Essential Questions. I first heard about them in the early 2000s when I took some Intel Teach to the Future training. We had to create a unit plan and portfolio using Microsoft products that weContinue reading
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Standards and Mastery
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
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
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
First Semester Wrap-up
True confession: I. Am. Tired. The Energizer Bunny’s batteries have died. We have one more week before winter/Christmas break at the academy. Actually, it’s four days: one full day with middle school exams beginning firstContinue reading
The Traveling Teacher
This year, I am a “traveling” teacher. That is, I change classes instead of the students. It’s not as easy as it sounds because I am teaching three different classes. To make it easier, IContinue reading
Doing School in the Time of COVID–Lessons I’m Learning
How are you doing school this year? My little school is starting face-to-face instruction. The administration has done a fantastic job of limiting class size to no more than twelve students (my largest class hasContinue reading
Vacation Post
Blogging is hard work! I am taking some time away from my writing here to think and read and photograph nature and spend time with my sons. The pandemic has separated us for theContinue reading