I have a friend from high school who doesn't often agree with me. Our lives and outlooks are oh so different. He lives in a rural area, while I live in the city. He's an outdoorsman. I don't hunt. He's a gun owner. I'm not. He's … [Read more...] about A Republican Comment on a Democrat’s Blog
Dirt and Noise
NC Citizens — Help Remove Punitive Standard 6 From Teacher Evaluations
Nothing gets me testier than testing. As you might know, I served on the North Carolina Statewide Task Force for Summative Assessment. If you’ve ever proctored a high stakes EOG test, you’ll know what a dismal experience it is for students and teachers alike. My own … [Read more...] about NC Citizens — Help Remove Punitive Standard 6 From Teacher Evaluations
Snow Days Spark New Reverence for Teachers
We missed a couple days of school here in North Carolina. We had more ice than snow, and regardless how much Northern driving experience you have, there's no way you're getting around safely on a highway that's morphed into a skating rink. And so we hunker down. It's expected … [Read more...] about Snow Days Spark New Reverence for Teachers
Making A World of Difference, Starting in the Classroom
There's been a lot of chatter in the media about helicopter parenting and raising kids with empathy. It seems we have upon us a generation of entitled kids who don't know how to cope or feel or dare I say, behave. Mac Daddy and I have always believed we are raising adults, not … [Read more...] about Making A World of Difference, Starting in the Classroom
A Week of Loss
It's been a rough week for muggles and music fans. The planet has become a tish less cool of late, and not due to global warming. The loss of David Bowie and Alan Rickman has us all staring at our screens, mouth agape. Their loss is proof that art of all kinds matters. We … [Read more...] about A Week of Loss
Non-Sequitors aka A Minute in My Brain
We finally went to the MC Escher exhibit at the NC Museum of Art. It was crazy crowded (yeah for people seeing art!), and I learned a lot about this man whose art transcends the staircase and hand optical illusions he's known for. MC Escher was the first hipster. I mean really, … [Read more...] about Non-Sequitors aka A Minute in My Brain
Time May Change Me
Before there were Internet memes and inspirational quotes painted on distressed reclaimed wood, I jotted down favorite quotes in a journal. I have a series of journals from my teen years filled with angst, longing, and a yearning for belonging. The year was 1985. I scribbled … [Read more...] about Time May Change Me