education
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ClassROOM: Teaching and Physical Space
I was thrilled when I learned my schedule this semester: noon to 4 most days, a nice change from my usual 8 a.m. start. Then I learned the catch. When you teach in the middle of the day, it seems, you’re much more likely to end up in a terrible classroom. My first class of… Continue reading
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Top 10 Posts of 2012
It’s time again for Classroom as Microcosm’s yearly top 10 roundup! These are the posts that got the most hits this year. It’s not always clear WHY a given post on this list got so much traffic, but the fact that a lot of people looked at and/or read these posts suggests maybe they have… Continue reading
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My Top 10 Books of 2012
It’s time again for the list of books that I enjoyed most this year. As always, only some of these books were published in 2012, but they were all a part of my 2012 experience. 1. Gone Girl by Gillian Flynn Each of my top 5 could easily have been #1. In the end, I… Continue reading
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Now You’ve Made Me Mad: Reprise
I don’t like this time of the semester. A couple of years ago at around this time, I summarized why. * What do you mean, “Why am I failing English?” You’ve failed EVERY SINGLE ASSIGNMENT since the beginning of the course. You handed in your first essay 2 weeks late, and you wouldn’t have handed… Continue reading
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Evaluation Rubrics
I’ve been asked to sit on a panel in January to discuss evaluation. One of the topics under discussion will be the use of rubrics to evaluate student work. I’m curious about others’ experiences with using rubrics. I have no idea how I’d manage without rubrics. I sometimes decide to “give myself a break” by… Continue reading
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Children’s Literature Reading List Update
In the last two days, I have read/reread: From the Mixed-Up Files of Mrs. Basil E Frankweiler Then Again, Maybe I Won’t A Series of Unfortunate Events Book 1: A Bad Beginning The Phantom Tollbooth I have also spent several lovely hours wandering through the stacks of three different children’s libraries. The nostalgia is permeating… Continue reading
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Betraying Elmo
Just a few days ago, I spent an evening weeping with joy over the documentary Being Elmo. The subject of that documentary, Kevin Clash, is now facing accusations of “sex with an underage boy.” No matter what the truth of the story is, it will be disheartening. Which is worse? 1. The allegations are true.… Continue reading
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Education and Growing: Reprise
Foreword: It’s been a rough week. Things at work are going fine, but life outside of work – especially life as a new homeowner – has been, shall we say, challenging. Full of minor and major inconveniences. Full of questions about whether buying a house, buying THIS house, was such a good idea. My husband… Continue reading
About Me
My job is to teach people to read and write; aside from that, I like to learn things.
Classroom as Microcosm 