An archived stack of papers: 'speaking'
Day One
In a stack of papers called Instruction.
- Aug
- 23
- 2008
Syllabus? On Day One!? Are you nuts??
Seriously, consider ditching that dry bit of talk. Push it off as much as you possibly can. The students only need to know certain things right now and chances are that info isn’t on your syllabus. It can wait until later. For now, you have a stage to set and what you do today will impact the rest of the school year. Not irreversibly, but this is... read more
How Was It For You?
In a stack of papers called Instruction.
- Aug
- 29
- 2007
Day one, so much possibility and educational energy. Now it’s over. This is as anticlimactic as the day after your birthday.
Some Questions
What went well? Did you do anything this year that you keep telling yourself you should do?
Working with songs in English 3 gave a nice way to start... read more
A Small Success
In a stack of papers called Instruction.
- Jan
- 02
- 2007
The final period of the day brings challenges no matter the course. Students and teachers are tired; it’s easy to cut that period; the end of the day is looming; the list goes on. My seventh period this year has been a challenge in that the students are quiet. No, not just quiet, on the verge of silent.
Today, during discussion of the daily, two students tripped over themselves to help... read more
Hopes And Dreams In Japan
In a stack of papers called Personal.
- Apr
- 25
- 2006
While in Japan, someone asked me about the difference between “hope” and “dream.” I started off saying that “hope” typically is used for something you expect to happen. You hope for an end to hunger. You hope for the day you can see your long-lost relatives again. “Dream” is used to describe things that would be cool, but you don’t anticipate... read more
Make A Scene For Your Classroom
In a stack of papers called Instruction.
- Apr
- 09
- 2006
While watching Election for quite possibly the 100th time, I was reminded of why I thought a short clip of that film might be good to play for my students.
Toward the end of the movie, in a segment that’s about 5... read more