Dear Teacher Who Wants to Quit: I am sorry. Sorry too that I must start first with regret. What a poor way to begin. But then. You are leaving teaching. And a void has already been left in the wake of this momentous decision. I feel that void. And sorrow too; for when decisions like …
Their little voices banter back and forth as I flit from desk to desk. Like a mother robin tending her young. I duck my head in and out, gauging the activity. Monitoring the learning. Watching that things are progressing. Teacher stuff. They, my little brood, are discussing something- and there seems to be a disagreement …
His little body tells me he means business. He power-walks away from me, even as I call out his name: once, twice, thrice. And then some more. He hears me, but he’s trying not to listen. It is apparent that he perceives my constant calling for he moves purposefully ahead, making an ever-widening arch as …
I found myself speaking sharply to a student this afternoon. There was nothing different about his behaviour- nothing truly out of character in his actions. He is quite hasty by nature under normal circumstances, and today was really no different than any other. And there really was nothing different about the moment, the circumstances surrounding …
“To educate as the practice of freedom is a way of teaching that anyone can learn. That learning process comes easiest to those of us who teach who also believe that there is an aspect of our vocation that is sacred; who believe that our work is not merely to share information but to share …
I was reading a blog the other day that gave kudos to teachers, in support of Teacher Appreciation Week. It talked about the work that teachers do and acknowledged teachers and educational assistants as doing important, worthwhile things, in both academic and other areas, so as to support children and young people in their growth, …
“You’ll never amount to anything. You’ll never be much. You’re a problem child.” So he was told. I had forgotten, but she reminded me yet again as we were talking: about the cruelty of words and how shattering they can be when ill-spoken. When hastily proffered. When handed over without any thought or consideration to …
Over the years, I have had moments as a teacher so memorable they have left a significant, lasting impression. Imprinting forever in my long-term memory the emotions that were felt when that experience occurred. I remember a particularly difficult teaching assignment in which I took over a short-term social studies position at the high school …
Warning: the contents of this article might be offensive to some. In that, it might make you conjure up images of snot, mucous, throw-up, broken arms and the like. Consider yourself trigger warned. Last weekend’s Globe and Mail had an article in its Focus section about trigger alerts. Essentially, trigger alerts are advance warnings that might alert …
“The loss of these last five days has been a disaster, with the loss of instructional time…and we need to gain back as much (of that time) as we can.” P.E.I. Minister of Education, Alan McIsaac, as quoted during a CBC radio interview which you can listen to here We have accumulated thirteen storm …
I really appreciate my friend for challenging my thinking, as you will come to read below. I am providing her challenge to my thinking and perspective along with my response to her. This welcome challenge was issued to my last blog post regarding What is Worthwhile Knowing: A Teacher’s Perspective. I would readily open any …
Not long ago, I wrote an article called “What Students Remember Most About Teachers” to which I received a phenomenal response from my readership. I continue to hear daily from people with stories to share about the teachers who made an impact on their lives- hear from those as well who share about the teachers …