I left teaching in June 2020. As many teachers now wrestle with making the same decision, I wanted to share a few things I now miss about working in a school.
When Your Child Has Covid-19
My son tested positive for Covid-19. Thankfully, his mild symptoms would have gone undetected had…
How it Felt to be the Only White in the Room
In 1999, I volunteered at the Northside Child Development Center in North Minneapolis. I was the only white person there, and I wrote an article for the Chicago Tribune about that experience.
Today, it feels relevant to again share these thoughts, and I have written them here, as the original Tribune article is not available online.
Why Working From Home and Homeschooling is Impossible: And Why Parents Shouldn’t Feel Bad
I’m at the point in my quarantine where I throw up my hands and say “Uncle.” Working from home and homeschooling is impossible, and it’s time for parents to stop feeling defeated and set more realistic expectations.
Feeling Behind? How Math Can Help Teachers Get Back to Positive
My middle school students have just been introduced to the concept of negative numbers. The…
How the Mr. Rogers Movie Motivated Me To Get Back to School
Attending a weekday matinee of Won’t You Be My Neighbor, was supposed to be a…
I Had My Student Arrested
I imagine most teachers have a story that haunts them years later. For me, having…
How Seeing a Former Student Changed My Summer
For the past six weeks, I’ve been in school year recovery mode. After a year…
A Teacher’s Response to the Florida School Shooting
Dear Parents, Today your children will ask me about another school shooting. They will want…
Teach Like a Coach: Motivating Ourselves for the Second Half
Winter break is one of the best parts of being a teacher. A close second…