After An Educator's Journey
Out of the classroom & into the universe
recent posts
about
Once upon a time, I taught 2nd, 3rd, and 4th graders. Now I’m retired and working on new ventures.
Category: The Craft of Teaching
-
This afternoon’s email brought a solicitation from the AFT: Why do you teach and what do you and your colleagues need to do the best job for your students? It is the why of something I have been so passionate about for more than 22 years that is difficult to put into words. Why do…
-
Yesterday’s poll on Reading Rockets asks the question “Is letter writing (formal and informal) included in your writing curriculum?” While most respondents said yes, 20% said no. Some comments went on to say that letter writing is important, but in our society today, very few people actually write letters any longer. Our Third Grade Writing…
-
or is it Teaching in the time of H1N1? The season of viruses has started. While a part of me feels empathetic to parents who cannot take time from work to tend to a sick child; the other part of me is irate that the sick child is in the petri dish I call my…
-
It never ceases to amaze me. I’ll be reading a story and out of the blue will come a question that knocks me back a step or two. “Why did the Pilgrims come from Hollywood, Mrs. Bisson?” Now you and I know the Pilgrims never set foot in Hollywood — that word that was lost…
-
Teachers generally roll with the punches; lots of mid-step changes and revisions to policy, curriculum, means flexibility is one of the most important traits of a teacher. Even the most compulsive of us — and I include myself in that category — manages to get through the continual stream. Teachers react and respond to split-second…
-
I have a love-hate relationship with the first week of school. I love it because it is a time for a fresh start, a do-over; everything about the start of the year is new and exciting. And to be honest, after 10 weeks away from teaching, I miss it…. even the most annoying of personalities…
-
Hours put in since the last post: 6+ Yesterday I met with our Team’s new Special Education Teacher, Melissa. I don’t know about Melissa, but I am definitely feeling the overwhelming panic that encompasses the start of a new year. The weird dreams have already begun. It will be good to get back to school…
-
About a week ago, I finally finished reading Ellin Keene’s new book, To Understand. Originally intending to blog about the book as soon as it was finished was in reality impossible to do. Things that Ellin has to say about teaching, about thinking, about maintaining a balance in education have been turning around and around…
-
To Understand is author and teacher, Ellin Oliver Keene‘s new book; and it has been on my list to read for several months. I began reading this book earlier in the school year and adapted Ellin’s idea for Literacy Studio (crafting, composing, individual activities and reflection time) to encompass the teaching day. Defining each of…
-
I find that the longer I am a teacher, the more I am blown away by the intelligence and thoughtfulness of colleagues across the US. Here is a blog I recently came upon Two Writing Teachers. Even though the two bloggers teach grade levels higher than my current teaching assignment, the process and their craft…
After An Educator's Journey 