[Read part 6 here] The Last of the Metrozoids by Adam Gopnik Part VII By the fourth and fifth weeks of the Mellons, the scene at the National Gallery was almost absurd. People were lining up at nine in the morning for the two o’clock lecture; I met a woman who had driven down from [...]
A few different opportunities for you if you haven’t seen them already: — MARGOT STERN STROM TEACHING AWARD Call for Applications! What might you do to deepen your involvement with Facing History? Think creatively about your own professional development, a classroom project, or community event with a budget ranging between $250 and $2,500. We will [...]
[Read part 5 here] The Last of the Metrozoids by Adam Gopnik Part VI “Okay, we’re going to learn a play,” he said the next Friday at Metrozoid practice. The boys were standing on Metrozoid Field in their Metrozoid shirts in a semicircle around him. He showed them the play he had in mind, tracing [...]
[Read part 4 here] The Last of the Metrozoids by Adam Gopnik Part V That Sunday of the first Mellon lecture, Kirk walked to the lectern after an introduction. The room was sold out, and the overrflow had been sent to another lecture room. “Can I have the lights down, please,” he said, and I [...]
A bit of time here as I’m waiting for a ride to the airport from H., a fellow NBPTS History/Social Studies Revision Committee member and friend. Our final session this morning went well, with a few of us giving a narrative introduction to the Social Studies/History standard revisions, then moving to general conversation with the [...]
Traveling to conferences, in my opinion, disorients and orients you at the same time. There’s the disorientation—you find yourself, for instance, traveling on a nearly empty blue T line train heading towards the appealing destination of Wonderland (though you’ll get off at the airport stop) at quarter to eight in the morning, when you would [...]
[Read part 3 here] The Last of the Metrozoids by Adam Gopnik Part IV “I think I’m going to make the motivational speech,” I said to Luke as we walked over to Metrozoid Field the next Friday. I had been working on the motivational speech for several days. I didn’t see a role for myself [...]
I still remember that favorite plastic mug of mine from Nesquik, with two large ears for a two-fisted grab. I don’t know how many canisters of the chocolate milk powder my sister and I had to go through to get enough UPC symbols, but let’s just say that the journey and the end-prize were equally [...]
[Read part 2 here] The Last of the Metrozoids by Adam Gopnik Part III When I say that I began working harder, I can barely begin to explain what his idea of working harder meant: It was Bear Bryant’s idea of hard work circa 1955, it was General Patton’s idea of of being driven, only [...]
School Culture and Teacher Effectiveness
Three questions came to mind today. What are the overall school conditions that are necessary to create a positive learning environment for students? What are the qualities and ‘moves’ of a teacher in the classroom needed to achieve those same ends? And how do these determining factors interrelate? Just doing some thinking as I sat [...]