Today I wanted to share with the few of you who still visit here photos and info about my new school. I’ve mentioned before that I am changing to a brand new school this year that hasn’t even opened yet. Since February I’ve been involved in planning and design of the Small Learning Community that [...]

Lots! Many, maybe even most, students with autism will be in the general education classes. Because students on the Autism Spectrum have difficulty reading social cues without proper supports they can be be shunned by peers and labeled annoying/troublemakers by their teachers. Employing a ''hidden curriculum'' strategy by general education ...

Yesterday someone sent me an email to tell me about a few web sites where report cards can be completed. To me their intention was to alert me about the site so I can then tell my readers, fair enough. But, I have report cards that like better right here on my site. That email did help me remember I should tell you about them so here is my plug ...

The five Galesburg High School students who were denied their diplomas due to cheering from the crowd now have their diplomas.  (Students and parents had signed contracts stating that they would not make noise when the students walked across the stage.)  The school still plans to work on limiting the noise from ...

I found this old class picture and wondered if any of my classmates might recognize themselves.  Actually, my sister and I were going through a box of old paper dolls that we had made when we were kids.  We drew them ourselves.  I know that is hard to believe from the quality. (The picture below is a small sample.  We made ...

Colleges and universities are looking beyond grades as they consider applications.  The character and conduct of prospective students are also being viewed as important to the selection process. In part, they are responding to parental anxiety about sending their children off to campuses that are virtually small cities, to live in tight ...

The College Board is auditing all AP courses to make sure they are what they claim to be.  An explosion in AP study – participation in the program has nearly doubled this decade – has bred worry, particularly among college leaders, of a decline in the rigor for which the courses are known. Once the exclusive province of elite students at ...

Some high school students are taking online classes to help squeeze in all of the credits they need for graduation.   An article on dallasnews.com describes area districts who are implementing online programs to provide flexibility for students wanting to take advantage of virtual classrooms.  Lewisville and ...

I hear a lot of jokes about teenagers and their work capabilities.  People sometimes think of them as inept and lazy.  Maybe there is more to the story. Most high school teachers realize that some of their students are burning the midnight oil and that they aren't spending all of their time on homework.  The ...

Texas has had its share of headaches when it comes to testing.  Does anyone else remember the TECAT?  That was a test that every Texas teacher had to take to keep on trucking.  It was an absurd, expensive ordeal where teachers were treated like cattle because lawmakers weren't sure that they were educated enough ...