After An Educator's Journey
Out of the classroom & into the universe
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Once upon a time, I taught 2nd, 3rd, and 4th graders. Now I’m retired and working on new ventures.
Month: August 2011
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It is terribly difficult to keep one’s focus on the things that are important – the “prime directive” for those of us who grew up on Star Trek – no matter what your profession. For me, the prime directive is to encourage children to be curious, to encourage them to take learning risks, to encourage…
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They say it’s your birthday….. click the picture: I will resist doing this: Angel Birthday Boy. Happy Birthday Matt! You are one heck of a good guy!
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My colleagues and I were taking a break from dusting, washing, organizing and throwing yesterday to commiserate on what every educator knows is true: if you don’t get some stress-related malady just as school is starting, you must not be paying attention. Hello insomnia. I used to feel like I had some character flaw because…
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I broke down today and started to work on a room arrangement. I am planning on 24 kids – already have 23 on the roster – and have a contingency for a 25th. Here are some “before” shots from last June: Step one was to move shovemy desk out of the way. I have a…
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How does that saying go? If you’re not green and growing, you’re rip and rotten. One of the key components of the Daily Five – teaching learners to be independent – is not only appealing, but imperative. After some false starts last year (based on my reading of both the D5 and Cafe books), I attended…
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What is my purpose in life? I was asked that question recently and my white glare honest answer is, I’m still working to uncover that answer. My purpose has been defined differently at every stage of my life. At different times, my purpose has been defined by different roles: daughter, sister, wife, mother. Each role…
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I’ve been spending a bit of time thinking about what the physical atmosphere and arrangement of the classroom projects. I am a packrat. There, I’ve said it. I saved egg cartons – must have had to toss about 50 of them when we moved 16 years ago – knowing in my teacher brain that I…
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August 9, is the anniversary of my Dad’s death. If he were still with us today, he would have been 93. My Dad fought a long, hard and brave fight against COPD and emphysema. He had been a smoker – first cigarettes, then cigars and pipes. I once heard him express regret over smoking, but…
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Underneath all of the coverage of the debt crisis was another important event that really needs some attention: the Save Our Schools rally in Washington DC over the weekend. Stakeholders in public education got to listen to and rally around some educational heavy-hitters – Diane Ravitch, Jonathan Kozol and others whose writings and voices I…
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