…when have I ever really accomplished anything? School work is not an accomplishment. I never get appreciated or anything for what I do. Either I miss out or I’m completely overlooked. But how can that be when I seem to have so much to offer?” Journal entry 10/07/1997 It was Spring of 1997, the end…
My Sunday brain is contemplating the physical classroom in the Fall. I have been hearing a lot about installing cameras and microphones to record lessons for kids at home this Fall if schools cannot open normally, but part of me cringes at the thought of trying to replicate what we have been doing in a…
Welcome to the first installment of my blog series focused on my upcoming book, Digital and Media Literacy in the Age of the Internet: Practical Classroom Applications. I always start the year with my freshmen making sure that they have a basic, underlying understanding of how the Internet works. I ask them to explain how…
I am thrilled to announce that my book, Digital and Media Literacy in the Age of the Internet: Practical Classroom Applications (Rowman & Littlefield) will be released in November 2019. This book was a labor of love and a unique opportunity to reflect on and dig deeper into the themes and content that I have…
As 2013 comes to a close, it is time to reflect on the past year. 2013 proved to be quite a transformative one. Considering that this is my first post since September, it has also proven to be a busy one. Here are some of my thoughts on the past year. Spring 2013 2013 began…
Update: On Monday, June 3rd, the Briarcliff Manor Board of Education approved their 2013-2014 budget to include slots for Briarcliff students to attend the Walkabout Program. Many thanks from Walkabout alumni and next year’s cohort of students. As many who know me well are aware, I had the unique opportunity to attend the Walkabout Program…
Z loves everything about the planets, the stars, black holes, and anything Space-related. He can rattle off facts and is a very bright child. He is also disorganized, can lose focus easily and works fairly slowly. In a nutshell, he doesn’t “play school” well, but in a different learning environment, he’d thrive. T is bright…
I just finished reading the 2nd edition of Using Technology with Classroom Instruction that Works, a guide for educators who already are familiar with Classroom Instruction that Works. I must confess, I haven’t read Classroom Instruction that Works (it’s been on my to-read list forever), so while I was familiar with many of the strategies in the book,…
I’m tired. I’m tired of battling. I’m tired of defending my profession. I’m tired of the arguments and heated discussions about how education should be fixed. I’m tired of feeling like Sisyphus, rolling my boulder up the hill, only to watch it roll back down behind me again. I’m tired of pretending. I’m tired of…
Philly Teacher was down on January 18, 2012 in protest against SOPA. Let’s protect the web as an avenue of free speech. To learn more about this, watch the TED Talk by Clay Shirky below.