The Power of Taking a Risk

Even though I spend a lot of the summer doing school work, I make a deliberate effort to stay away from school for the summer. Two days ago, I returned to my classroom for the first time since June 13th, our last day of school. I was meeting with some other department members to review … Continue reading The Power of Taking a Risk →

When We Lose a Colleague

While this initially may seem like a depressing topic to write about heading into a new school year, I actually think it is an important one to think about as we head back to school. Of course, it is sad and difficult when anyone dies. Even if we did not know someone personally, as humans … Continue reading When We Lose a Colleague →

Why Teachers Need Summer Vacation

I remember early on in my education classes in college…. The professor asked why we chose teaching as a career. I can still picture the woman who responded, “June, July, and August.” I remember chuckling but then realizing quickly that she meant it. She was serious. Without a doubt, it is nice - and I … Continue reading Why Teachers Need Summer Vacation →

The Joy of Creating Assignments

I remember a few years ago when I was working in my classroom one day after school. There was a substitute custodian who was in emptying the waste baskets and we started talking. He asked me how long I had been teaching. “Twenty years,” I told him. “It must not take you long to do … Continue reading The Joy of Creating Assignments →

Your Philosophy of Education and Why It Matters

I remember all of those education classes I took in college…. Actually, that is not exactly true. I remember taking a number of education classes, but, to be honest, they all sort of blend together in my mind. I remember many of them required twenty hours of classroom observations over winter and spring breaks followed … Continue reading Your Philosophy of Education and Why It Matters →