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…
The Mailbox
Anticipation
Some things are hard to wait for. Water to boil. Toast to brown. The new season of The Walking Dead to start. George Lucas to apologize for Star Wars episodes I, II, and III and give us the movies we really wanted. Not to mention the moment when your collection of new students turns into…
The Error of Our Ways
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?
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…
40 Years of Change
As you’re no doubt aware, The Mailbox is celebrating 40 years of helping teachers by delivering creative ideas and activities that engage students and help meet Common Core standards. In the early days, we were known for our creative teacher workshops. Today, it’s our books, magazines, mobile apps, and digital and online resources. We’ve come…
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…
It Was Black and White and Read All Over
Newspapers. You may have heard of them. You may remember them. Some of you may still receive them at your home every day. On television and in the movies, they’re something dad reads every morning over breakfast while the family buzzes around him, or on the subway to work as he is jostled and pickpocketed….
How to Celebrate in Style?
How would you like to see a photo of all The Mailbox editors wearing aluminum foil hats? I’ll make it happen before the end of the school year. But you have to do me a favor. I need lots of ideas for how a teaching staff can wrap up its school year in style. In…