Block Scheduling Question

Hey all you teachers! Do any of you teach in a school that uses an “Alternating Block Schedule” also knows as “Block-8″? I’m curious what the benefits of a Block-8 schedule are? Please, if you teach anywhere where you don’t do the traditional 50 some odd minutes per class with [...]

NEW Haveil Havalim Ready for Viewing

The new Haveil Havalim is up and ready for viewing at Jack’s Shack. 
Thanks Jack for a great round-up. I mean, I am in it after all so it must be great right?
So dear readers, go check it out and leave a comment.  

Dear Students…Sigh

Dear Complacent, Lazy, and Unmotivated students who want me to care for them, to love them, to discipline them, to give them structure…
As I sit here reading your Literature Circle Journals and Jobs, I can say I am pleased with most of your work; that is the work of those of you who did it.
To [...]

Using Virtual Worlds to do a Mitzvah

The other day I did a post about how I really really would love to have my own digital projector for the classroom. My own meaning, one I don’t have to check out daily, weekly, or monthly. One that I know will be there daily or whenever I have the desire to use it with [...]

How Do You "Do" Shabbat?

Cross Posted at JewsByChoice.Org
I was thinking about Shabbat and how Avi and I celebrate this special day of the week. Sometimes I wonder how my readers or other couples with no kids honor the Sabbath. We find it very important to embrace Judaism as much as we can; but especially on Shabbat. [...]

Budget Cuts…Yeah, that’s what our kids need. Thanks Governator!

I just received this in my email from the governor.  I only copied the first part of the letter, the rest of it is “blah blah we’re doing our best to fight, blah blah, we’re doing our best to save the classroom…You get the idea…

Do a Mitzvah…Help some kids…

Ok, perhaps this is a tad self serving, but, it’s my blog right?
I just posted a proposal on donorschoose.org in order to hopefully get a digital LCD projector funded through anonymous donations. My school is quite old and not digitally inclined to say the least. Using technology in the classroom is essential if [...]

Quitting Teaching

A close friend of mine, a teacher, has decided to leave the teaching profession after about seven years of teaching.  Nani is a good teacher as far as I can tell. No, I’m not in her classroom daily (though I did observe her on a visit to New York once).  Nani cares about learning. She [...]

Making Changes and Teaching Etymology

Today was the first day of a new semester for me. Being the second day, I decided it was time to change what I do just a bit and to try something different. I really appreciate the blogosphere and my fellow teachers who give sound advice, ideas, share knowledge, and provide feedback. It is [...]

Am I the Only One Who Still Watches the Rose Parade?

Good Morning and Happy 2008.  Seriously, I hope it’s a happy and productive and meaningful year to all.
One of the things I love to do on New Year’s Day morning is sip coffee and watch the Tournament of Roses Parade.  I’ve watched the parade most years I believe. As a kid I’d watch it one, [...]