I have always thought judging Pre-K and K students only on their ability (or inability) to read letters and words was short-sighted. I remember the 2nd grade student who told me: Miss Ra-ra I can't read. (Yes, Miss Ra-ra because Ferrara was a mouthful for some students.) I showed him a picture of a cereal … Continue reading What Do We Read Beyond Words?
Tag: teaching
What if?
Rich Czyz must rise very early each morning to work on his blog, 4 O'Clock Faculty. I guess this because by the time I am up and ready to write, he has already posted some pithy observation for me to read. And this morning was another one of those days. Calling his post: What If … Continue reading What if?
What a Hurricane Taught Me about Listening and Leadership
Thirty-five years ago, the news director at WJLA-TV in Washington, DC told me I was headed to Virginia with one of our most-seasoned reporters, Jim Clarke, to cover Hurricane Gloria. He was an amazing reporter and a great teacher. He died in 2009. Here's a brief blurb from the Washington Post. Jim Clarke, an Emmy … Continue reading What a Hurricane Taught Me about Listening and Leadership
Can We Let Teachers Channel Miss Frizzle?
There's no denying the truth; Miss Frizzle was my role model for teaching and learning. There wasn't a question she wouldn't answer. There wasn't a field trip she wouldn't take with that Magic School Bus. She loved her students. She had fun learning alongside her students while they thought she was merely teaching. I adore … Continue reading Can We Let Teachers Channel Miss Frizzle?
Who Will Make the Profound Changes Needed in Public Education?
Ask anyone who knows me well, I am not rabidly invested in sports, despite having attended both the University of North Carolina-Chapel Hill and the University of Maryland-College Park. Don't get me wrong, I will root for Carolina basketball, especially when the foes are Dook, UVa, Syracuse and NC State; but that's because I have … Continue reading Who Will Make the Profound Changes Needed in Public Education?
Can Public Education Let Old Ways Die?
My summer has been filled with meditation classes as I work my way through some challenges, including trying to finish my 200 hour yoga teacher training requirements. I have gravitated to classes offered by one very special yogi, Joshua Ansley. I call him special because he is a deep thinker. He doesn't shy away from … Continue reading Can Public Education Let Old Ways Die?
Where Did the Caterpillars Go?
Yes, my learning about monarch caterpillars continues. This has definitely been a learn-on-the-fly (or learn-on-the-butterfly?) adventure. Clearly I knew very little about monarchs as I happily planted milkweed in my yard this summer. Each morning I have checked on my caterpillars after turning on the sprinkler for my newly installed sod. Slowly over the last … Continue reading Where Did the Caterpillars Go?
What is Academic Regression?
One of many consequences arising from the current pandemic is a need to reassess the comfortable misconceptions we live with daily. One of those misconceptions is that public education is the great equalizer and prepares us for life-long learning. And that misconception has morphed to the point where political leaders now tell us the health … Continue reading What is Academic Regression?
Can We Only Aim For Equity?
To call Principal Jay Billy a friend, or even a colleague, would be presumptuous. We have only met twice. We connect mostly via Twitter. What I can write is this: I respect Jay Billy immensely. Through his writing and the pictures he posts, he clearly loves children. And at the end of the day, that’s … Continue reading Can We Only Aim For Equity?
Academic Grades: Who’s the Audience?
The etymology of words fascinates me. Knowing where words come from allows us to see word evolution over time; or, etymology can provide a richer understanding and definition of a word we take for granted. Such is the case with the word audience. For many people, the word audience means a group of people to … Continue reading Academic Grades: Who’s the Audience?
Begin With A Question 