elementary school
You Can’t Build a Time Machine
I didn’t write my column last week. The days leading up to last Tuesday came and went, and I knew I needed to sit down and write up something, but […]
You can’t Shame Your Way to Success
If you’re anything like the many people who step on the scale every morning, after enjoying a night - or full day of - candy, soda, and carbs, you’re probably […]
Teach Like It’s The 21st Century
In the beginning there were desks. There was a chalkboard. There was a podium. There were students in rows, pencils at the ready, notebooks opened, and a sage on the […]
Write the Real, Not the “Real”
Write the real. Notice there are no quotation marks around the word "real" in that first sentence; it's because the words that should go down on paper are those that […]
When the Sidewalk Never Ends
I don't remember how old I was when my mom brought home a copy of Shel Silverstein's Where the Sidewalk Ends, but I know it’s the first book of poems […]
The Art of Procrastination
Procrastination is an art form. There should be a plaque, or a People’s Choice award, or a Certificate of Achievement for the focus and commitment it takes to truly sit […]
Armchair Activist: How Many Clicks Does it Take?
You are an armchair activist armed with Facebook statuses and the click click click of the Like button. You are the world’s misleading expert on everything amassed from hours online. […]
Semantics in the Era of “Sup?”
“Semantics semantics you don’t know semantics. Semantics matter, Mom!” my 7-year-old sang to my wife while at the dinner table the other evening. While she sang and pointed, my wife […]
Your Pseudo-Struggles, and the Effect on Your Students
It’s Monday morning, and I’m wondering if the teachers with whom I work are standing outside their doors, and greeting each student as they meander into the classroom. Are they […]
Confessions of an Educator
What is "Confessions of an Educator"? Too often teachers rely on what they learn in their education programs, and then are scared when they walk into their own classroom, and in […]