http://www.examiner.com/x-5448-DC-Public-School-Teacher-Examiner?cid=exrss-DC-Public-School-Teacher-Examiner en-us Mon, 23 Nov 2009 15:34:07 -0700 Sat, 21 Nov 2009 09:26:57 -0700 BlogCFC http://blogs.law.harvard.edu/tech/rss http://www.examiner.com/x-5448-DC-Public-School-Teacher-Examiner~y2009m11d21-To-what-degree-are-we-responsible-for-public-education?cid=exrss-DC-Public-School-Teacher-Examiner   I am interested in knowing what you think about the locus of responsibility when it comes to public education in the United States. This list I provided is not in the least exhaustive, but it does provide a conversation-starter. You can s... Just a thought Sat, 21 Nov 2009 09:26:57 -0700 http://www.examiner.com/x-5448-DC-Public-School-Teacher-Examiner~y2009m11d21-To-what-degree-are-we-responsible-for-public-education?cid=exrss-DC-Public-School-Teacher-Examiner http://www.examiner.com/x-5448-DC-Public-School-Teacher-Examiner~y2009m11d13-When-the-student-is-ready-the-teacher-will-appear?cid=exrss-DC-Public-School-Teacher-Examiner After receiving The Letter, I had my meeting with the principal. In no dramatic fashion, I stated that the reason why so many of my students received failing grades in the first quarter is because, 1. They do not show up or are always... The Pain of Teaching Fri, 13 Nov 2009 07:53:07 -0700 http://www.examiner.com/x-5448-DC-Public-School-Teacher-Examiner~y2009m11d13-When-the-student-is-ready-the-teacher-will-appear?cid=exrss-DC-Public-School-Teacher-Examiner http://www.examiner.com/x-5448-DC-Public-School-Teacher-Examiner~y2009m11d8-Give-and-ye-shall-receive-the-gospel-of-academic-prosperity?cid=exrss-DC-Public-School-Teacher-Examiner This week, I’ve spoken to teachers overwhelmed by the number of recommendations they are writing for their students (current and past). The teachers I have spoken to say the same thing—they do not want to write all the recommendatio... Dear Teacher (advice) Sun, 08 Nov 2009 06:56:04 -0700 http://www.examiner.com/x-5448-DC-Public-School-Teacher-Examiner~y2009m11d8-Give-and-ye-shall-receive-the-gospel-of-academic-prosperity?cid=exrss-DC-Public-School-Teacher-Examiner http://www.examiner.com/x-5448-DC-Public-School-Teacher-Examiner~y2009m10d21-Why-teachers-need-teachers-unions-and-less-rhetoric-about-Professional-Learning-Communities?cid=exrss-DC-Public-School-Teacher-Examiner Two Saturdays ago, I confused my wife when I confessed, “Honey, I could retire as a teacher.” I have always been ambitious, and quite honestly, a little restless. I am pursuing a Ph.D. and teaching a class at Loyola University (besi... Unions Wed, 21 Oct 2009 03:25:20 -0700 http://www.examiner.com/x-5448-DC-Public-School-Teacher-Examiner~y2009m10d21-Why-teachers-need-teachers-unions-and-less-rhetoric-about-Professional-Learning-Communities?cid=exrss-DC-Public-School-Teacher-Examiner http://www.examiner.com/x-5448-DC-Public-School-Teacher-Examiner~y2009m9d26-The-film-The-Providence-Effect-The-ProvidenceSt-Mel-School?cid=exrss-DC-Public-School-Teacher-Examiner    On Friday evening, at the Landmark E. Street Cinemas, after celebrating the opening (September 25th) of the newly released film, The Providence Effect, school founder and president Paul J. Adams III gave me (and us) a few minutes of... Films Sat, 26 Sep 2009 14:10:08 -0700 http://www.examiner.com/x-5448-DC-Public-School-Teacher-Examiner~y2009m9d26-The-film-The-Providence-Effect-The-ProvidenceSt-Mel-School?cid=exrss-DC-Public-School-Teacher-Examiner http://www.examiner.com/x-5448-DC-Public-School-Teacher-Examiner~y2009m9d5-Will-President-Obamas-speech-to-students-perpetuate-a-noneducator-ideology?cid=exrss-DC-Public-School-Teacher-Examiner At the heart of deciding whether to show President Barack Obama’s speech to students on Tuesday, September 8th is the question of the locus of motivation for students. Where does student motivation lie? Where does it reside?As a public school e... Class in the Classroom Sat, 05 Sep 2009 06:57:41 -0700 http://www.examiner.com/x-5448-DC-Public-School-Teacher-Examiner~y2009m9d5-Will-President-Obamas-speech-to-students-perpetuate-a-noneducator-ideology?cid=exrss-DC-Public-School-Teacher-Examiner http://www.examiner.com/x-5448-DC-Public-School-Teacher-Examiner~y2009m8d31-Back-to-School-Day-1-----179-to-go?cid=exrss-DC-Public-School-Teacher-Examiner Doesn’t take long for a teacher to remember why she or he contemplated leaving the profession last year. My first week back to school was, well . . . less than ideal. I have always worn a suit and tie in the classroom since entering the teach... The Pain of Teaching Mon, 31 Aug 2009 03:04:20 -0700 http://www.examiner.com/x-5448-DC-Public-School-Teacher-Examiner~y2009m8d31-Back-to-School-Day-1-----179-to-go?cid=exrss-DC-Public-School-Teacher-Examiner http://www.examiner.com/x-5448-DC-Public-School-Teacher-Examiner~y2009m8d14-Dear-Parent-or-Guardian---?cid=exrss-DC-Public-School-Teacher-Examiner Dear Parent or Guardian: Hello. I am your child’s teacher. I provided my email and mobile phone number on the syllabus, but in case you did not see it, I am writing you to establish a relationship for this upcoming school year.  I look ... Parents Fri, 14 Aug 2009 08:52:32 -0700 http://www.examiner.com/x-5448-DC-Public-School-Teacher-Examiner~y2009m8d14-Dear-Parent-or-Guardian---?cid=exrss-DC-Public-School-Teacher-Examiner http://www.examiner.com/x-5448-DC-Public-School-Teacher-Examiner~y2009m8d12-Book-on-education-reform-The-New-Meaning-of-Educational-Change-4th-Edition?cid=exrss-DC-Public-School-Teacher-Examiner If people were given a literal choice of “change or die,” do you think most people would choose change?  If you said yes, think again. Deutschman (2005) writes, “What if a well-informed, trusted authority figure said you had ... Books Wed, 12 Aug 2009 10:02:52 -0700 http://www.examiner.com/x-5448-DC-Public-School-Teacher-Examiner~y2009m8d12-Book-on-education-reform-The-New-Meaning-of-Educational-Change-4th-Edition?cid=exrss-DC-Public-School-Teacher-Examiner http://www.examiner.com/x-5448-DC-Public-School-Teacher-Examiner~y2009m8d6-Sonia-Sotomayor-confirmed-in-the-Senate-but-will-classrooms-do-her-justice?cid=exrss-DC-Public-School-Teacher-Examiner Truth be told, it was a little disappointing to return to class after the Barack Obama inauguration.  Man, I had my official ticket as evidence of my historical participation and my wife went to an official inaugural ball and glowed when she t... Race in the Classroom Thu, 06 Aug 2009 13:14:30 -0700 http://www.examiner.com/x-5448-DC-Public-School-Teacher-Examiner~y2009m8d6-Sonia-Sotomayor-confirmed-in-the-Senate-but-will-classrooms-do-her-justice?cid=exrss-DC-Public-School-Teacher-Examiner http://www.examiner.com/x-5448-DC-Public-School-Teacher-Examiner~y2009m8d5-Shocking-Video-should-at-risk-African-American-students-be-required-to-watch-it?cid=exrss-DC-Public-School-Teacher-Examiner The mayor of Birmingham, Alabama, Larry P. Langford, presented this video to what appears to be a City Council meeting. It has been suggested that our African American students at risk should view it.  What do you think? This is a very distu... Race in the Classroom Wed, 05 Aug 2009 06:24:33 -0700 http://www.examiner.com/x-5448-DC-Public-School-Teacher-Examiner~y2009m8d5-Shocking-Video-should-at-risk-African-American-students-be-required-to-watch-it?cid=exrss-DC-Public-School-Teacher-Examiner http://www.examiner.com/x-5448-DC-Public-School-Teacher-Examiner~y2009m8d2-The-teachable-moment-was-the-bananaeating-jungle-monkey-comment?cid=exrss-DC-Public-School-Teacher-Examiner My students seem to believe that they are suspended in this adolescent world of unfairness, where social standards are arbitrarily imposed upon them, and in the real world—this utopia of permissiveness—they can say and do whatever they ... Teaching What Matters Sun, 02 Aug 2009 07:00:55 -0700 http://www.examiner.com/x-5448-DC-Public-School-Teacher-Examiner~y2009m8d2-The-teachable-moment-was-the-bananaeating-jungle-monkey-comment?cid=exrss-DC-Public-School-Teacher-Examiner http://www.examiner.com/x-5448-DC-Public-School-Teacher-Examiner~y2009m7d31-DC-students-explore-the-concept-of-potential?cid=exrss-DC-Public-School-Teacher-Examiner After my time (The Outcast) with the students at Woodrow Wilson High School, Ms. Felton and I coordinated to have a couple of her students conduct interviews and write poems about an important and often undefined topic—potential. Their assign... Student Profiles Fri, 31 Jul 2009 08:20:15 -0700 http://www.examiner.com/x-5448-DC-Public-School-Teacher-Examiner~y2009m7d31-DC-students-explore-the-concept-of-potential?cid=exrss-DC-Public-School-Teacher-Examiner http://www.examiner.com/x-5448-DC-Public-School-Teacher-Examiner~y2009m7d29-The-Outcast-DC-student-writes-a-short-story-about-defying-expectations?cid=exrss-DC-Public-School-Teacher-Examiner   Yesterday evening, I spent a bit of time with students at the Woodrow Wilson Senior High School in Northwest D.C.  Bobbing and weaving through the sea of students put me in mind of the closing summer and where I'll be in just a few ... Student Profiles Wed, 29 Jul 2009 09:35:52 -0700 http://www.examiner.com/x-5448-DC-Public-School-Teacher-Examiner~y2009m7d29-The-Outcast-DC-student-writes-a-short-story-about-defying-expectations?cid=exrss-DC-Public-School-Teacher-Examiner http://www.examiner.com/x-5448-DC-Public-School-Teacher-Examiner~y2009m7d25-DL-Hughley-our-words-become-anothers-reality?cid=exrss-DC-Public-School-Teacher-Examiner Teachers, We have a few weeks before we take another try at shaping the lives of children and youth. Take a look at this video of D.L. Hughley and his "former" teacher and just think about the power of our simple, kind words.  The t... The Joy of Teaching Sat, 25 Jul 2009 13:39:09 -0700 http://www.examiner.com/x-5448-DC-Public-School-Teacher-Examiner~y2009m7d25-DL-Hughley-our-words-become-anothers-reality?cid=exrss-DC-Public-School-Teacher-Examiner http://www.examiner.com/x-5448-DC-Public-School-Teacher-Examiner~y2009m7d24-Book-Blackboard-Jungle-an-excellent-fiction-for-those-interested-in-public-education?cid=exrss-DC-Public-School-Teacher-Examiner Evan Hunter’s The Blackboard Jungle is a fascinating book about a teacher’s experience at a public vocational high school.  However, do not be thrown off by the classification, “vocational school.” Given the ghettoizati... Books Fri, 24 Jul 2009 05:18:23 -0700 http://www.examiner.com/x-5448-DC-Public-School-Teacher-Examiner~y2009m7d24-Book-Blackboard-Jungle-an-excellent-fiction-for-those-interested-in-public-education?cid=exrss-DC-Public-School-Teacher-Examiner http://www.examiner.com/x-5448-DC-Public-School-Teacher-Examiner~y2009m7d23-21-powerful-quotes-every-teacher-should-read?cid=exrss-DC-Public-School-Teacher-Examiner I subscribe to a site called The Apple. They send many emails, and as is typical, I do not have time to read or even open most of them. However, when I saw the email, “20 Powerful Quotes Every Teacher Should Read,” I clicked on it, for ... Inspiration Thu, 23 Jul 2009 14:14:25 -0700 http://www.examiner.com/x-5448-DC-Public-School-Teacher-Examiner~y2009m7d23-21-powerful-quotes-every-teacher-should-read?cid=exrss-DC-Public-School-Teacher-Examiner http://www.examiner.com/x-5448-DC-Public-School-Teacher-Examiner~y2009m7d22-Interview-Prince-Georges-County-teacher-says-she-was-stretched?cid=exrss-DC-Public-School-Teacher-Examiner   In keeping with the series, DC Teachers Speak Out, I met a teacher with a gentle spirit who gave a modest account of her last year. Latitia Greene, teacher at Thomas Johnson Middle School in Lanham, Maryland came to terms with school reform, ... Speak Out Wed, 22 Jul 2009 04:19:59 -0700 http://www.examiner.com/x-5448-DC-Public-School-Teacher-Examiner~y2009m7d22-Interview-Prince-Georges-County-teacher-says-she-was-stretched?cid=exrss-DC-Public-School-Teacher-Examiner http://www.examiner.com/x-5448-DC-Public-School-Teacher-Examiner~y2009m7d23-The-Langston-Hughes-Suite-and-thoughts-of-dreams-deferred?cid=exrss-DC-Public-School-Teacher-Examiner   Celebrating our seventh anniversary, on this 20th of July, 2009, my wife and I awaken to the distant sound of preoccupied movers and shakers in the beautiful Langston Hughes Suite at the Akwaaba Bed and Breakfast in Dupont Circle, Washington,... Dear Teacher (advice) Mon, 20 Jul 2009 14:43:28 -0700 http://www.examiner.com/x-5448-DC-Public-School-Teacher-Examiner~y2009m7d20-The-Langston-Hughes-Suite-and-thoughts-of-dreams-deferred?cid=exrss-DC-Public-School-Teacher-Examiner http://www.examiner.com/x-5448-DC-Public-School-Teacher-Examiner~y2009m7d17-Book-Up-The-Down-Staircase-a-perfect-summer-read?cid=exrss-DC-Public-School-Teacher-Examiner   Have you ever read words on a page and thought, “That's exactly how it is!”? That is when the author nails it, accurately describing people's attitudes, postures, motivations, and the mood, which partly shapes people and is partly... Books Fri, 17 Jul 2009 06:01:22 -0700 http://www.examiner.com/x-5448-DC-Public-School-Teacher-Examiner~y2009m7d17-Book-Up-The-Down-Staircase-a-perfect-summer-read?cid=exrss-DC-Public-School-Teacher-Examiner