About This Blog

Please note that I do not accept unsolicited guest posts and do not respond to queries thereof.

Your task is not to find a path, but to study the one you’re on.

– Cary Tennis

I’m a teacher. I like knowing what goes on behind other teachers’ classroom doors. I’m curious about how others see teaching and learning. I’d like to understand why some of us are so effective and satisfied, while others struggle to make sense of why we teach and what we’re doing wrong.

Sometimes we’re silent about the problems we face every day, because we suspect that if we were better at our jobs, we wouldn’t have those problems at all. But I like hearing about other people’s problems, especially other teachers. I find other teachers’ problems very interesting.

Some of my stories are here. I’d like to hear some of yours.

To read more about the genesis and philosophy of this blog, go here.

42 responses to “About This Blog”

tamaraeden

May 21, 2008 at 10:43 pm

Nice blog. Thought I’d say hello. My husband grew up going to school in Montreal and I’ve always wondered how schools elsewhere function. I’ll keep an eye out for your experiences. Oh, and I am a teacher as well 🙂

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Siobhan Curious

May 22, 2008 at 12:01 am

Thanks for dropping by, Tamara; I’ll check out your blog as well.

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Camile

July 8, 2009 at 11:24 pm

So happy to find another teacher blogger! I will def keep reading.
🙂 Camile

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priya

October 22, 2009 at 5:53 am

Dear Siobhan

We have recently set up a student social network a platform targetting students, academics and enterprises for mutual benefit. Would love to have your blogs featured there where they are more visible and target the relevant audience.
The services are entirely free and we even have free classifieds for a month. Do check it out at http://www.college-canteen.com and reach out to students worldwide, today.
Thanks
Priya
Founder, College Canteen

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janiejackson

August 12, 2011 at 4:36 pm

Hi! I just started a blog this week and I was wondering how you got your blog to be so popular! I really need some tips! It would be greatly appreciated if you could reply! Thank you!

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1. Siobhan Curious
  
  August 12, 2011 at 5:30 pm
  
  Janie: Congrats on starting a blog! I didn’t really aim for my blog to be popular – I just wrote about things that interested me and tried to promote it to people whom I thought would also be interested in those topics, and every so often, someone sits up and takes notice. Just keep writing your blog and reading and commenting on other blogs, and try to connect with people who write about the same things you do. Maybe it will take off, maybe it won’t, but the important thing is what you get out of it. Have a good time, and thanks for dropping by!
  
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Tar-Buns

August 13, 2011 at 9:26 am

I am interested in reading more of your previous posts about teaching, as I too, am a teacher – alternative HS and college part-time. I am subscribing and look forward to thought provoking ideas on the challenges of educating reluctant youth.

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Mendaxxx

October 1, 2011 at 5:19 am

I haven’t read much of your blog, but I feel like your ideas and thoughts about education are very well-formed. I know this is absolutely unethical, but can I know your age? It takes years of going through mountains and molehills to finally understand what the heck schooling and education is really meant for and how to tackle the hefty challenges they throw on us.

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1. Siobhan Curious
  
  October 1, 2011 at 9:59 am
  
  Mendaxxx:
  I am 41. I came very close to giving up teaching in my mid-30’s, but I’ve been working hard to be better at it since then. Thanks!
  
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littlemisssunny

October 1, 2011 at 1:59 pm

Nice blog! I like it very much and I’ll add it in my blogroll(“Pentru voi”). I’m romanian, so I don’t think you’ll understand any of my posts, but I will read yours with pleasure(English rocks!). Because you’re a teacher, could you please tell me the easiest and most efficient way of learning? 😀
Have a sunny day!

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1. Siobhan Curious
  
  October 1, 2011 at 2:10 pm
  
  Sunny: Oh, if only I could! The best response I can give you is this: practice. If you want to do something well, just do it and do it and do it, and watch others do it and learn from them. Thank you so much for your comment!
  
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Josette

October 2, 2011 at 12:57 am

Hello Siobnan!
I came across your blog due to you being awarded the coveted spot on Freshly Pressed. Congratulations!

I am also an educational blogger, and from what I have read on your blog so far, we seem to hold similar philosophies. I especially like when you wrote that life is constantly showing you that being a teacher and student is not that different (under About Siobhan Curious). I am a TESOL teacher trainer in South Korea, and this is an awareness and understanding I try to instill in my participants. It is a challenge to help them see this, but it is extremely enriching. I learn so much from my experiences as a trainer.

If you are interested in reading about my experiences, please drop by my blog, http://www.throwingbacktokens.com. I’ve subscribed to your blog, and look forward to reading more of your experiences.

From a fellow Canadian hailing from the French territories,
Josette

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1. Siobhan Curious
  
  October 2, 2011 at 7:09 am
  
  Josette: Thank you – I look forward to checking out your blog and reading about your experiences! I taught middle school students in Japan for a couple of years, so I know how challenging it can be to teach in an unfamiliar culture. Thanks so much for leaving your thoughts on my posts.
  
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  1. Josette
    
    October 2, 2011 at 8:46 am
    
    It’s so refreshing to meet a teacher in the blogosphere who shares a similar background. Thank you so much for subscribing to my blog, and see you on Twitter!
    
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Rita

October 2, 2011 at 4:20 pm

I enjoy reading your posts. I am a teacher too, and so I value the hard work that other teachers do. Good job writing your posts. I will keep following. I also have a blog called http://www.teachingoncall.org Perhaps you may find it interesting!

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1. Siobhan Curious
  
  October 2, 2011 at 4:29 pm
  
  Rita: thank you for reading! I look forward to checking out your blog as well.
  
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Raxa Collective

October 3, 2011 at 2:37 am

Hi. Wonderful work and congratulations on being Freshly Pressed. Our site is made of a group of young adult volunteers, undergraduate and graduate students reporting about and participating in entrepreneurial conservation projects at sites around the world. We are also professors, designers, photographers, and conservationists.

One common denominator is a deep passion for community and a desire to express what is important to us with others.

I hope you have a chance to check out some of our posts!
http://raxacollective.wordpress.com/

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1storyeveryday

October 12, 2011 at 10:35 pm

Hey, Just wanted to let you know I’ve nominated you for the Versatile Blogger Award 2011! http://astoryeveryday.com/2011/10/09/the-versatile-blogger-award/

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1. Siobhan Curious
  
  April 22, 2012 at 7:04 pm
  
  1se: I don’t know if I ever thanked you, so thanks!
  
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IllinoisWriter

January 26, 2012 at 10:51 pm

Just discovered your blog and am looking forward to frequently visiting and reading your interesting topics and other points related to teaching. I’ve been a retired teacher for four years now, and it’s nice to remain sort of in the swirling world of education through efforts such as your blog! I have been working on my own blog for the past year and find it an excellent way to stay in touch with that thing called the “outside world.” Keep up the good work.

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1. Siobhan Curious
  
  January 28, 2012 at 11:39 am
  
  IW: Thank you! A blog is indeed a good way to feel we’re not working in isolation; if you’re willing to post a link, I’d love to check yours out.
  
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cyclingrandma

March 20, 2012 at 7:33 am

hi,
I just gave you the Good Apple Award! Have fun!

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1. Siobhan Curious
  
  April 22, 2012 at 7:03 pm
  
  CG, I don’t think I ever thanked you for this – thanks so much!
  
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  1. cyclingrandma
    
    April 22, 2012 at 10:01 pm
    
    You’re welcome! Comes with a bit of pay it forward work, but fun.
    
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rococonnor

April 22, 2012 at 12:35 pm

One of my favourite blogs, so I shared this on here:
http://rococonnor.wordpress.com/blogger-connexions/
With love & gratitude.

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1. Siobhan Curious
  
  April 22, 2012 at 7:03 pm
  
  Hey, thanks!
  
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alundeberg

April 26, 2012 at 9:16 pm

Hi there! I just nominated you for the Versatile Blogger Award! Enjoy! Check it out at http://readncook.wordpress.com/2012/04/27/a-good-day-made-better/

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1. Siobhan Curious
  
  April 27, 2012 at 3:13 pm
  
  Thank you so much!
  
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versesfromthecloset/Jo Atreya

August 9, 2012 at 6:45 am

Haven’t read much of your stuff but definitely from what i did read, I have found certain connects… Liked “Why read literature”. I have been a student of english literature and the only delight I ever got from studying it was from the way Poetry was revealed in the classroom by a certain teacher. I have been hooked to writing since a long time and forever felt that somewhere my interest in literature got lost because of restricted book analysis and some disinterested means of teaching employed.. When you teach minds ,you have to learn and train yourself to go beyond first, before expecting the others to benefit from you.. Hard job!
A nice blog! Keep it up..

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Heather Z

September 3, 2012 at 2:56 pm

I’m “kind of” a teacher…meaning that’s what I studied and I’m just waiting (for 3 years!) to see if a District that holds ALL THE CARDS TO MY FUTURE will hire me.

NOT.

So I’m left to subbing. But I’m glad you were freshly pressed so that I could find your blog to follow!

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1. Siobhan Curious
  
  September 4, 2012 at 8:40 am
  
  Heather: I hope it inspires you! And good luck w/ your job search…
  
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  1. hopeforheather
    
    September 4, 2012 at 1:47 pm
    
    Thank you! I’m sure it will…and as for the job search…I took a step back from education for a few years and found 2 good jobs in the interim. I have since felt the pull to come back to teaching (albeit subbing right now)…but I’m just struggling paying bills (obvi). I’m holding on as long as possible! 🙂
    
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lgzpoetry

September 12, 2012 at 7:14 am

Hey there,
I’m really liking what I see here. I’d be honoured if, with you being a college English teacher, I could have your opinion as to some of my poems. My blog isn’t anything much yet, but I believe it has potential. Your feedback would be invaluable.
Thanks for your time.

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Stephen Hughes

January 28, 2013 at 4:37 pm

I love the cat icon – in reading glasses!

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Damommachef

May 3, 2013 at 7:47 pm

Wow! Your blog has had a makeover. It looks great! I have been out of the loop–just emerged from the most difficult semester of my life. I am glad to be back and say HI again!

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S. Thomas Summers

August 25, 2013 at 8:30 pm

I teach college English too. Looking forward to the conversation.

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Siobhan

November 19, 2013 at 4:23 pm

A fellow Siobhan! I used to teach English too until I escaped and ran off to publishing. Your post on plagarism took me back. I once had a male pupil write in an essay that, as a woman, he sympathised with the character of Lady Macbeth… *sigh*.

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mylifeinverse

January 15, 2014 at 6:33 pm

Hi, I’ve nominated you for the Sunshine Award! Your posts provide so much valuable insight into the teacher’s/professor’s side of education and, as a master’s candidate, I really appreciate the information. I sincerely hope that you stay active in the blogosphere. For details on the award, please visit my post at http://mylifeinverse.com/2014/01/15/im-walking-on-sunshine-whoa-and-dont-it-feel-good/ 🙂 Best of luck in all of your endeavors!

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1. Siobhan Curious
  
  January 20, 2014 at 9:57 am
  
  Thank you so much!
  
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Catherine Hamrick

January 26, 2014 at 11:13 am

Hi Siobhan. I recently came across your blog and have enjoyed it. I read one of your earlier posts–“Fiction Makes You Better at Stuff” (October 19, 2013).

I wrote a post last week that mentioned a study by Dr. Emanuele Castano (New School for Social Research) that says reading literary works makes you a kinder, more empathetic person. I did not dwell on the study but took off from there with not-too-serious thoughts:

“Makeup Homework–Overdue by 30 Years”

Makeup Homework–Long Overdue

I ran away to pursue publishing but on occasion have wandered back into the classroom.

Thank you for your delightful pieces.

Best regards,
Catherine Hamrick

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youngfryoftreachery

March 26, 2014 at 9:03 pm

I had one of the most beautiful English teacher when I was in High School. She was the one that opened my eyes to the world of teaching – to show me that yes, teachers are people. They have lives beyond the classroom door, they make sacrifices for their work, and they are rarely recognised for it. They don’t show the students their sleepless nights and skipped meals to make sure they are doing the best they can for the kids. And students, being short-sighted, will take these teachers for granted. My English teacher had an unquenchable love for her students. Stressing for us more so than we were for our own final projects. She had sacrificed so much more of her time to help each kid in her class individually, giving us her timetable and constantly encouraging us to approach her during her free time, because there is ALWAYS room to improve, no matter how good you are.

And so I truly, truly appreciate your blog. It shows the passion that you have for what you do, and it opens the eyes of other people, including students, to come to appreciate their teachers and professors more and to view them as not just another Joe-Blow trying to shove exams down their throats, but as another human being that deserves their utmost respect and efforts.

😀

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awax1217

July 22, 2014 at 2:17 pm

I am a fellow teacher. I did seventh grade for twenty seven years. Some days were a bear and some were great. I blog about it. Some of the stories put a smile on my face when I remember them and some are nightmares I should have forgotten but like a scar I pick on them. I am retired now and work at a amusement park to see kids smile and not annoy me with their hormones.

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