The Long and Short of CliffsNotes

Most of us have been cornered by friends and family who insist on telling an old story that seems to go on […]

Teacher Talk

You don’t need a calendar to know that school is back in session. Campuses across the country are freshly manicured, halls are […]

Thinking Inside the Box: My Piece of Your Professional Development

The unexamined life is not worth living. —Socrates Boxes vary widely in shape and construction, but they tend to all serve the […]

A Sheep in Wolf’s Clothing: A Reading Lesson

“We will do anything to keep the wolves of insignificance from our door.” —Saul Bellow His name was Charlie. He was a […]

Songs Sung Blue: Everybody Knows One

Teachers don’t typically rely on pop tunes for advice, at least not Neil Diamond. This, however, might be an exception, especially if […]

Some Assembly Required: A Teacher Wish List for the New Year

In a few days, most of the wrapping paper will be recycled, the ornaments put back in the attic, and Aunt Mabel’s […]

Confessions of a Poor Reader

For most, reading is a pleasurable skill that is acquired almost imperceptibly. I’ve heard it’s like waking up one morning suddenly knowing […]

A Little Box of Leadership

This semester, our students, funded by a state grant, have been asked to focus on the knotty term “leadership,” as in “teacher […]

The School House Rock

Some of you may have the wrong impression. First you’ll notice there are no bold primary colors or catchy tunes in this […]

Notes on a Reading List

Teaching is a tough job. First of all, it happens beyond our jurisdiction. Concepts ranging from reducing fractions to splitting infinitives are […]