My school was featured in an article for the New York Times this week regarding technology use in education and our new iPad Lab dubbed, "The iMaginarium." This was coup for the school and we have had two major software/curriculum
Read MoreHopes and Dreams
Two years ago my family and I rang in the New Year toasting our glasses to the bright future of America with our first African-American president. For months it felt as though all was possible. As a minority, it seemed
Read MoreSo Few Students; So Much Time
Every single student, all 190 of them, have a 30-minute long, midyear conference to which they invite parents, guardians, peers, teachers, and other staff members. They share work from their portfolios, talk about their accomplishments and struggles, reflect on their growth in the Habits of Heart and Mind, and set goals for the short and long term. The advisor facilitates each conference, but the student is truly in the driver’s seat. It’s not strictly a time to show off, although that happens sometimes. The roundtable conference is a time for honest reflection and hard conversations too.
Read MoreA New Year
by Jen “Year's end is neither an end nor a beginning but a going on, with all the wisdom that experience can instill in us.” Hal Borland In January many people set goals for the upcoming year. I invite you
Read MoreCesar Chavez, Get out of my state!!!!!
For those of you who haven't heard, there was big news in Tucson this week! A local school district was accused of teaching a class that promotes the overthrow of the U.S. government. (Seriously.) A new law, HB 2281, went
Read MoreAccomplished Teaching?
by Alaina As 2010 comes to a close, many of us are reflecting on our accomplishments – and things we’d like to do better in 2011. In education, teachers are doing this same kind of reflection. What is it, though, that
Read MoreA Child’s Perspective
by Jen We have heard from many teachers on this site, why they teach. So I thought I would ask random students around my elementary school why they think their teacher teaches. Here is what they said: “They love teaching
Read MoreSymptoms of Failure
It’s a farce, and kids know it. When students ask in math class, “When am I ever going to use this?” let’s stop answering with references to calculating bank interest, prices per pound, and the cost of a sale item.
Read MoreWhy I (STILL) Teach?
Seriously, why does anyone still teach!? There have been many great posts these past few weeks that answers the question, "Why I teach?" (You can see some on this site and also on www.storiesfromschool.org from our partners in Washington.) However, I
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