The Forgotten Teacher: Perks of Teaching Untested Subjects
(Photo credit: jenlight) It’s testing season and the clock is ticking. High-pressure countdowns, elaborate review games, new investment plans–every classroom is in overdrive right now. …unless, like...
View ArticleHow Open-Ended Tests Revolutionized My Teaching
(Photo credit: Adam Foster | Codefor) Call me crazy, but I love unit testing my seventh graders. On those days, there are no mandated number two pencils, no process-of-elimination strategies, and...
View ArticleFighting Guilt to Take a Time-Out from Teaching
(Photo credit: jenlight) On the last day of Saturday tutorials, my absolute favorite seventh grade student stopped me in the hallway to give me the biggest hug. “I’m going to have Ms. Garvey again next...
View ArticleWhy Every Teacher Should Embrace the Read Aloud
A sample “book report” that my students completed after our read-aloud. An unprompted exchange between two of my students last week: “I would rate the book 6.2 stars.” “Dude, it’s out of five!” “I...
View ArticleThe Hardest Thing About Institute
(Photo: juditk, flickr) For me, the hardest part of Institute—harder than packing up and moving to a brand new city, harder than learning new kids and new content, harder than the long days and late...
View ArticleWelcome Corps Members! #2
Howdy, y’all! (I’m kidding. A Texas placement DOES NOT mean that you’ll end up sounding like that … though I do own a pretty sweet pair of cowboy boots.) My name is Emily and I was a 2010 Houston corps...
View ArticleBack To Being Ms. Garvey
(Photo credit: Vero Villa) Just about this time last year, I was hiking over the Pyrenees, starting a 500-mile walking pilgrimage across Spain. Eight months ago I was dancing on the beaches of...
View ArticleFear Is A Lie
“For this year, I fear nothing, fear is a lie.” I get this from one of my eighth graders on the first day of school while they are doing an activity that requires them to write down their hopes and...
View ArticleWhy I’m Staying in the Classroom
According to recent studies, nearly 40% of new teachers leave the classroom after three years. I’m not surprised by that number because that was my path. I was teaching two subjects to two middle...
View ArticleNext Level Teacher Organization: The Power of the Notebook
When my assistant principal suggested that I sign up for a teacher organization professional development, I was offended. I always turn in my lesson plans on time, I never miss meetings, and unread...
View ArticleThe Most Transformative Words I’ve Said in Class This Year
Last month, during testing season, stress levels are at an all-time high—for my 8th graders and their teacher. So when a student stopped doing his homework, I stopped letting him into my classroom. He...
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