personal
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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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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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how I saved my teaching career: final post: keeping a blog
The final post in my summer-long guest series on School Gate, the TimesOnline education blog, appeared this morning. In this post, I explain how keeping a blog made me a better, and more sane, teacher. Thank you all so much for reading and commenting on these posts, and emailing me your thoughts! I loved blogging Continue reading
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Blogger’s Block
Lately, I’ve had blogger’s block. I could say that I’ve been busy. (It’s true. The school year just started. There’s stuff to do.) But that’s not really what it’s about. I’ve been blocked. I recognize it, because I’ve experienced it so very often in the more classic “writer’s block” form. You think about writing stuff, 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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changing the world one comment at a time
Some of my Twitter contacts (particularly Shelley S. Terrell, or @ShellTerrell, who keeps the great blog Teacher Reboot Camp) have been encouraging me to sign up for the “One Comment a Day” project. This project was developed by Andrew Marcinek, who posts about it here. The premise: once a day, leave a constructive comment on 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 