There are magical things happening in classrooms. Education reformers and teacher witch hunters would have you believe otherwise. Those are people who have never stepped into a classroom, never held the hand of a kindergartener during a tornado drill, never high-fived a … [Read more...] about Second Grade Rocks
kids
A List of Our Summer Adventures
Summer break is upon us. I look forward to this with visions of hammock lying and puddle jumping. I play scenes in my head of running through bucolic fields and giggling in mounds of dirt. We actually do not have a hammock. Whenever there are puddles there’s lightning. I hate … [Read more...] about A List of Our Summer Adventures
NC Senate Budget Proposal is Shameful
UPDATE: I've shared below content from a teacher friend of mine. This information is publicly available, in the press, on blogs, everywhere. People just aren't paying attention. Complacency and apathy are not acceptable. Even worse, flippant ignorance is abhorrent in these … [Read more...] about NC Senate Budget Proposal is Shameful
Happy Mother’s Day! (an inadequate post)
Mother's Day has become a commercial blitz. First of all, one day out of 365 is hardly enough. I'm thinking at least a quarterly celebration is the least we can do. Who's with me? I did get a lovely handwritten note from Bird and a sweet story from Deal. It's those things I … [Read more...] about Happy Mother’s Day! (an inadequate post)
National Teacher Day
I had one of the world's worst teachers on the planet in high school. This was her Valentine's Day poem to me. "Roses are red. Violets are blue. Everyone's passing. Why aren't you?" She read that aloud to the class. She was not being ironic or satirical. She was … [Read more...] about National Teacher Day
They Only Look Like the Worst Cupcakes Ever
Note: The title of this post is not about the cupcakes in that photo above. My friend Jennie (whom I refer to as a sister from another mother and father) was just in town to launch her fantastic new cookbook, Homemade with Love. My 9 year old son, Bird, has been fascinated … [Read more...] about They Only Look Like the Worst Cupcakes Ever
Of Boston and Bombs
This is our read aloud book right now. Bird and Deal are so mesmerized that they pleaded for just. one. more. chapter. and volunteered to give up media the following day just to hear more about Louis the swan. It made me proud, and I happily indulged. Truth be told, I wanted to … [Read more...] about Of Boston and Bombs