When I pulled up to the school on that late summer day, there were two familiar faces waiting in front of it. Students I had had two years prior who were now waiting for the bus that would take them to their seventh-grade orientation. I stopped to chat with them, and before I could stop… Continue reading Getting Ready to Share in Their Stories Again
I want to be the kind of person who makes others feel safe. Who brings calm and peace with her wherever she goes. I want to be the kind of person who has the confidence to enjoy being herself and not care what others think of her. I want to be the kind of person… Continue reading I Want to be the Kind of Person Who …
It makes me sick that in one day, 182 teachers across the district lost their jobs because of a budget shortfall – as if they were simply a line item like school supplies or after-school clubs. It makes me sick that the ones who signed up for this unglamorous job of loving kids even when… Continue reading Teachers Are a Necessity, Not a Commodity
I promise to get to know you and care about what’s important to you. I promise to listen to your voice and value your opinion. I promise to believe the best of you, no matter what has happened in previous years or even previous days. I promise to forgive you when your actions have hurt… Continue reading A Pledge to My Students
Research has shown that reading aloud to kids greatly increases their love for literature – but unfortunately, making time for “read-aloud” has been pushed off the table for many teachers. It can be understandable, what with all the demands for other things that have to be taught. But even though I feel this tug myself,… Continue reading Favorite Classroom Read-Alouds
There is a frightening 21st-century predator lurking in the shadows for our children. And it comes in the form of unmonitored access to social media and Internet content. If you’re in your teens or twenties, you might be thinking, “Yeah, yeah – adults have been going on and on about the dangers of the Internet… Continue reading How Many “Reasons Why” Do We Need?
When people ask me how the fourth year of teaching went, I unashamedly say, “It was the best year yet!” And they might be inclined to smile to themselves and think, “That’s just optimistic Lydia, always seeing the bright side.” It is the bright side – I’m not saying that the year was perfect,… Continue reading Year 4 of Teaching: Learning to Love Them Like Never Before
