Take a look at the above picture of my daughter. It’s awesome, isn’t it? The expression on her face. The green ‘hair’ in the form of grass. It sits in our kitchen. And I smile every time I see it. […]
In Order to Keep Learning, Keep Curiosity
Tag: Teach
Embrace the Messiness of Character Education…
…for there will be hiccups When I was in ninth grade, I had a Math teacher, Mr. Phillips, who used to drive me nuts. After lunch some days, he’d be hanging out near the restroom where I always went. And […]
No, Students Shouldn’t Have To ‘Beat The Odds.’ There Should Be No Odds.
Georgia’s current school metric underscores how our education system is stacked against certain students. You can guess which students. In my hometown of Cincinnati, Ohio, our Cincinnati Bengals beat the odds. The Bengals, one of the worst teams in the […]
Write Kindness. Save Kindness.
Teaching is hard. It’s never been harder. Which is saying something. Because teaching’s always been hard. A couple years ago, I was talking with a friend of mine who’s a financial advisor. He was telling me that his day had […]
To Make a Difference, Choose to Restore Dignity
In 2010, Panera launched an experiment that would define our society. Panera Cares, an initiative to help those who struggled to pay for meals, opened in several cities across the US. The aim, in essence, was for people to pay […]
If you tell a student one thing this year, tell them ‘I’m Proud Of You’
Last year, I received a note from a student. It was a student I knew was struggling with some home issues, and it had leaked over into her school work. The usual, joyful student who showed up every day and […]
The Keys To A Great Learning Culture? Safety and Accountability
Sociologist Adam Grant, in his book Think Again, lays out some great ideas to shift learning cultures in US schools Changing culture is tough. Have you tried it? Probably not. But if you have, good on you. You know. Shifting […]
Even In A Chaotic Year, Resist The Urge To Hurry
I love running. My wife thinks I run too much, and this is probably true. But that doesn’t deter me. I find it a great way to collect my thoughts, process through the day and relieve some stress. Most of […]
Dear sir, I am.
There’s an old fable that I love that takes place about a hundred years ago. At the time, the world was in disrepair. Racial and social inequities plagued society. Most of the West was on the brink of war. Diseases […]
25 Year Ago, A Teacher Took A Risk. I Still Benefit Today.
How one teacher’s chance on me kept me writing 25 years later As I look back on the greatest risk anyone took on me 25 years later, it still blows my mind. I teach 7th graders. I love teaching 7th […]