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
New Resources for the New Year
I’m working on new units this weekend. It’s a “long weekend” as we have Monday off for the Martin Luther King, Jr., holiday. The re-opening of school after the Christmas/winter break has been stressful. AContinue reading
Creativity and TeachingT
I don’t know how they do it–those teachers who manage to run a Teachers Pay Teachers store, teach full time and maintain a blog. I thought I could maintain a blog that is mainly reflective,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