I Don't Want to be a Teacher Any More
I’ve always been a teacher. Even before I received my teaching credentials 34 years ago, I was the one who Mr. Wells asked to help Kim Hull learn how to do his story problems. I always...
View ArticleYou Can Stop Waiting—I Am Superman!
Last summer, my daughter and I went to a conference about science. It was really interesting and we learned a lot. We were trying to get a handle on the new science standards in Oregon,...
View ArticleOut of the Mouths of Babes
Dear Caden's Parents,Your son is a genius. Yeah, I'm pretty sure they should give him a job at ODE or maybe as an adviser to Arne Duncan. We're in class and I'm giving them a pep talk because over...
View ArticleDifferentiation and My Daughter
My daughter has been teaching middle school for the past eight years. She’s bright, beautiful, and passionate about her job. She’s an amazing teacher. She works in a very tough middle...
View ArticleI'm an Internet Sensation? Huh?
Crazy. I received a message that The Washington Post wants to publish my diary called "I Don't Want to Be a Teacher Any More." To top that off I got an email from Markos with info from someone at CNN...
View ArticleI Don't Want to Race to the Top...
I much prefer strolling slowly down a garden path, with a few hills just to get my heart rate up a little. I can't see why everyone is so interested in making education a race instead of the journey...
View ArticleNotice to All Banker Types from a Teacher
I have used a bank many times. I have a checking account and a savings account (although I do admit I haven't added anything to my savings account for the past fifteen years since my pay has been...
View ArticleCalling out "Bob"
I have an imaginary student in my classroom. His name is Bob. He comes into the conversation whenever something is going wrong in the classroom. I'll say something like, "Okay class, we have a...
View ArticleA Letter to the Universe...and Wisconsin
I once mailed a letter to my mom. She left me and my four brothers and sisters when we were kids. I had no way to get the letter to her, so I just put it in the mailbox as a symbol. In my mind I sent...
View ArticleI'm a Union Girl
I started my career teaching in a Catholic school. I taught there for ten years. I loved it. The students were all college bound, and parent expectations were incredibly high. My standardized test...
View ArticleSo. Tired. of. Belt. Tightening.
I keep hearing our leaders telling us that every American needs to tighten our belt and pull together during these tough times. I'm beyond sick of hearing people say that our country is broke...
View ArticleTeacher Appreciation Week
Well, teacher appreciation week is over. While I do appreciate all the kind words and the efforts of my principal, the classified staff at my school, and the parents' club to make us feel...
View ArticleBinders Full of Us...
As I stayed up too late last night watching election results, I couldn't help but see a pattern emerging. It was very clear to me that binders full of women stood up and re-elected our president last...
View ArticleMy Shared Sacrifice
So I totally get the idea of shared sacrifice. I don't have a problem doing my part to get the economy back on track. I actually vote for policies that help people that need it, and don't mind paying...
View ArticleThe Roar of Women...
My daughter had a baby last February, a sweet little boy. We were talking yesterday about the world in which he will grow up and her dreams for him. Like all new moms, she wants to give the moon to...
View ArticleWhy I Didn't Speak Up...
I was eighteen when I was sexually assaulted. I was walking to my place of work on a summer evening when I heard footsteps behind me. I turned just in time to be grabbed by my breasts and taken to...
View ArticleUpdated - He didn't report it...
He was a fantastic baseball player. At age ten, he was pulled up to majors in Little League, which is unusual. He was so much smaller and less developed than the other kids on his team, but he held...
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