Merit Pay?!

This is too good not to share. I have so much to say about it, but this teacher says it best… and her truth translates nicely to high school teachers like me.

Click on the image for the Facebook post.

The best advice

Best advice to me, an inexperienced judge at a debate tournament:

“If you don’t like what they say, just throw something at them.”

I laughed and said, “How about if I spit at them?”

Her response, “Completely acceptable!”

“Snow” an Adele “Hello” Parody

This was too good not to share!

I love teaching, but man, aren’t snow days terrific!?

The Curse of Cursive

Click on image for Facebook post.

Alyssa is seven years old, her signature is amazing! My high school students can’t sign their names much better.

The sad fact is we’re grooming a new generation of voters who cannot execute a signature.

{Re: comments about how students just need to “follow directions”} This infuriates me! Why are we so obsessed with kids “following directions?!” Where’s the creativity? Passion? Exploration?

“Real life” (meaning nice careers, good degrees) does not want little brainwashed minions who only do what they’re told. What are we setting the next generation up for?!

Debate judge

Any argument that begins with “I’m not trying to be racist but…” is doomed.

They’re always watching

All the best conversations begin with “Well, I don’t want to be all stalker-y, Miss, but…”

An Open Letter

Dear Parents of School-Aged Children,

Please stop sending your children to school when they have been having diarrhea or “throwing up for three days but mom said I’ve missed too many days.”

Signed,
A Sick Teacher

Speak like a pirate

One of the many joys of reading “Treasure Island” as a class was that I got to explain that “Dick” is short for Richard and “booty” is a pirate term for treasure.

The second of these joys is then listening to a bunch of teenagers say “Dick wants the booty” amongst hysterical laughter.

Third in the line of joys is that these last bastions of our future tell me “You can’t say it’s inappropriate, Miss, it’s in the story.”

Tis true, ’tis pity,. And pity ’tis ’tis true… Smart-as-paint Dick does indeed want the booty.

Today’s lesson is…?

Everyone is a teacher. What “lesson” are you giving today?

Or read about it on Upworthy.

A Rocky Moment

I have the distinct privilege of teaching several students named “Adrian.”

I have the distinct pleasure of, whenever I see them, shouting out “Yo Adrian!”

😂