One of the key contemporary teacher-questions for the first few months of school is, “What kinds of data should I be collecting?” A perhaps unexpected answer comes from Mark Barnes and Jennifer Gonzalez. In their book, Hacking Education: 10 Quick Fixes for Every School, Barnes and Gonzalez suggest a number of education “hacks” to solve school … Continue reading
I always seem to think about scary-story writing at Halloween time—when it is too late for many teachers to get it into their planning. If you want some tips for writing traditional spooky stories, see the link above. But, early for a change, let me also introduce another variation of the genre: two-sentence horror stories. … Continue reading
Recently in my mosaic class, a relatively new student did something that resulted in her exclaiming, “Oh rats, I did it wrong.” Without thinking, I found myself responding, “There are no mistakes that can’t be fixed.” Then I smiled, realizing I was repeating the mosaic teacher’s oft-repeated refrain. And while it may not be true … Continue reading
There is nothing like spending time in a bookstore. When I know exactly what I want, I love the convenience of ordering online, but despite websites’ best efforts to share what others “also ordered,” I rarely discover anything new and exciting that way. In contrast, a perfect Friday night at our house starts with dinner … Continue reading
Recently a middle school friend sent me a text, “First day of school 😦 .” I understand. While first-days-of-school can be filled with excitement, new school supplies, and the hope of better things, school routines can feel stifling after weeks of unfettered exploration. No more time for “messing around.” It is time for the serious … Continue reading
I had a lot of fun this summer, but one of the most delightful mornings was spent with five young friends and a 25-foot long solar balloon. Take a look. We had a grand time watching the balloon expand and contract, rise and fall, with changing temperatures (and, OK, having the occasional giant balloon wrestling … Continue reading
This summer, at the Ann Arbor Art Fairs, I had the chance to see Lisa Kristine’s photography. To say it is stunning is to underestimate the impact. Lisa Kristine creates more than beautiful art. She inspires. The biography on her website states: Acclaimed humanitarian photographer Lisa Kristine creates more than images, she inspires change. A … Continue reading
When I first started teaching, eons ago, the one piece of advice we were given for “setting the tone” in our classrooms was the infamous adage “Don’t smile until Christmas.” I don’t know anyone who actually tried to manage that feat, but I suspect it had a real impact students’ early experiences in classrooms of … Continue reading
Time speeds up in the summer. I’m sure of it. It seems I just finished teaching my early summer classes and declared my short sabbatical from blogging and “Whoosh,” school is beginning again. I’ve lived virtually my entire life on the academic calendar, where each September brings the chance for a new start. And each … Continue reading
Once more this year, I’m taking a break from blogging for part of the summer, this time from mid-July until early August. While I’m not doing anything nearly as exciting as last year’s trip to China, I still hope to return in a few weeks with adventures and insights to share. After all, creativity requires … Continue reading
creativiteach 