Month: June 2011

Does Rest Break Focus?

Many of you are already on summer holidays, and in my envious haze, I find myself scrambling for a topic to write about. It could be that my reflective powers are decreasing due to the warm summer breeze, and my time spent in the hammock reading the hard-to-put-down novel, “The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo“. I seem to have more interest in listening to the first cicadas of the summer, then working on my lesson plans. My ability to focus has greatly diminished as I go into my last official week of teaching, and for this I have no shame. It is time for a break.

Interestingly, it is in this need for rest that I am able to find a topic to write about.

(more…)

Applause for the Teacher’s Tickle Trunk

Getting a round of applause at the end of a lesson is definitely a nice little pick-me-up for a teacher. I was fortunate to receive one these after having unveiled one of my favorite magical teaching tools from the ever giving tickle trunk called the world wide web.

Mr. Dressup was my favorite childhood TV personality. He could find any magical item in his tickle trunk.

(more…)

Holding On to Hope

Teachers just need a little hope. After I wrote last week’s post Not Enough Scaffolding in the Lesson on Scaffolding, I felt hope slipping away. I wasn’t sure if the participants would be able to — or even willing to — finish their scaffolding posters. I had this nagging voice of disdain in my head clearly whispering:

“Give it up. You’re goal is lost. Let it go. They don’t want to do the posters, and they also don’t understand why you’re asking them to make them. Wouldn’t a lecture have been more useful? Just tell them they won’t have to finish the posters and give them a lecture on scaffolding instead.”

I’m glad I fought that voice.

(more…)