I’ve been ignoring this blog for awhile, for no other reason than I’ve been up to my eyeballs in red tape and assessments and long-term plans, short term plans, visions, and observations. Is that a good enough excuse? Anyways, I’m not doing well, in fact I’m doing pretty shitty. I’m  sure sometimes everyone feels like…

Testing, testing, 1, 2, 3.

How do you have a conversation about gangs with a six-year-old?

Every now and then I’ll be talking about the teachers strike with someone and they’ll say something along the lines of “I understand why they’re doing this, but why do they need a contract?” or “Why do they need a union?” It is something I haven’t asked myself since taking U.S. History in high school,…

Two weeks ago, on the eve of my second first day as a teacher, I was a different kind of nervous. Last year I was worried about my classroom not being ready for my students and I was worried about whether or not I would be able to handle the responsibility of my role. This…

I’m having trouble motivating my kids. I’m getting so exhausted repeating myself all the time. Repeating instructions, repeating rules, repeating expectations and constantly expecting a different result…isn’t that the definition of insanity?   I guess it’s only the 2nd week…

I’ve been meaning to post about the beginning of year two for some time now, but, in usual form, I’m too busy to type! In the first two weeks of school I’ve been putting together my classroom, getting to know my new students, continuing my own education at Cardinal Stritch University, and following the teachers…

So I got a job, finally. And it’s a job that isn’t affected by the teacher’s strike which will start on Monday. I’m teaching 10 (though I have yet to have all 10 show up for school) 3-5 year olds in a community based organization (CBO) for half day pre-k. They’re pretty adorable kids and…

“School is so much fun!” “You’re the best teacher ever!” “Did you just bite me?”