Musings from a Not-So-Master Teacher

Birthdays are important to me. Unlike other American holidays, they do not require reciprocity. There is no give-and-take, no social contract; nothing that says, "our gifts better be equal, because if they don't, I'll either feel gyped or guilty." Unlike Read More...

Classroom management, to me, is a bit of a misnomer. The term manager conjures up a man clad in a shirt and tie, sitting behind a cubical (sp?) attempting to maintain the status quo. A manager keeps things under control. A leader, however, is proactive Read More...

I sit at my desk with a fat stack of papers. The solitary electric guitar quietly introduces notes to the song "Round Here" by Counting Crows– a lonely track that never should have been a hit, because it really wasn't all that radio-friendly anyway. After Read More...

After taking so many theory classes this summer, I am left with a mental overload. I enjoy the dialogue and debates, yet I can't help but feel that none of the "isms" really worked for me. Constructivism was great, but often unrealistic. Behaviorism seemed Read More...

The following are five easy steps to managing a classroom: It's blank for a reason. I don't think there is that magical formula. There aren't five easy steps. We don't teach in Hogwarts and we don't have a magic wand to make it all better. Moreover, I Read More...