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Tag Archives: philosophy
Responding to Student Demands for Good Teaching
For the past week, social media has been buzzing with a 90-second video of Jeff Bliss, a Texas high school sophomore, giving his World History teacher a piece of his mind about the endless packets and worksheets, and what he feels … Continue reading
Math Frustrations
Back in 1993, the National Council of Math Teachers (NCTM) published standards that changed the way math was taught in schools. The “reform math” movement, as it has come to be called, called for more problem-solving and understanding of why … Continue reading
Motivating Through Fear
On Saturday morning I found myself in a classroom at a local charter school (grades 5-8), and the motivational sign on the classroom wall contained the following quote: Every morning in Africa, a gazelle wakes up. It knows it must … Continue reading
Message to my Students
I thought the people who read my blog might enjoy the message I sent to my students over Christmas Vacation. +12-4
Learning by Screwing Up
One of the signs on my wall states, “You can’t learn effectively without the freedom to make mistakes.” It’s a new school year, and my new batch of students is working on learning this lesson. +5-7
The Vicious Cycle of Algorithmic Learning
It seems like the harder we work at teaching students to be good at math, the more problems they have, and the worse they become. We seem to be trapped in a vicious downward spiral. I believe that a lot … Continue reading
Practical Alternative to “Algebra for All”?
Anyone who has read my blog probably already knows my feelings about high-stakes tests. In a nutshell, I think the tests do more harm than good. I think the tests are emphasizing the wrong skills, and I think we’re teaching … Continue reading
Teacher Crushes
Teacher crushes are a common occurrence. Even if you’ve never had one yourself, you don’t have to ask many people before you find someone who has had a crush on a teacher. And yet, it’s a subject that almost everyone … Continue reading
Tough Love vs. “Tough Shit!”
The lesson from “tough love” teachers is that if you don’t do the work, you can’t master the subject and you fail. Most kids have already learned how to fail. What they need to learn is how not to. +11-4
Pushing the Reset Button
On Friday, while I had cafeteria duty, I noticed a girl with a bruise on her face. I asked her what had happened. She said with a sheepish half-smile, “I got into a fight. But don’t worry. It wasn’t on … Continue reading