For the last two weeks, students in my class have explored multiple facets of the Palestinian-Israeli Conflict.  They have analyzed sources for bias, posed intelligent questions, created metaphors for the conflict and developed solutions.  I admit that it is idealistic to assume that 8th graders can solve the world's problems in two ...

In our English Language Development class (a thirty minute mandated period where I am supposed to offer scripted, factory-direct instruction) I posed the question, ''Why don't kids read?'' Students discussed the difficulty of reading text that has been too watered down or too difficult, too long or too short and what happens when it feels ...

Yesterday I wrote a blog where I vented.  To my surprise, fellow teachers offered positive feedback and encouraging words.  I think that's a sign that it is slowly emerging as an online community for teachers.  I'm not sure what to think of this.  I feel ambivalent about the notion that community can exist online. On one ...

Will we lose our ability to red, I mean reed, I mean read Technology has a profound impact upon societies in ways that are often unforseen unintended.  Despite the goal of technocrats to integrate technology, there are always social and political consequences that few can predict. Technology is not a simple, neutral tool for the ...