Create a metaphor/simile/analogy that describes your teaching philosophy. For example, a “teacher is a ________…” This is a bit more challenging. A teacher is a rock in the rising current of stupidity trying to slow down the flow. A teacher is the catcher in the rye, keeping kids from falling off the edge. A teacher …
What do you think is the most challenging issue in education today? The battle for classroom time vs. standards seems to be the war we are waging. How much testing is too much testing? My biggest issue with education is the lack of professional courtesy given to teachers. We are professionals. We should be the …
This one is easy. If I had one superpower in the classroom it would be mind reading. I would be able to tell which students were actually paying attention and getting it… I could teach to their interests by knowing what those interests are. Of course, this power would come with the awfulness of constantly …
I am way behind, so I’m blitzing to remain reflective. I read a story in the Atlantic about how American teachers spend way more hours teaching and grading than teachers in other countries. So we are frantic and burned out… 3 Strengths: 1. Passion for the subjects I teach. 2. Open to new ideas. 3. …
Name the top edtech tools that you use on a consistent basis in the classroom, and rank them in terms of their perceived (by you) effectiveness. When I look at this list, I am overwhelmed. I guess I should just list some technology I use in my classroom. 1. Turnitin.com: This started out as a …
How do you envision your teaching changing over the next five years? I like how this is asking about “my” teaching rather than teaching in general. I envision continuing my push for authentic assessment and getting kids to ENJOY learning. My biggest issue with education today is that we burn kids out. Students are stressed out …
What is your favorite part of the school day and why? The easy and obvious answer is the end of the day, but honestly, I love the mornings before school starts. I am usually at my desk an hour early. I love the quiet of my office space before students and other teachers arrive. I …
Day 10 Share five random facts about yourself. 1. Youngest son of 7 children. 2. Parents are immigrants from Latvia. 3. Wanted to be an actor or writer. 4. Loves collecting vinyl. 5. Has very vivid dreams. Share four things from your bucket list. 1. Get a bucket list. 2. Take my kids to Latvia. …
Day 9 Write about one of your biggest accomplishments in your teaching that no one knows about (or may not care). One thing I love about teaching is that we actually get the see the fruits of our labor, now and then. We may not see every one of our students thrive and grow, but …
That is a loaded question. After all, between my office desk and my two classrooms, I have many, many desk drawers. One drawer is a unique drawer from the rest. So to ask what is in “my” desk drawer is perhaps a metaphor for something bigger? Desks, after all, represent a work space. A desktop …