classroom
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The New Semester: 10 Resolutions
Classes start again in less than two weeks. (Primary, secondary and university teachers who are already back at work, I know what you’re thinking: “Shut up.” Believe me, I know how good I’ve got it.) I don’t make New Year’s resolutions. However, one theme that presents itself frequently in my Buddhist meditation practice and my Continue reading
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Arrows Into Blossoms
I’ve just finished reading Pema Chodron’s Taking the Leap: Freeing Ourselves from Old Habits and Fears. If you’re not familiar with Chodron, she is perhaps the world’s most famous Tibetan Buddhist American nun, and her works are meant to help Westerners understand the basic precepts of Tibetan Buddhism and apply them usefully in their own Continue reading
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trusting our intentions
I haven’t had much time recently for blogging, or thinking about blogging, but I came across a quote this evening that sums up where my head is at these days, in the classroom and in the world. Remember that you don’t have to like or admire someone to feel compassion for that person. All you Continue reading
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Grammar Grief
What do you do with a problem like grammar? I’m teaching two sections of a Preparation for College English course. These courses are designed for students whose first language is not English, and whose level of written English is too poor for them to manage in a 101 course. At the end of the course, Continue reading
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One Minute of Solitude
Two of my three classes this term have been, so far, focused yet energetic, respectful yet lively. The third has been a bit of a pain in the ass. This class meets from 4-6 in the afternoon – the worst possible time. They’re tired. I’m tired. Their brains are buzzing from a day’s worth of Continue reading
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What I Did on my Summer “Vacation”
School starts on Friday with a day-long department conference, and classes begin on Monday. I’m tempted to say things like “Where did the summer go?”, but I’d been putting it on. The summer didn’t seem short. (Some Montrealers will retort, “Summer only began last Friday,” but I have nothing against cool, rainy summers, so I Continue reading
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how I saved my teaching career part 7: meditate!
The penultimate post in my series “How I Saved My Teaching Career” appeared on School Gate this morning. In this post, I describe how learning to meditate made me a better teacher. Continue reading
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Dear Auntie Siobhan #7: Helicopter Parent. Help!
My final guest post at Change.org’s education blog went up this morning. Today: what do I do when my (college) student’s parent won’t leave me alone? Big thanks to Clay Burell for inviting me to guest blog this week while he’s moving to Singapore and writing a (no doubt fabulous) book. “Dear Auntie Siobhan” will Continue reading
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Ask Auntie Siobhan #6: My Students are Passionate, but It Can Get Out of Hand
This morning at Change.org, Auntie Siobhan gives her thoughts on the question, “How can I encourage passionate engagement in my classroom without encouraging aggression?” It’s been quite a ride! My stint at Change.org ends tomorrow, but if you have questions for Auntie Siobhan, feel free to send them along, and she will respond here in Continue reading
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Ask Auntie Siobhan #4: My Students Won’t Put Their Phones Away
Today at Change.org, Auntie Siobhan addresses the question: What do I do about the scourge of cell phones in my classroom? Please come visit and leave your own advice. And if you have a question you’d like Auntie Siobhan to answer, write to me at siobhancurious@gmail.com. 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 