DISCLOSURE: I wrote this back in Feb. when I stopped posting on this blog. I didn’t post this, but it was how I felt. It isn’t directed at the school I previously worked at only, but all schools that treat their teachers like they’re factory workers and not respected, intellectual contributors in the educational process. … Continue reading
Short Story Update: Peer review and criticism
We’re crackalackin’ on short stories in English Intervention and, so far, the kids are loving it. I think it’s the prospect of publishing it that excites them and motivates them. I don’t want to paint an unrealistic, everything-is-perfect picture; there are a couple of students that are lagging on their writing and that’s OK by … Continue reading
What Can I Do to Motivate You?
mo·ti·vate verb \ˈmō-tə-ˌvāt\ mo·ti·vat·edmo·ti·vat·ing Definition of MOTIVATE transitive verb : to provide with a motive : impel <questions that excite and motivate youth> — mo·ti·va·tive \-ˌvā-tiv\ adjective — mo·ti·va·tor \-ˌvā-tər\ noun “Let’s get to work,” is something I say to many students when they’re not using their time constructively. I walk around the … Continue reading
Let’s Publish a Book. It’s Not Hard.
I want my students engaged and motivated. It’s a common desire and a common source of frustration. I’m always trying new methods with my students. We’re reviewing the elements of a story in my English Intervention class and I wanted students motivated. It occurred to me that with the plethora of online publishing resources available, … Continue reading
Dick Allbright’s Baby in a Bar’l
Have you read Mark Twain’s “The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn” recently? I ask ‘recently’ because most of us read it at some point in the past, maybe in school, or something. I’ve read it a few times and it’s only now dawning on me, “What the heck does this side story about Dick Allbright and the … Continue reading
Reflection Essay Brainstorming: Providing an Example for Students
Students are beginning their reflection essays as mentioned in my post, ‘Kohlberg, Huckleberry Finn, and I’. First, I asked students last week to begin thinking about an experience and choice they made sometime in the last year. Since then, I’ve had to relax that standard because some students couldn’t think of anything and needed to … Continue reading
Kohlberg, Huckleberry Finn, and I
I always try to put together fun lesson plans. That’s subjective, of course. My idea of fun includes discussing literature, learning about new academic theories (or old ones I haven’t caught up with), and writing. Why not put all of those things together? I’ve asked my students to take a close look at the moral … Continue reading
Martin Luther Who?
This past week, I’m sure many of us were looking forward to the three-day weekend ahead. That is, those of us that get time off for federal holidays. Of course, that include teachers and students. Hey, I love three-day weekends. It’s one less day of lesson planning, it makes the week shorter all together, and … Continue reading
No One Gets an “A”
This is my first post to Teacher in Wonderland and, I’ve got to say, I’m pretty excited. I’ve written other blogs before for one reason or another, but I hadn’t created one to address my teaching career until now. I’m anxious to see what comes of this; what conversations I might have with readers and … Continue reading
Teacher in Wonderland 