The last couple of years, most or all of my classes (as a whole—not every individual student) had self-control issues. Inability to stay quiet, to accept directions, to follow through on assignments, regardless of where the task fell on the fun meter. In extreme cases, yelling and swearing. Unrelenting back-talk. Things said to me that … Read more
I wrote Thursday about how some of the habits that made me a great student were actually reaction to trauma, and I wondered how my life would be different if any of my teachers saw red flags instead of the ideal. I need to follow up with that today to clarify that I don’t blame … Read more
Last year, some of my band classes did a month-long composition activity. I asked students for written feedback: tell me if you liked the activity or not and why. Two reports read the following: “I liked it because it was easy.” “I didn’t like it because it was too easy.” Isn’t that funny? First, that … Read more
Growing up, the first day of school was always so exciting. I always had a new outfit. Often a new backpack or lunch box. I had friends at school. I got along well with most of my teachers, so that was never a worry for me. I wasn’t a wiggly kid and had no trouble … Read more
We recently implemented a three-part economic system with The Kid. Part 1: Allowance He gets a weekly allowance. It’s not as a reward or payment for anything done. In our thinking, it’s a means of teaching money management, and it gives him some autonomy in a world where most of his decisions are made for … Read more
A few years ago, I bought a course by Brené Brown through Udemy. The course is no longer available for purchase, but I still have access to it and go through part or all of it from time to time. At one point, she said (paraphrased), “85% of adults interviewed remember something so shaming from … Read more
A year ago, I was just beginning my extended school year as the result of a six-day teacher walkout in Arizona. Those days (the walkout; not so much the make-up days) were overflowing with so much emotion. Anger. Sadness. Worry. Emotions I can’t name. For example, being one of tens of thousands of people marching … Read more
Teaching has some qualities about it that are unique. Today—for better or worse, as with every year before—was one of those unique-to-teaching days. The kids left. They’re not coming back until July. (We’re on a modified year-round calendar in my district.) The oldest ones aren’t coming back at all. Every year, the clock starts on … Read more
I’m a teacher. Years ago, I had an excellent assistant principal who said, as the year wound down, “Free time isn’t free. Someone always pays for it.” The message was: keep kids engaged and learning all the way to the end. Most of the time, the teachers are the ones who pay for the free … Read more
In my elementary band classes, I’ve spent a fair amount of energy this year on a few non-musical topics: grit (a focus of my whole team), self-awareness, and emotional safety. Grit is a topic for another day. Self-awareness is necessary for any of this to be useful. You can’t change a thought or behavior that … Read more