After An Educator's Journey

Out of the classroom & into the universe

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about

Once upon a time, I taught 2nd, 3rd, and 4th graders. Now I’m retired and working on new ventures.
I taught second, third and fourth graders. Teaching was my passion and joy for 30 years. And it didn’t hurt that they called me “mom” sometimes.

Author: amybisson

  • Yet another foray into the medical labrynith

    It’s a time of year that I dread and a time that is necessary. I am a breast cancer survivor. A yearly mammogram is not an option, it is a necessity. Some bean-counter in a medical or insurance facility, far far removed from real humans can designate my mammogram as a “screening” all they want.…

  • Opening the Newspaper Can Hazardous to Your (Mental) Health

    Caught a news article in today’s Boston Globe – which you may or may not be able to read depending on whether or not the Globe is instituting its $16-a-month subscription fee.  Here it is, just in case: State aims to test its youngest students (October 2, 2011). I’m relieved to hear that this is…

  • Let’s Toss All the Balls in the Air

    Last week, we created our last I-Chart; the one for Listen to Reading. So now we have all the components of the Daily Five in place. It’s an exciting yet frightening time .It has not always been smooth sailing. I find I have to keep pinching myself as a reminder that one of the most…

  • Whew – 4 down one to go

    We are still laying down the routines and expectation for the Daily Five. Here’s how my morning goes: Get up (usually before the alarm), start coffee, sit down with my laptop, check email (and Facebook, okay I admit I’m addicted) and then watch one of the Sister’s videos on the Daily Cafe website. Most of…

  • Stamina

    I’ve been working – really working – at the conferencing table for the last several session of D5 choice. Up until this point, I have been “fake working” — monitoring students without their knowledge — so as to regroup if and when stamina for an activity is broken. We are nearly pros with Read to…

  • D5 One Day at a Time

    We have been in session with our students for 3 days now. At one point yesterday afternoon I came to the realization that these third graders are funny and likeable and want to learn. Being somewhat superstitious I’m a little nervous about saying that out loud so early, but there you go. We started our…

  • What Matters

    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…

  • August 27, 1979

    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!

  • Ramping Up For the Re-Entry

    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…

  • The Grand Plan

    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…