Monthly Archives: March 2012

Teacher Trading Cards: Make Your Own!

Last week, I posted about teachers having Teacher Trading Cards as a means to connect with students, parents, colleagues, and learning networks. Also, collecting them all could become a great new pastime. Many people have contacted me for a template to … Continue reading

Posted in Reflection | Tagged , , | 2 Comments

Connecting Lessons to Common Core: Bill and Ted’s Excellent Assignment

I have always been an advocate for time travel in the classroom. Imagine learning about the Constitutional Convention by actually going there? Or becoming involved in a discussion about human nature with John Locke? I fully realize that by doing … Continue reading

Posted in Common Core, History | Tagged , , | 8 Comments

We’re Not in Kansas Anymore: A Tale of the Modern Classroom

One of my students was frustrated today with a question on an open notebook quiz she was taking. The problem was that the answer was not in her notes (she is great about taking thorough notes). We are studying the … Continue reading

Posted in Reflection | Tagged , | 3 Comments

Teacher Trading Cards: Collect Them All!

Instead of “Baseball Cards,” imagine if children collected “Teacher Cards”? Every week, students saved up their allowance to purchase their “Teacher Cards” and a stick of stale gum from the corner store. This is a brief conversation I imagine students … Continue reading

Posted in Reflection | Tagged , , , | 6 Comments

The Enlightenment: A Glam Rock Music Epic (proposal)

I would like to write a glam rock musical based on the Enlightenment. This would probably be the greatest glam rock musical based on the Enlightenment ever (unless there are more). The major thing that is holding me back is … Continue reading

Posted in History | Tagged , , , | 4 Comments

Connecting Lessons to Common Core: Your Own Personal Latin American Revolution

For the past week, I have been reflecting on past lessons to see how they align to the Common Core Standards for History/Social Studies. I have thoroughly enjoyed setting aside time to look at how the lessons that I have … Continue reading

Posted in Common Core, History | Tagged , , , | 1 Comment

Connecting Lessons to Common Core: Personal Journals during the French Revolution

As I said before, my Social Studies department is meeting this week to discuss activities and lessons that align with the Common Core Standards for History/Social Studies. I became very excited last Friday afternoon when I found that the Common Core … Continue reading

Posted in Common Core, History | Tagged , , , , | 1 Comment

Why I Teach: The Importance of Teachers and the Zombie Apocalypse

Part of my inspiration for being a teacher is that I believe I can stave off the Zombie Apocalypse (or Zombocalypse as a friend offered). Not single-handedly, mind you. My occasional delusions of grandeur are never quite so grand. I … Continue reading

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My Idea: Making Teacher Prep More Like Scrubs

Imagine if Teacher Prep programs were more like the hit TV Show Scrubs! While I have been accused of having ridiculous fantasies, I actually think this idea has some merit. I mean, doctors have “Teaching Hospitals” (as seen on ER, … Continue reading

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Connecting Lessons to Common Core: Enlightenment – Declaration of Independence

As I said before, my Social Studies department is meeting next week to discuss activities and lessons that align with the Common Core Standards for History/Social Studies. As I am a fairly new teacher, I am using this as an … Continue reading

Posted in Common Core, History | Tagged , , , | 8 Comments