A place for classroom teachers to be mindful ADVOCATES for education. Share your voice. Contributors welcome!
As teachers, we go to battle for our students all the time. We do those extra things that we aren’t paid for but that we know are in the best interests of our students. Through the years, I couldn’t begin to count the number of times that I have gone to battle for students--the... Continue Reading →
This post "Is Apathy the Deadliest Sin" had me thinking so much that it required a post rather than just a comment. In response to this question, I have to loudly shout "YES!" I think that apathy is absolute death to teachers in the profession today. As this school year nears a close, I keep... Continue Reading →
I was completely apathetic towards math when I was in school. It was hard for me and I pretty much stunk at it, which is probably why I probably had no strong connection to it. A catch-22 of sorts.However, like most people, I was totally motivated at all the things that I was good at,... Continue Reading →
A few weeks ago, my students and I talked about the connotative value of words. A word like "Lady" means something quite different than "woman," even though they both mean the same thing: an adult, female human. "Terrorist" brings a far different image to mind than "Revolutionary," even though they mean essentially the same thing.... Continue Reading →
With great sadness today, I signed my teaching contract for next year. I love my job. I love my classroom and my students. I love my district and the many caring educators who pour their hearts into teaching kids. My district has fought hard to keep the state budget cuts from decreasing teacher pay checks. We've... Continue Reading →
Today is my birthday. For the past few years, I have told my students that I am 29, with surprising success—not because I look 29, but because teenagers are sometimes easy to fool. This year, I am going for 30, and I’ll probably spend the next few years at that age. However, my birthday... Continue Reading →
In nine years of blogging, I think that I have written about the financial side of teaching twice. Today will be the third--and I imagine that my total count for teacher-finances-blogs will stay at three for a few years after this. Here’s the deal...I don’t like talking about money for two reasons: I would not... Continue Reading →
Here are some great comments from Beth Maloney, AZ Teacher of the Year 2014. I was really inspired by this speech, especially when she said: “Get your message out there because if you don’t tell your story, someone else will tell it for you.” Teachers, this is a powerful call to action. Get your stories out there! And if you are considering pursuing National Board Certification, I highly encourage you to begin the amazing journey!
With Carolyn Warner, former State Superintendent of Public Instruction, champion of students, and one of Beth’s heroes. P.S. She gave me a kiss after my speech and said, “Way to go, kid!”
On February 1, 2014 the Arizona K12 Center hosted a fabulous event to recognize and celebrate Arizona’s newest National Board Certified teachers and Master Teachers. I was thrilled to be invited to speak. Here is an excerpt from my keynote:
Welcome to the family! We are many, but we speak with a unified voice, especially when we say congratulations. You have elevated the credibility of our profession. Take the time to let this achievement land.
There was a recent study that asked: What does the public want to see from their teachers? The 3 P’s: passion, professionalism, patience. You have dedicated yourself to those. And you proved you can follow directions really, really well.
I recently had the…
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This week, I’ve been thinking a lot about how special the ability is to make people feel special. If it’s sincere, it might be one of the best qualities a human can have. It’s certainly one of the most important characteristics of successful teachers. The reason that the topic is on my mind is because... Continue Reading →
I wrote this in spring of 2008. My largest class this year has almost five times the number of students that this special little class had, and next year, the smallest class that the district will allow will be 32 students per class. I read this and weep…. _______________ In my 5th hour class, there... Continue Reading →
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