Yer Outta Here

As with many debates in education, the whole thing begins with a problem (too many suspensions), hot button issues are thrown at it to make everyone lose their tempers (racism!), and then everyone weighs in on what should happen, even though most of them have never successfully disciplined a classroom, or worked out consequences with […]

Niche

There was a hawk sitting on the window air conditioner, three stories up. There was me. But otherwise the place was dead.I kind of figured there’d be a lot of liquor bottles, but mostly the empties had held water or pop. Westport Junior High has been closed for a year. Across the street is Westport […]

Take A Load Off Annie

Parents versus teachers: we’re sort of on the same team, and sort of not. When we clash, it’s ugly. I didn’t go into teaching to sabotage or attack students. In fact, it hurts like the dickens when you suggest I haven’t done a good job. When left unsupervised, about 1/4 of my brain obsessively catalogues […]

Writing Teacher Contract

This is what works for me, and I think it will work for you: 1. I won’t read your first draft. I don’t ask anyone to read mine. As Aaron Neville would say, “Baby, my time is too expensive.” I’ll give you points for those first few paragraphs, and then send you off to write […]