What's Your Problem?

I often wonder what is actually going through my students minds. Sometimes I'm pretty sure I don't want to know.

Yesterday, K-nut decided she was going to be a class A punk-ette. I did the usual redirection, "get back on task young lady" thing. I was checking student work while going over the page we were covering. Two of my other girls were passing a note back and forth. So, I took it, stuffed it in my pocket and forgot about it until after class.

The contents of the note were very interesting. While I can't quote it exactly I can give a decent replication.
The note read, "What the *!?@ is wrong with K-nut? What's her #@&*? problem?" I thought, "How eloquently spoken. I don't know if I could've expressed it much better. It's good to see that most of the students know a punk-ette should just be ignored.

Whose is the Real Teacher?

I am a teacher. I fancy myself to be a pretty effective teacher. I generally have a great rapport with students and parents. I do my best to provide each student with as many opportunities to understand, learn and master the content as time allows. I believe the data says I am doing much better than most, if not all professional baseball players’ batting averages.

I am also a parent and a realist. I have been in education over 20 years. What is the reality? Good parents produce good kids.

If you read to your children until they want to read to you and then read with them until they start to read alone, they stand a much better chance of success than if you do not. Most parents who do this would also place them into an afterschool tutoring program if they were not being successful.

Two truths: 1) you, the parent are your children first and most important teacher and advocate 2) kudos to you parents who make sure your children understand what I the teacher do not always make so clear. 

Thank You Teachers of the Past

Thank you to those who chose before us:


· For saying, “No thanks” to the first new deal.


· For choosing a privatized retirement system and plan.


· For saying no to social security


· For not putting those who would come after you at the bottom of the worlds largest pyramid scheme, also known as social security.


· For giving me a better future.






What are you thankful for?

Corporal Punishment vs. the Time Out

Student discipline…time out vs. corporal punishment, most commonly experienced as “the swat.” I would really like to know how many parents and teachers are in favor of corporal punishment or not. 

I am actually surprised by how many of my colleagues would seem to be in favor of a good swat now and then. Especially considering most teachers were the good kids who always did their best, strived for their teachers approval and never came close to experiencing the seat of correction.

Personally, I think it is less abusive than most of the of the psychological warfare - time out - talk to the kid until they give in or we deem them incorrigible methods. Also, I think most teachers use the time out for themselves not the student. But, that’s just me. What about you?

Who is in favor, who is not? Are you a teacher of a parent? Post me your opinion.