Scene from a middle school classroom this morning. Halfway through the instructional period, the teacher making somewhat of a strategic move to bring up the behavioral goal sheets that students were instructed to complete at some prior point in the year. A bit of confusion about where this conversation was coming from, but enough students [...]
It’s incredible to see all the national news coverage focused on the state of Massachusetts today– a snow/sleet Tuesday and the potentially monumental special election to fill the late Ted Kennedy’s seat in the U.S. Senate taking place. And with a strong Republican challenger, it looks like we actually have a real race on our [...]
“In place of poker, Mila [Kunis] says she spends her time on video games. She and her boyfriend–Macaulay Culkin (editorial note: get out!), whom she calls Mac (editorial note 2: Ok, that’s bad.)–used to play hours of World of Warcraft, until she quit cold turkey. Now she’s on to the Facebook game Farmville. “All you [...]
Scene from an elementary classroom this morning. The teacher having a difficult time getting the class organized and focused–their task to spend a morning session working on test-taking strategies by taking a sample grade-level assessment. A droll reading passage with accompanying multiple choice questions and an open response. The teacher sitting at the rear of [...]
S. and I have started walking every day as of late. It coincides with the New Year’s resolution variety of new routines, but in fairness to this nascent habit, we started talking about it earlier than the turn of the new year. (so there!) Here’s the scoop– Dr. Oz (whose 7 minute workout routine I very [...]
I forget, sometimes, how nice it is to live at once in the city and the edge of it at the same time. Stepping out into a bright, brisk morning in your quiet neighborhood and making the ten minute walk to the closest T station to get off twenty minutes later in Government Center. All [...]
I really enjoyed getting the copy of the math warm up exercises bright and early this morning, as I sat in on a middle school math lesson. The students were chatting among themselves, and then quieted rather nicely as the sheets were passed to them as well. PEMDAS exercises, estimation of square roots and the [...]
The teacher’s lounge. There are few other rooms in a school building that probably evoke the range of feelings as that particular location. The apportioned-off grazing zone for the teacher species. Some sitting in dazed solitude, others coming in for that quick faculty-bathroom run and yet others finding a place to sit in communal (and [...]
Here’s a great opportunity for history teachers. All expenses are paid for, and the application is due by February 12, 2010. Pass on the word! Dear History Educators: I would like to share information with you about the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum’s Teacher Fellowship Program, which will run July 11-16, 2010. Please share this [...]
Sontag Prize in Urban Education
Are you a teacher in an urban school district? Then take a look at this opportunity! Deadline is coming up by the end of January, so don’t wait.. Boston Public Schools is looking for America’s Outstanding Urban Educators. Boston Public Schools (BPS) has teamed up with Harvard Graduate School of Education, Harvard Business School, and [...]