bloggers, Classroom, Education, Humor, Middle School, Sarcasm, Secondary ELA, Secondary English, Self reflection, Teacher, Teacher Tribe, Teaching, Texas, Uncategorized

On the Downhill- Trying to Finish This Year STRONG!

I've been slacking. It's true. Now, I'm definitely not one that people would view as a slacker. I'm uber-organized, I'm constantly doing something, I even serve coffee in my room on Fridays. But every year at about this time I start to kind of check out on the current year to turn my attention to… Continue reading On the Downhill- Trying to Finish This Year STRONG!

Education, Family, Middle School, Secondary ELA, Secondary English, Teacher, Teaching, Texas, Uncategorized

Breaking up the Band- When a colleague has to leave the team

On Sunday, I got a text message that I really didn't want to get. There are four ELA teachers at my small charter middle school. We are a funny group- three super, type A women, and one totally laid back, type B guy. He makes sure we don't spin out of control when plans don't… Continue reading Breaking up the Band- When a colleague has to leave the team

Classroom, Education, High School, Middle School, Professional Development, Secondary ELA, Secondary English, student needs, Teacher, Teaching, teaching writing, Texas, Uncategorized

Gettin’ My Learn On- Part Three of a Week of Professional Development

An English Teacher's Rock ConcertI would like to thank whatever English teacher fairy blessed me with the knowledge of the existence of the TALE Conference. TALE is the Texas Association for Literacy Education, and before this school year, I had never heard of it. How is that possible? I've been a secondary English teacher in… Continue reading Gettin’ My Learn On- Part Three of a Week of Professional Development

Assessments, Education, Middle School, Professional Development, Secondary ELA, Secondary English, state assessment, Teacher, Teaching, Teaching tools, Test Prep, Texas, Uncategorized

Gettin’ My Learn On- Part Two of a Week of Professional Development

Ready, Set, Learn Keeping up with changing state standards can be tough. They usually stay the same for a time, but when the state overhauls them, it usually means teachers need to start rewriting or retooling their curriculum. Though I've been teaching for 20 years, I'm too ADD to be one of those teachers who… Continue reading Gettin’ My Learn On- Part Two of a Week of Professional Development

Assessments, Education, High School, Middle School, Professional Development, Secondary ELA, Secondary English, state assessment, student needs, Teacher, Teaching, Teaching tools, Texas, Uncategorized

Gettin’ My Learn On- Part One of a Week of Professional Development

Who goes to these things?There are two types of teachers: 1) Actively avoids any type of PD and 2) Seeks out opportunities to learn. I feel like the first teacher hasn't been to many good sessions, and I feel their pain. Bad PD is like the fourth circle of Hell. Who wants to sign up… Continue reading Gettin’ My Learn On- Part One of a Week of Professional Development