Why isn’t there more outrage about this? Yes, teachers are human, so we make mistakes. Mistakes in math are excusable, as long as they aren’t too frequent or too egregious. But mistakes in ethics and law are inexcusable. Teachers who… Read More ›
Month: September 2014
The Triple Package
It doesn’t feel that long, but it turns out that it was three and half years ago that I reviewed Amy Chua’s previous book, Battle Hymn of the Tiger Mother. Her new book, written in collaboration with her husband, Jed Rubenfeld, is… Read More ›
Common Core State Standards: Ten colossal errors?
How can I possibly digest the gigantic amount of material that has been written about the controversial Common Core State Standards (CCSS)? Like it or not, these standards are about to have a big impact on my professional life, so… Read More ›
The Year of Living Biblically
I approached this book with some trepidation. The premise was intriguing: A.J. Jacobs, a moderately well-known writer for Esquire, would attempt to go for a year literally following all the rules in the Bible. I knew that Jacobs wasn’t a… Read More ›
Free haircuts for straight A’s?
I don’t know why this sign on a barber shop in Dorchester Lower Mills rubs me the wrong way, but it does:
Mimi, Cole, & Abby
In early June, Barbara and I decided to celebrate our upcoming June 23 anniversary by having dinner at Abby Park, since Barbara’s friend Mimi McCaffrey would be performing with her band, The Blue Hotel. The dinner was surprisingly good (after three… Read More ›
Beauty Queens
Why do so many people have trouble with satire? I guess it’s because you have to approach it on two levels at once: the literal and the figurative. That can be difficult. So don’t read Libba Bray’s novel, Beauty Queens, if you… Read More ›
iPhone 6
Do I want an iPhone 6 (or 6 Plus)? Do I need an iPhone 6 (or 6 Plus)?
Why?
Several of my colleagues are wearing buttons that say “Why?” — and you may well wonder why. No, they’re not disaffected teachers who are questioning authority. Au contraire, they are the authority…and they want us to help each kid understand why s/he is doing what… Read More ›
Learning Strategies 