Today, for the first time in a very long time, I had fun with every single one of my classes. My 9th graders are reading The House of the Scorpion and are getting into the creepy dystopian world, while my 12th graders just finished reading origin/creation stories from all over the world and comparing them, … Continue reading March 16: Fun? At School?
education
March 14: Walkouts Everywhere
Kids at our school joined kids across the country and world in walking out to protest gun violence and call for more gun safety. My son's school took part, as well, and I'm glad they did. Students and young people have been at the forefront of social movements forever. They have energy and unbridled passion, … Continue reading March 14: Walkouts Everywhere
March 11: Daylight Savings Time Should Be Abolished and other complaints
We got the clocks changed (I think we got them all; I probably need to fix the car still). Can we all agree to just leave them like this? This collective stupid time change thing needs to go. As I've gotten older, I have gotten more and more crotchety and cranky about this. I will … Continue reading March 11: Daylight Savings Time Should Be Abolished and other complaints
March 10: Trauma and Hope
Today was the second day of the ECET2MN conference, which was held at the Open World Learning (OWL) school in St. Paul. I love visiting different schools - it's like being invited into someone else's house, in a way. I imagine what it must be like there with tons of kids buzzing around the hallways. … Continue reading March 10: Trauma and Hope
March 9: Feeling Lost. And Chickens.
Today, Annika shared a picture of her chicken alter-ego. It's a blue chicken with an iron beak that can eat anything and his name is Hozay. It's pronounced Jose, but it's spelled Hozay. When she plays farm at recess with her friends, she becomes Hozay, a legendary chicken. This delights me. It was good to … Continue reading March 9: Feeling Lost. And Chickens.
March 8: MN Legislature Forwards Terrible Legislation
Ok, Minnesota State Legislators: What is going on with SF 2487? It requires schools to adopt a "written academic balance policy" that must "prohibit school employees, in their official capacity, from requiring students or other school employees to express specified social or political viewpoints for the purposes of academic credit, extracurricular participation, or as a … Continue reading March 8: MN Legislature Forwards Terrible Legislation
February 28: It’s Over!
So February is (almost) over. I took Annika to see the Roseville women's basketball game tonight. They played against Irondale in the first round of the section and we left with, like, seven minutes left because Roseville was up by about 30 points and Annika wanted to see my classroom before we left. Tomorrow is … Continue reading February 28: It’s Over!
February 27: Why is February the Worst?
A long time ago in a school district far away, a teacher friend pointed out "February is the worst month." It always has been a rough month - I suppose because of where it falls in the school year combined with the ongoing dreariness of the winter weather. Then there are the looming budget cuts. … Continue reading February 27: Why is February the Worst?
February 25: Ready to Go, I Guess
Two solid days of sleep and a day of general relaxing today seems to have done the trick I had hoped it would: I think I'm ready to go back to school. It was a good choice to take Friday off. I didn't even feel guilty. That's how crappy I felt. I tried to get … Continue reading February 25: Ready to Go, I Guess
February 21: NOOOooooooo!!!!
I stayed home because my son is sick with the flu. I ended the day with a prescription for Tamiflu because now I'm getting sick and the symptoms are close enough to flu that the online doctor visit prescribed it for me. And I didn't get my grading done because I was tired all day … Continue reading February 21: NOOOooooooo!!!!
Adventures in Distraction 