Browse by Tags

All Tags » what-if wednesday   (RSS)

What if middle school works best with only one teacher?

I'm not sure what the data proves regarding this point. Our test scores might turn out to be awful and our students might be unprepared and like communism and Wings and Crystal Clear Pepsi, this might be a failed experiment that started out as a grand Read More...
Filed under:

,

,

2010 08 25

John Spencer

7 Comments

podcast: what we can learn from an ice cream chain

You can check it out on Internet Archive . Read More...
Filed under:

,

,

,

,

,

,

2010 01 13

John Spencer

2 Comments

what if we do need to make some education cuts?

A short explanation of my thoughts on education cuts . This was supposed to post tomorrow for a "What-if Wednesday." Oh well. Read More...
Filed under:

,

,

,

,

,

,

2010 01 12

John Spencer

4 Comments

Ten Greek Myths That Shaped My Teaching

What if the Greeks have something relevant to say and we miss them because we assume that old means archaic? I don't pretend to know the difference between mythology and legend and simple story-telling. I know that the Greeks considered it all part of Read More...
Filed under:

,

,

2009 12 30

John Spencer

10 Comments

conspicuously unrefined

so the wrapper around the cheese was actually part of the cheese - who knew? I'm a populist of sorts, a "small d" democrat who believes that knowledge and wisdom and art and culture should be accessible to all. I don't believing in talking down to people Read More...
Filed under:

,

,

,

,

,

2009 12 23

John Spencer

12 Comments

ban homework and lengthen school days

So, today is the last day of Edublog voting. I was a bit surprised to have been nominated and I'm hoping they won't show the results. I have a really small following compared to the others. I have a few that I am secretly rooting for (Science Teacher Read More...
Filed under:

,

2009 12 16

John Spencer

17 Comments

the Linux option

What if we considered the Linux option? A few years back, I found forty old computers with semi-faulty hard drives gathering dust on the library floor. After asking around, I finally had the permission to take first-year iMacs and refashion them as Linux Read More...
Filed under:

,

,

2009 12 9

John Spencer

4 Comments

what if it was a conversation?

Yesterday I commented, "The Race to the Top was actually coined by the Germans, except by race they meant Aryan and by 'the top' they meant global domination." They stare at me awkwardly. It was supposed to be funny, but I guess Nazi Germany probably Read More...
Filed under:

,

,

,

2009 12 2

John Spencer

13 Comments

what if we changed the language?

I would love to see schools change their approach to language, not in the way it is taught, but in the way it is modeled. I see teachers freak out about the f-word, when there are other areas of language within the school that can be more damaging. The Read More...
Filed under:

,

,

2009 11 11

John Spencer

0 Comments

what if we're afraid of the wrong things?

I take my boys to the socialized park. Everything is free there. Even the kids share with one another and get this, the parents actually chastise children who assert their individual property rights. I live in a diverse neighborhood. People see this and Read More...
Filed under:

,

,

,

2009 11 4

John Spencer

0 Comments

what if we're all afraid of the wrong things?

I take my boys to the socialized park. Everything is free there. Even the kids share with one another and get this, the parents actually chastise children who assert their individual property rights. I live in a diverse neighborhood. People see this and Read More...
Filed under:

,

,

,

2009 11 4

John Spencer

0 Comments

what if my greatest weakness is my greatest asset?

It's been a tough afternoon, so I listen to "Mr. Jones" from Counting Crows. I hear, "I want to be Bob Dylan. Mr. Jones wishes he was someone just a little more funky. When everybody loves you, you can never be lonely." Today I get the sense that he's Read More...
Filed under:

,

,

,

2009 10 7

John Spencer

0 Comments

prayer in schools

Okay, so this is a really lame excuse, but I haven't blogged the last few days, because I wanted people to recognize that I have a new book out. I know, a pretty lame reason not to blog. (Also pretty ineffective. I've sold only two books so far) I've Read More...
Filed under:

,

,

2009 09 9

John Spencer

0 Comments

what if we taught intellectual humility?

I understand that it's important for students to learn information. I get the need for students to go to college, think well about life, apply concepts to their world. I understand why we have high expectations and why we challenge students to work hard. Read More...
Filed under:

,

,

,

,

2009 08 19

John Spencer

0 Comments

my absolutely unnecessary ranking system of coffee

This is how I spent the lecture portion of today's professional development. It's not that I don't pay attention, but just that I sometimes need a creative outlet if I'm going to listen intently. I can tell you, almost verbatim, everything discussed in Read More...
Filed under:

,

2009 08 11

John Spencer

8 Comments

More Posts Next page »