There’s power behind infusing tidbits or randomness into the classroom. Connection to academic content is unnecessary. Simply spend 2-3 minutes each day on something completely irrelevant but appealing. Buy your students’ attention. Steal their interest. Give them a reason to show up to class. Give them something to talk about. Give them something to remember. [...]
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In my first class, the professor had us finish three sentences. Here were mine:
–
I believe teachers…
…should base their teaching methods around their students needs. Students are not there for the teacher, the teacher is there for the students.
I believe students…
…should have the opportunity to succeed regardless of background, class, race, sex, place of upbringing, and [...]
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I’m not here to save anyone. I’m just here to give the best education I can. It’s up to them to take it.
Two weeks ago, I revealed the bad news to my 6th grade kids that they’re averaging at a 3rd grade reading level. But I also revealed the good news to them: our Big [...]
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Here are some first week quotes that should shed some light on my experience thus far:
“Miss, you ain’t gonna stay.”-student on day 1
“Miss, you should get with a Puerto Rican. You’d have sexy kids.”-female student
“Principal T asked us what we thought of you. Don’t worry, we all said you were good.”-student after school
Students say [...]
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Today was ‘textbook day.’ The majority of each class period was spent journeying to the library, standing in line, checking out textbooks, then journeying right back. Laidback for teachers, laidback for students. Throughout the day, however, I couldn’t help but notice a stark contrast in attitude between classes…
Many of my geometry students were excited. A [...]
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When I first read this article, I knew an eventual blog post was a must. I know I will complain this school year about long nights grading, lesson planning, extremely short lunches; I’ll complain about the need to fully invest myself in and out of work when I’d rather just fully be me after walking [...]
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From the Center For Sudent Success and the Research and Planning Group for California Community Colleges:
More than one in every three students in the California Community Colleges enroll in basic skills classes.
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I’m not a teacher. Not yet, at least. But I’m learning to become one. As a brand new Teach For America corps member, I’m experiencing some hardcore challenges at this summer’s institute in New York City. Oh, you’ll hear plenty about it (like how we get up at 5AM every morning with an average of [...]
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