A Teacher's Ruminations

I recently gave a workshop to a room full of teachers, which in this particular venue amounted to 150 educators. First, let me say that I don't think I have ever given a 2 1/2 hour workshop to a group this size. In fact, I know I haven't. Although it may appear intimidating to be confronted with 150 educators from pre-school to high school, I felt quite comfortable once we got started. I thought the workshop was going well and then I started noticing certain things. First of all, I always want to get workshop participants talking, to me and to each other, because I feel that is one way we learn best, and in a group this size with chairs in rows facing forward, there isn't much else to do. There was a bit of discomfort during these times. I used a 3-min pause purposefully, which I often do in workshops and in my classroom, as I wanted the participants to pick up some instructional strategies that they could take back with them to their classrooms. I also referred partic...

I'm a hoarder. There, I've said it. I try to deny that I'm a hoarder but it comes back to haunt me every time I move houses, or pack up my classroom at the end of the school year. I have old articles, lesson plans, handouts, folders brimming with teaching ideas, past issues of profesional journals. I hardly throw anything out though I've learned to be more selective over the years. My one rule of thumb, and I really try to stick to this, is that if I haven't used or referred to something in a year, then it's time to toss it into the recycle bin. One exception to this rule (you knew this was coming, didn't you?) is past issues of journals from professional organizations. However, with the ability to locate articles online through my professional memberships, even this exception is becoming less and less useful, which brings me to the topic of this blog post. I am currently reading a copy of The Reading Teacher from 2010. I've clipped a cou...

For some people, working out comes easy. They decide on a time in the day that they're going to exercise. They decide how many days a week they're going to go running, jogging, swimming or to the gym. And, they pretty much stick to their schedule. They don't let excuses get in the way. They jump in without looking back. And they follow the same routine, or close to it, several times a week. I'm not that organized. And, maybe you aren't either. First, I need to find the right gym. That may take up to a year or more. (Well, that's how long it took me after moving from Canada to Ecuador.) Then, I have to psyche myself up to go to the gym. I can't just walk in anywhere and start exercising. There have to be classes set up and hours that work for me. But, once I make up my mind, pay my gym membership, and go to the first class, I'm off and running. Of course, some of you are thinking that you don't need a gym to exercise. You can just wa...