I recently read an article in support of the notion that if students do not want to learn, it is impossible to make them learn. Okay, here’s the honest truth: I wanted to shake this author until his teeth rattled loose and spilled out onto the floor. I was in such disbelief that I read…
Professional Development
Just Who Do You Think You Are?
How full does your lesson plan book need to be? Lesson plan books vary as widely as the teachers using them. I remember some teachers who crafted plan books detailed with the precision and flourish of a Rembrandt crossed with a Seurat, complete with stickers, inserts, overlays, and of course, about eight different colors of ink,…
On the Other Hand…
It’s a new year, and I decided to let only a few days pass before I (sort of) contradict myself. I love eBooks, and you should too. Sure, I love paper. I can’t live without it. And, as I said Tuesday, despite owning a high-profile eReader, I still purchase mostly traditional paper books. However, when…
Please Take the Quiz
More pay for public school teachers. Universal preschool. Increase the curriculum focus on STEM learning. Smaller class sizes. Longer school days. Or an option of your own description. Last week I assigned The Mailbox Blog readers a simple, one-question quiz. Which idea would do the most to improve the quality of public education in America…
Pop Quiz #1210
As you might guess, I am not employed solely to write a blog. That means that I don’t necessarily have all the time in the world to follow each development, large and small, in the great big world of education. Still, I try to keep my eye on things, write about what I know, and…
Answer the Teacher Prep Critics
I took a nontraditional route to teaching. I’m sure you’re not surprised. After a decade as a cubicle dweller, two untimely layoffs within a year were enough to make me finally take the step I had been contemplating for a long time. With little advance preparation, I took the Massachusetts teaching licensure exam, which, when…
Your Turn
I worked for a principal who was noted for saying she wished she taught in an orphanage. Her reasoning, of course, was that she easily could achieve longer school days without the occasional meddlesome parent. I suspect she may have also preferred it if all the teaching staff lived in nearby barracks, where we could…
Master’s Degree Mayhem
The last few months have been a nail-biting time for North Carolina teachers who are currently enrolled in master’s degree programs. Late in the summer, the governor approved a state budget that eliminated automatic pay raises to public school teachers who complete master’s degrees. However, in the last week or so, the state did find…
Teacher Workshops
Summertime for teachers usually includes at least one workshop, right? My goal as a teacher was to get district-mandated workshops taken care of soon after school was out, if possible. Then I’d simply plan around any workshop I chose to attend. What kinds of workshops are you taking this summer? Do you have a summer…
Teacher Evaluations
Let’s chat about teacher evaluations. Are you pleased with the way your teacher performance is evaluated? Do you get the feedback you need? Are your efforts and successes recognized? Maybe you even have a suggestion or two for improving your school’s current evaluation process. If so, do share! Teachers are awesome! Diane