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Leanne Shirtliffe

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teaching

The Hobbit, Teens, and Ladies of the Night

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 […]

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 […]

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