit anxious, which may explain to some extent the knuckle-headed behavior from a few [...]
Syllabus, By Design
Honestly, I never really gave much thought to writing syllabi. At least, not in an architectural/design sort of way. But, this particular syllabus really got me thinking: Is there really a better way to present information to students? More importantly, does it really matter, anyway? Yes, on both counts. Furthermore, it seems that post-secondary education [...]
Race Talk When Diversity Equals One | Teaching Tolerance
Race Talk When Diversity Equals One | Teaching Tolerance. The aforementioned breaks it down better than I ever could. Mad props to Teaching Tolerance.
