We are not perfect. But we admit our mistakes. As a teacher, you likely do the same thing on (hopefully rare) occasions. What is the worst or most embarrassing mistake you’ve ever admitted to your class?
Teacher Appreciation
Hi, Bob
Poor Dr. Robert Hartley. All he wanted to do was share information about his job with the third graders at the Tracy Grammar School. Dr. Robinson, the dentist, brought an oversize model tooth. Mr. Borden, the airline navigator, brought a model jet. The assistant fire chief brought a fire ax. The psychologist didn’t even have…
A Tree Hugger Apologizes
I’d like to offer a long-overdue apology to my friends the trees. I love trees. In my younger days, I will admit to physically hugging them. When I was about seven years old, one of my favorite places to spend hours playing was in the twisted trunk of a fallen, but still-living tree in the…
Five Fast 40th Facts
We’re deep in the heart of our 40th Anniversary celebration here at The Mailbox. In case you haven’t checked out the special deals and sweepstakes going on right now, click here. In honor of 40 great years of putting teachers first, here are five fast facts about The Mailbox you might not have known: 1….
A Crystal Ball Question & Giveaway
It’s August 1, and for those who teach in schools with traditional academic calendars, that means… Well, I think you know what it means, and I don’t want to say much more, in case you’re trying not to think about it. But, really, what teacher ever fully disengages her brain from thinking about school, the…
The Price of Smart
I like smart. I think there’s nothing better. One common indicator of smart in some circles tends to be the advanced degree. I’m not saying it is an accurate or fair measure of smart. It also could be a measure of perseverance or foolishness or uncertainty, right? Not long ago, however, teachers began to be…
Going to the Gallows! Yippee!
My previous post was about one kind of humor—the lighthearted humor or inside jokes you can use in an established classroom setting to get students feeling comfortable and open to new ideas and new learning. Today’s post is about another kind of humor—gallows humor. The definition of gallows humor from Merriam-Webster online is “humor that…
The Importance of Being Funny
Laughter is the best medicine. If I had a dollar for every time I’ve heard that expression, I’d be able to hire every stand-up comedian in America and have nightly performances in my living room. I’d never get sick or even grow old. Laughter is also a great prescription. Studies show that laughter, almost universally…
A School Year in Review
Let’s review, shall we? During the last school year, I touched on a wide range of subjects, both serious and not-so-much. On a few of them, I received many comments. On many of them, I received none. Good or bad, I think some of them are worth revisiting. And the passage of time may mean…
A Few of My Favorite Things
Over the last several years, I’ve enjoyed working closely with the other editors here at The Mailbox to create, edit, and share a slew of great ideas for upper grades teachers. Just for fun, I’d like to share a few of my favorite ideas for your consideration. “My Page” – Sure, kids these days are…