tweenteacher.com

OK, you know when you get a new puppy and you love it and you couldn't live without it and then you find out it has hip dysplasia?   That's a little of what my relationship is like with my new ...

All hail the mighty Neil Gaiman!  I can’t say that I actually called it, but I did recommend The Graveyard Book, did I not?   Yes, it seems The Sandman himself has gone and won the Newbery Award.  So congrats from ...

Here's a great metacognitive lesson that integrates poetry.  Or is it a poetry lesson that is metacognitive?  (Shrug)  I believe that good writing and great structure can be taught through mimicking great authors.  Using this philosophy as my guide, my ...

I've been working on metacognitive lessons with my middle schoolers in an attempt to teach reflection and the act of thinking about thinking.  Anyway, one of the most important elements in teaching about thinking is in your own remembering of ...

I recently watched John Merrow's interview with Michelle Rhee on the NewsHour.  Michelle seems like a real mixed blessing for education. On one hand, she's willing to clean house, and education does seriously need it.  On the other hand, however, ...

The UCI Writers Project has monthly meetings for its alumni where we discuss certain topics, bringing our field studies and expertise into the conversation.  Last night we tackled an issue related to developing a common language: Skills vs. Strategies. Many of ...

OK, so as I write this I'm watching Sesame Street with my 2 year old.  This big-feathered muppet just announced that the Word on the Street is, get this...Struggle.  I kid you not.  I guess times are tough even on ...

Look, we all agree, that our job is to prepare our students for their future by teaching 21st Century skills, right?  Well, then why is cursive even a continuing debate?   We can no longer afford to spend time on classes ...

On Christmas Eve, my 2 year-old son and I were driving home to meet my husband, when our Honda CR-V was hit by another car.  It was pretty bad.  But it could have been much worse, for which we are ...

OK, so we preach about differentiating our lessons.  We preach about differentiating our students.  We preach about differentiating our assessments.  But what about differentiating the requirements of our new teacher programs?