I was nearly brought to tears this morning when what I have been feeling, worrying about, and thinking for the last, well, for a long time, was encapsulated by three New York Times essays. That constant background noise of my thoughts, worries and emotions might be akin to an individual’s constant tinnitus or even theContinue reading “Yes! That’s it Exactly!”
Category Archives: Educator
Thoughts From a Loser Teacher
Well, it’s official. I’m a loser. Have been since the age of 24 when I got my first teaching job. Probably longer since I was raised by a loser teacher and knew that’s what I wanted to do before I entered college. Damn. This is according to Donald Trump Jr. anyway. I love seeing someContinue reading “Thoughts From a Loser Teacher”
Why Grades Matter (but maybe not how you might think)
The act of grading someone for their work immediately changes everything. One cannot help but be influenced primarily by extrinsic motivation as soon as one is being judged and sorted. Of course, there are times this is necessary, such as on The Great British Baking Show…Mmmm, excuse me whilst I go find bake. The purposeContinue reading “Why Grades Matter (but maybe not how you might think)”
Downshifting
This morning was like any other. I begin the day reading about such things as children of employees of a local fishing tackle factory having elevated lead levels in their blood due to lead dust being transported home on the clothes of the workers. Wildfires continue to burn in California while others in California endureContinue reading “Downshifting”
The Three Sisters
For centuries, the Iroquois (and now many other cultures) have been growing corn, beans, and squash together, referring to them as the Three Sisters. Corn grows tall and strong, serving as a natural pole for the beans to climb. The bean plants have nitrogen-fixing bacteria living in nodules in the roots, providing fertilizer to allContinue reading “The Three Sisters”
In a Groove or Stuck in a Rut
The Tuesday after Labor Day has typically been the first day of classes. Even years when I started teaching the week prior to Labor Day, it still felt the like the true end of summer and beginning of the academic year. This week is the first since 1993 when I wasn’t starting a school yearContinue reading “In a Groove or Stuck in a Rut”
Teaching in Mismatched Shoes
I was out and about running errands late Wednesday afternoon. I stamped the snow off my feet before stepping inside, set my bags down, shed my outer wear, bent down and untied my shoes, slipped my feet out, reached down to pick them up and put them away in the closet, and then finally lookedContinue reading “Teaching in Mismatched Shoes”
Teachers, Enough Already with “I do, We do, You do.”
In my role of teaching pre-service teachers about teaching, I hear this phrase a lot, from my students, practicing teachers, and my colleagues who teach in teacher ed programs: “I do, we do, you do.” It’s an easy way to remember a simple lesson design model. First, you model how to do something, then youContinue reading “Teachers, Enough Already with “I do, We do, You do.””
Visualizing Electrons
Have you ever been wondering how you could visualize and understand the quantum nature of matter? Well I have. So here’s an attempt to use the starship Enterprise from Star Trek to visualize the nature of electrons.
For Pete’s Sake, Give Them a Cookie
This is a repost of a blog entry from June 2013. Do you know the children’s book, if you give a mouse a cookie? A boy gives a cookie to a mouse. Then the mouse needs a glass of milk. Then a litany of requests: a straw (to drink the milk), a mirror (to avoidContinue reading “For Pete’s Sake, Give Them a Cookie”
