What motivates you?

As a teacher, I am constantly being told (by non-educators!) that I must “motivate” the students. What they usually mean is: make lessons entertaining. They think it should all be fun and game-like. It is similar to the now-passé concept of “learning styles” (link opens a new tab and directs to a study released in […]


An End, and a Beginning

The summer was not “as advertised” this year. I remained ill for another few weeks, though we had a lovely visit with my grandfather in Ashland at the end of July and saw several plays (LOVED LOVED LOVED Richard II!!!). Was too exhausted, though, to try for the second silk painting session. Hoping for at […]


Schools of Thought

Another unfinished post from 2012… I just watched a very interesting TED talk by Diana Laufenberg, a teacher from Pennsylvania. She highlighted the shifting purpose of “school” away from a repository of restricted knowledge (in the days before the internet, when most homes had little more than a few books, and fewer homes owned encyclopedias) […]


Random Musings on my Day

Living is hard work. It is better than the alternative? The answer is: Yes, when you are there. That curious moment in the day when the gray skies pick up the bright green of new life and suffuse creation with an immortal glow. Success! The fledgling finds his wings and starts to fly. What is […]


NaPoWriMo 2015.27

It’s down to the wire and down for the count ice pack on offended parts and pride hitting the showers — early. Sometimes the only choice is standing up again staying in the ring and making it through to the bell. —By way of explanation, I twisted my ankle and went down in front of […]


Standing up for Students

This is what I did Saturday morning, rallying for full funding for schools: smaller class sizes, basic cost of living increases to keep pace with inflation, more support overall for the teachers who care for our children. Set an example for your children and students. Take part in your democracy. Peaceably assemble and petition your […]


NaPoWriMo 2015.16

a day late a dollar short teachers have many choices and schools have services but not much influence when a child enters late departs early naps through social studies or math or science-reading-all day after day who watches the children after school who nurtures them at night who wakes them lovingly (but insistently) in time […]


NaPoWriMo 2015.13

Monday the thirteenth I went to school and learned some things. In third grade you have to listen carefully and stay on task or the work speeds by too fast. I learned to speak clearly to enunciate to express my thoughts. I learned to write carefully and take care with letter formation and punctuation. I […]


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