My eighth graders had just finished studying The Hobbit. We’d followed Bilbo’s epic journey, we’d watched Peter Jackson’s awesome production vlogs, the girls had declared Kili the Dwarf “hot.” [youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nOGsB9dORBg] Twenty minutes remained in this particular class. “Let’s find our Hobbit names,” I said. I opened my laptop to a hobbit name generator site, got […]
teaching
Laughter from a Teacher Who's a Twit
I am more thrilled than a kid on a snow day to be guest-posting at Lessons from Teachers and Twits, especially since I am both a teacher and a twit (something my guest post demonstrates clearly). Lessons from Teachers and Twits is the blog of one of my online besties, Renee Schuls-Jacobson, who I love […]
How To Be the Teacher’s Pet
It’s holiday Monday. There’s nothing teachers like better than a holiday Monday, except eight of them in a row, which is also known as summer. Today–a delicious holiday Monday–I’m pleased to bring you a guest post from the hilarious Tyler Tarver. Tyler is a teacher and a dad and an author, not necessarily in that […]
Insulting Your Teacher, Middle School Style
It is finished. The school year. I survived. So did my students. I will remember many things from this past year, including the students who – in hopes of a good grade – declared me “hotter” than Megan Fox. Sycophancy is alive and well, I’m happy to say. I will remember a group of students […]
3 Things You Should Never Teach Your Children
1. What Sarcasm Is It’s not much of a secret that I unsheathe my sarcasm sword regularly. When William knocks his glass of milk on the floor, I can’t stop myself from quipping, “Thanks for the help cleaning up.” It’s not going to get me any Parent of the Year nominations, but it’s my style. […]
Why Teachers Need Holidays
I’ve been looking haggard lately, more so than normal. I’ve had a long stretch of teaching, followed by two nights of parent-teacher interviews. Bedtime’s come too late and sleep has been unsettling. In the classroom, I’ve looked and sounded like Charlie Brown’s teacher. [youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PcZlalsyOxE] I’m not sure if it’s the tiredness or the fact that […]
Interpreting Your Kids' Report Cards
It’s report card season, that time when teachers churn out more euphemisms than the Department of Defense did when Bush was in power. I should know: I’m a teacher. And, like my colleagues, I can turn the phrase “should stop spitting on his notebook” into “would benefit from controlling his enthusiasm.” Still, as useless as […]