New Home for Me and the Blog

Having made the move to a new school, after twelve years at the same one, I find myself with less time than ever. Being "new" to the school, even though I am by no means new to teaching, has been quite an adjustment. Hopefully, now that the school year is well underway, I will be able to visit here more often.

To start back, here is an article that suggests the are changes afoot for the NCLB law.

Bush, Others Want to Go Beyond the Basics

A Timely Summer Note

It seems that what kids learn (or don't learn) over the summer accounts for most of the gap in achievement--so make sure that summer reading isn't the only book your kids crack this summer!

Much of Learning Gap Blamed on Summer

Other People Blog, Too

Finally reading this Blog? Here's another one to look at. The writer of Are we doing anything today? asks the question: How much time do you spend grading? I once calculated the time just to grades essays and was astounded! Go to the website, other teachers offer their perspectives. Check it out and weigh in.

Looking to Next Year

Here's an online tool that will help you with projects next year--no time like the present to start to thinking about how to work in more technology.

Interactive Printing Press

Are We Ready for a New Elective?

Citing the impact of the book on literature, some schools are taking an academic approach--

The Bible Makes a Comeback

An Idea That Has Legs

Other places are also looking at how to change the face of AP classes--
Rigorous Courses, Fresh Enrollment

Exams?

Just in time for our conversation about exams--

More Schools Are Ditching Final Exams

After the Test, Reassess

A review of the concept and a questioning of the purpose of AP classes--

Replacing AP: Do Its Ends and Means Still Live Up to the Ideal?

Inspiration Balanced by Perspiration

A look at the numbers around the loss of teachers provides insight and a few surprises:

Why Teachers Quit

Reinventing the Wheel

Because we always want to know what it is like for other people, here's what it's like for a different version of what we do.

The Online Teacher's Life

What is Writing For?

As we wind down, it doesn't hurt to reflect on our purpose--what is it we want them to be able to do with what we teach them? Do we learn as much as we teach?

One teacher's journey: Yeah, but What's Writing For?

To Read or Not To Read

Apparently, it has gone beyond questioning to fact...Colleges are not reading Shakespeare.

A Chicago Sun Times article, To be or not to be? At U.S. colleges, it's increasingly 'not' by Anne D. Neal

or the whole report The Vanishing Shakespeare , a report by American Council of Trustees and Alumni

Something to Talk About

A friend of mine has begun a blog in which she and another friend discuss books they are reading, want to read, or hot topics related to books. While there is nepotism in my referencing her site, I do so because I feel that some of you may find it interesting.

So, as the kids look to selecting their summer reading, maybe you too will find something to put on your list.

The Bibliophilistines

Bring a New Voice to Your Classroom

Poetry Out Loud National Recitation Contest

Spoken Word Wins Big

Into the Home Stretch

As we come back from break and head into the final marking period, everyone is looking for a bit of inspiration. This site has great quotes in an attractive printout format.

Inspiration is just a click away!

Let the Preparations Begin!

Ideas to Get Them Writing:

Color Poem--Using the Five Senses to Guide Prewriting

Letter Poems Deliver: Experimenting with Line Breaks in Poetry Writing

What Am I? Teaching Poetry through Riddles

Found Poems/Parallel Poems

A Poem of Possibilites: Thinking about the Future (Connect to March Madness!)

Walt Whitman as a Model Poet: "I Hear My School Singing"

Go To the Source of all things National Poetry Month:

Academy of American Poets

National Poetry Month Resources

Free National Poetry Month Posters

Get a Poem-a-Day in Your Email

Out of the Old Pods, Into the New

Even though we no longer live in the pods of the original high school structure, there is a new pod that we can all enjoy--podcasts. Podcasts are audio programs meant to be downloaded and listened to on your computer or on an MP3 player. Grammar Girl does this format one better by also making a transcript available--so you can really see the finer details of the discussion. You can also subscribe through various means and receive the newest podcast automatically--there are links on her website for this.

Grammar Girl article

Grammar Girl website

What would you do with the extra time?

Does more school make for better learning?

Some schools opt for longer day, more days...

The Play's the Thing, but So is Individual Meaning

This detailed lesson plan allows students to find a way to make connections to the play through the technology that is a part of their daily lives. While Romeo and Juliet is used as a model, many plays could be deconstructed in the same manner.

Star-Crossed Lovers Online: Romeo and Juliet for a Digital Age

Just in Time for Testing

As educators, it is important to know how education issues are presented to the general population. This article is intended to help parents make sense of the testing debate.

What's so Bad About Teaching to the Test?

Atwell Again

According to the new book by the maven of Writing Workshop, throw out the test-driven comprehension questions. The way to get kids to read and love it is to let them choose their own books.

The Pleasure Principle

A New Way to Share Ideas and Info

With different schedules and different responsibilities, often we go through each day with out the opportunity to share ideas. Through the blog, each of us can find new information, share successful techniques, and respond to educational articles. As a central place for inquiry, we can develop our department's strengths and continue to grow as professionals.

To get us started, appropriately enough, a link that helps students evaluate websites.