Category: education
-
Education as an Educator
Sometimes I feel like I go to more classes or trainings than my students. If I were to go ask others in the education arena, every single one of them would agree. Before entering the school district as a teacher, every person must have at least a bachelor’s degree. To advance in any sort of…
-
Prone to Procrastination
Recently I noticed a proclivity for procrastination and negativity creep into my daily routine. If only “recently” meant the last week or two. Weeks past, I opened the door just a crack or maybe I just forgot to close it all the way. Like a persistent weed, this proclivity took root. Half-hearted attempts to change…
-
We Can’t All Be Bad Teachers, Can We?
A new coworker expressed this thought a couple weeks ago when a few of us gathered to chat after school. Sometimes we call these “vent sessions” or “unloading.” This particular session stemmed partially from decisions out of our control. This year the administration decided to split the school on the basis of test scores. Each…
-
Connotation versus Denotation
As an English teacher and an author, words are my area of expertise, my happy place. My love for words goes way back. I often revel in the rich texture and complexity of words, the layers of connotation added by culture and personal experience. Recently, I once again delved into discussions of connotation and denotation…
-
Words Have Power
The night before the first day of school I had my second brilliant eureka moment concerning this school year. The idea turned into a monologue that set the stage for what will no doubt be my best school year yet. During our last teacher workday my principal held up a handful of pencils and told…
-
Statistical Manipulation
On August 28, 2017, the Greenville News published an article on the salaries of many administrators in the Greenville County School District, my employer. I do not, however subscribe to the Greenville News and thus discovered the article two days later. I will start this entry with a disclaimer. I hold no personal grudge against…
-
When Funding Falters
I teach in a Title 1 middle school. Those in education know the lingo. Others likely have little understanding of the label and its ramifications. Certain subjects hog the spotlight. Poverty, especially in a region of growing affluence, is not one of them. Title 1 provides additional funding for schools with significant populations of students…
-
Back to School
Today marks the first day of my fourth year of teaching or year two of my teaching career reboot. I am excited for what this year will bring. For the first time I feel confident. This time around I know the curriculum and the school. Every positive lesson I documented in my reflection provides incredible…
-
When Reality Intrudes – Homelessness
Every time I travel to San Francisco for the marathon, I encounter homelessness on a scale that I have not encountered any where else in my travels. Obviously, San Francisco is not the only city in the United States with a significant homeless population or even the city with the highest population. However, I see…
-
A Toe into the High Stakes Waters
I am by no means an expert on the topic of high stakes standardized testing. However, as an educator, I have on the ground experience and an opinion based both on that experience, my own education and solid-research based theory. This post, as evidenced by the title, will barely scratch the surface of the topic…