A New Beginning On the first day of school, we loaded up and headed out. This is the first year my younger daughter starts school much later than my older ones, so as we drove around I had time to really take in the scenery. I saw two parents standing outside with their child on …
The Hardest Thing About Teaching
7 years ago I shared this, The Hardest Thing About Teaching, on my personal page. I taught high school English for 7.5 years and at least 7 of my students from those years have passed away. What They Don’t Tell You… In some ways teaching reminds me of pregnancy. You know, when you’re pregnant there …
Gifts for Teacher Appreciation Week
Ok y’all, I have seen suggested gifts for Teacher Appreciation Week recently that are just horrible so I had to write this. Please do not give your teacher a seat cushion, glue, or a broom and dustpan unless they have specifically asked for those things. Teachers are amazing people. If you give them a coffee …
It’s Dorm Move In Day
It’s Dorm Move In Day! Those little feet that used to pitter patter on their way to find your bed, Now you watch moving in the opposite direction, much too far ahead. It’s dorm move in day! There’s excitement, there’s waiting, there’s cost. But nothing prepares you for driving away, amidst happiness you will feel …
Teachers Are Quitting
A Final Lesson All Their Own Who was your Kindergarten teacher? 2nd grade? Middle school math? High school English? I bet you can tell me if you are 25. I bet you can tell me if you are 55, or 75, and every age in between. Teachers are heroes. They change lives and they go …
The Secret to Long Life
What is the secret to long life? It’s definitely not being stressed and feeling alone all of the time. Checking In Today I started class by telling my students to find an image that represented how they felt in that moment with whatever place they were in life. They emailed me their image with a …
The BEST Writing Prompts
The best writing prompts are ones that students can connect with. But, we know, some students hate to write in any shape or form. As long as I live, I will remember a student sitting in one of the front desks of my classroom, left side, who sized me up on the second day of …
Tracing the Past Along 100 Miles of Shoreline
Southern trees bear a strange fruitBlood on the leaves and blood at the rootBlack bodies swingin’ in the Southern breeze Strange fruit hangin’ from the poplar trees ~ Abel Meeropol I will never forget hearing the recording of Billie Holiday’s famous voice come over the Intercom in my classroom when I was teaching high school. …
Unethical Business Practices
Written anonymously by a guest contributor to inform consumers and encourage them to make smart investments and protect themselves and their loved ones from unethical business practices Unethical Business Practices I have been in the remodeling industry for four years now, primarily working on the sales side of the business. There are many businesses in …
To Those who Teach the Littlest Ones
Thank God for her Teachers To those who teach the littlest ones – thank you. My sweet little daughter called me “Miss Linda” all weekend. She even called her grandma “Miss Linda.” Miss Linda is her teacher at daycare, and she doesn’t look anything like me. My daughter isn’t accidentally mixing us up because we …