Do you like ukulele music? No, you love it; that’s why you moved to Hawaii. I think my love for the ukulele is born out of the opening chords of “Raindrops Keep Fallin’ on My Head” by Hal David and Burt Bacharach, sung by B. J. Thomas for the film Butch Cassidy and the Sundance…
Continuing Education
Checking in on Tech
Toward the end of The Mailbox Work Day yesterday, I was chatting with two other editors about life, the universe, and everything, when one of them announced to us that her phone was telling her that it was time to go home. It has learned her habits that well. We’re not sure how it’s done…
Do You Follow?
We never really get following directions, do we? Let’s admit it. Even as adults, we’re about as good at following directions as we were when we were children. There really hasn’t been much improvement. You there at your desk at Groveland Elementary in Minnetonka, you can protest as loudly as you want that I am…
Gooey Gray Mud
If you had told me that walking knee-deep through the gooey gray mud of a tidal basin during a cold New England April would be one of the highlights of my high school years, I might have laughed. Right in your face, in fact. That’s if I had been paying attention. (I was not…
Building Bridges
Team-building exercise. Three words. One hyphen. Plenty of trepidation. I’m not a fan of team building. I should be, but whenever I hear someone at the front of a room I’m in use the words “team-building exercise,” I look for the nearest exit. If you’ve got a few hours, maybe we can trace the origins…
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…
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…
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…
End-of-June Randomness
It’s tough to write a blog for teachers in the final days of June. Some of you have been done with your 2012-2013 school year for almost a month. Some of you are looking at your last few days. Retailers are blatantly guilty of starting their back-to-school promotions. And we will not give you even…
Theory Into Practice
Some things are good in theory but pale when put into practice. I’m thinking, of course, about a family pack of high-powered water guns as a Father’s Day gift. Or the platypus. Or teaching a class of seventh graders the word masticate. On the other hand, there are good ideas that end up being even…