One of the things I’ve struggled with this past year is assessment. I am not satisfied with the standard multiple choice test as a way of measuring students’ learning. They, as I did, often memorizeContinue reading
Curriculum Planning, Part I
One of my most important tasks as the academic dean is to collect and review the unit plans from the teachers in the “big school,” that is, grades 1 through 12. Let me tell you,Continue reading
How to Spend a Saturday
Sleep in. Sit on the couch and pretend you are doing “school work.” Read devotions. Make a chicken salad sandwich for lunch. Do income taxes. Find teachers to follow on Instagram. Stalk said teachers onContinue reading
Finding My Voice
For the last month or so, I have been working with a wonderful coach–Amanda of Mud and Ink Teaching. Together we are building a curriculum for the middle school around essential questions and inquiry. LastContinue reading
The Whole Class Novel: Is It Worth It?
I have to admit that I am struggling these days. I’m not sure what’s going on, but my students aren’t reading like they used to. To be honest, I’m not reading like I used to. Continue reading
The Rabbit Hole
I fell down the rabbit hole this afternoon. You know the one: the one where you are chasing down the best creative ideas you can find to energize your classroom. The one that will inspireContinue reading
New School Year, New Duties–A New Balancing Act
The school year 2021-2022 is in full swing. In three weeks or so, I will be entering grades for the first quarter. I’m not sure where the first six weeks of school have gone. It’sContinue reading
Ditching the Textbook in ELA?
I don’t know when I first heard of Matt Miller and his “mantra” of ditching the textbook, but the idea appealed to me. I love anthologies of literature because they have been curated and compiled,Continue reading
How Teaching without “Resources” Made Me a Better Teacher
I remember my first year of teaching. I was handed a stack of textbooks, a paperbound “teacher’s guide” and the tests for the literature series. All I had to do was make the assignments, giveContinue reading
It’s February, and I’m feeling the Winter Blues
I read a blog post recently about the grayness of February. In the post, the author told of a reporter who went to see her doctor because she was feeling “blue.” The doctor replied, “It’sContinue reading