Teaching Life

Four years ago August, I traipsed into my dear head-of-middle school’s office to let him know that I had decided this would be my last year and I wanted to…

 “Those who cannot remember the past are condemned to repeat it.”—George Santayana  I am in Whitwell TN as you read this (edited) article from The Tennessean,dated 7 months ago  The Tennessean Feb 10…

Below: The day after Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School massacre, in Parkland, Florida, in 2018.CHANGE THE LAW Consider donating: https://www.sandyhookpromise.org

Quotations from: https://www.cbsnews.com/news/teacher-shortages-leaving-school-education Teachers are exhausted. Please let them know how much you appreciate how hard they are working. Nationwide, the Bureau of Labor Statistics reports 5.4% of educational services jobs…

“As a state, we shouldn’t be forcing teachers to crawl around on an ice rink to get the money they need to fund their classrooms.”    --Loren Paul, president of…

Classic winners you may have forgotten. Faves from 20 years of teaching middle school English. Babbitt, Tuck EverlastingBalliett, Chasing Vermeer Cooper, King of ShadowsCreech, Walk Two Moons (Newbery Award)Curtis, Watsons Go To Birmingham, 1963 (Newbery Honor)Draper, Out of…

Hippie GodwinPay attention!The Professor Pie in the FaceAbby LincolnQEIQEIIZe ArtisteBurgundy BabePearl GirlPunkin' ManGreenWitch Time

Reposted just in time for the holidays By Chris Van ALlsburg I am a former children’s librarian—and of course a mother. I can’t resist: If you are a new mom…

My former teaching colleagues returned to work this week. At 7 a.m. this morning, I am walking with a cup of coffee to the mailbox, in my jammies. Instead of…