It’s back to school time. And teachers are FREAKING OUT. Because it is almost Labor Day, and Summer is over. The to-do lists are out. of. control. The parents are already calling. The administration is sending a million memos, some in print, some in digital form, a mixed media medley of messages that are often vague, full of jargon and these many forms of communication do … Continue reading Back to School: A Teacher’s Wish List
My first job out of college was working as a general ed high school biology teacher. On day one, during second period, a woman I had never met before walked into my room, alongside the kids. She introduced herself as a special education teacher in the building and informed me she was assigned to work with me during that hour. At first I thought she … Continue reading Dear General Education Teacher: Surprise! You’re A Special Ed Teacher!
When I completed my year-long student teaching internship, in a 10th grade biology classroom, I was lucky enough to be paired with a true master teacher. She had previously worked as a researcher for NASA, and while her extensive knowledge base, her meticulous nature, and her steadfast attitude made her more than a little successful on the job, she found the work to be too … Continue reading The One Question Every Teacher Needs to Ask Their Students
The last few years everyone has been up in arms over EDUCATION REFORM! And we’ve been beaten to death with the idea that our public schools are FAILING OUR KIDS! And that GREEDY LAZY TEACHERS! are living lavish lifestyles, punching in at 8.30 and punching out at 3:00 (nevermind that that is a monstrous misconception) with 12 weeks of vacation in the summer (nevermind that … Continue reading The Problem With Teacher Assessment and Schools As Businesses
1. I’m going to misplace everything. I already do this, so it’ll just be magnified twelvethousandfold. I misplace my phone about 5 times a day. I put papers on my desk and can’t find them for 40 minutes. And they’re right there, on my desk. It’s exhausting. My grandmother recently drove an hour and a half away to get her hair done at a salon … Continue reading Nine Ways I’m Going To Be Annoying When I’m Old (Which Also Happen To Be Why I’m Annoying Now)
This is the week where we are reminded to reflect on what we are thankful for. This year my biggest gratitude and thanks go to Baby Grouch. She makes me happy simply because she is she. I am grateful for her smiles, her snores, her little grasp on my finger, her cuddles and coos. I’m grateful for her cries and her tears and for the … Continue reading On Gratitude and Compassion.
A Morning Grouch 