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.
Tag: education
-
School vacation week in Massachusetts started for me as of 2:50 yesterday afternoon. I know there are some in the private sector who will read that statement and disparage me. But here is why I not only need this vacation, I deserve it. 1. I am not paid for the days off. Contrary to popular…
-
Yesterday, we reached the 100th day of school — triple digits. From this point on the year will whiz by at the speed of light… 80 school days from now we will be all done. For kids, that seems like an eternity, but for me Day 100 is the point at which panic sets in.…
-
and the poor keep getting poorer. Today’s rant comes courtesy of Scholastic, that megaconglomerate of student book publishing. Having just submitted a book order for my class (a rarity), I am struck by the advantages of working in a more middle-class socio economic school district. Yes, it is true no one is holding a gun…
-
One of the nicest advantages of teaching is the possibility of multiple “fresh starts” throughout the year. There’s the obvious one — in the Fall, another after one report card period closes and another opens, and tomorrow’s: the first day of a new calendar year. Each start brings excitement and butterflies. Obviously the unknown of…
-
Recently the Boston Globe ran an editorial in support of gift limits for teachers. I can’t relate. First of all, working in a high poverty, urban school district, I don’t have the experience of parents buying outlandish gifts at the holidays for junior’s teacher. Sorry. It’s all my families can do to put food on…
-
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…
-
Some part of the ARRA money allocated to the Lowell Schools is being used to give teachers time to look at assessments and collect data about how our students best learn. Grade level teams and cross-grade level data teams have formed since late summer all with the purpose of methodically looking at our assessment data…
-
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…
-
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…
After An Educator's Journey 