In the Christmas break, I am looking back at this blog’s growth and development. I began writing a little bit for the blog in February, but didn’t officially launch it for real until June. Since that time, growth has been pretty consistent. I now seem to regularly get a small number of comments for every article I write, with some ...

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 the stressful holidays that require months of planning and occassionally ...

On the first day of teaching, my Teacher gave to me: A classroom management plan On the second day of teaching, my Teacher gave to me: Two Administrators And a classroom management plan On the third day of teaching, my Teacher gave to me: Three days of review Two Administrators And a classroom management plan On the fourth day of teaching, ...

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 to treat kids like robots.  I loved parts of the critical pedagogy, ...