In Nogales, we begin school the middle of the second week of August. We ended first quarter last week and I am exhausted already. Is it because I earnestly tried to meet the diverse needs of my freshmen and senior students, or is it because I spend so much time trying to get them to understand that "because they went out of town for the weekend" doesn't mean that they do not have to repect due dates? I find that writing lesson plans, expecting to follow them and move through our curriculum at a… Continue

Just spent three days in various cities observing my student teachers at work. This is a great grounding experience for me every time I watch them work, but it also underlines the sheer difficulty of watching 4 pots boiling over on the stove and trying to serve up a gourmet meal. There is so much stimulus and all stimulus screaming for attention with seemingly equal importance. How did I do that period after period for 33 years?

At my school there is some tension developing lately around the idea that what is good for students is not the same as what is good for teachers. Some people are speaking -- and ocassionally operating -- as if the two categories are mutually exclusive. Please help me think more clearly on this issue (and perhaps get fired).

Every summer I feel vague guilt about work undone, deep thoughts not thought, words not written. And even in summer I have dreams about school. This past summer was particularly haunted by my principal's invitation to share with the rest of the faculty of our high school a little "about what we value most about our vocation as teachers." These are my notes toward that sharing.



1. Thank you, Kevin, for focusing yet another summer for me. You've given me some weeks of hyper-alertness,… Continue

As we start this project and following Carl's lead, I was thinking about FacultyShack pieces I have enjoyed, and while there are many, this one and a few others come to mind.



Dear Mr. Alden,



Have you ever read the classic book Black Like Me? Well, I have an idea. I think we should send some our nation's top leaders of industry, academia etc. into the schools of America and have them apply for teaching jobs. The result we would already know. They would be… Continue