Have you ever tried to alter someone's opinion on how to do something? Something they have been taught to do and told that it is the best and really, the only way, to do something? Changing a mindset is not easy. I have been in Tanzania, working at a rural secondary school for nine months… Continue reading Changing A Mindset
Category: Middle School
Changing Pedagogy
It's been nearly two months since I last sat down to express the enormity of working in Tanzania. My emotions have soared and plummeted, only to soar again the next week. But, as though through the eye of a scientist, I am learning to: slow down, study with a questioning eye the ponderous inefficiencies, observe… Continue reading Changing Pedagogy
Epic Zombie Killers!
My wonderful, sweet, and creative 6th graders just presented their Post Zombie Apocalypse Geography Plays (yes, I know that is a mouthful!). But they were hysterical. They had to present all the concepts we learned about in our geography unit, in the format of a five minute play - theme: resettling after a zombie outbreak.… Continue reading Epic Zombie Killers!
Refresh
I have decided to give myself short writing assignments that are not about the book I am currently writing. The goal is to keep my mind working on prose, but from different perspectives. I have found quite a few blogs that offer prompts that will take my mind in a variety of directions. Here is… Continue reading Refresh
Zombies and Trump
I just had to post a quick update... My two 6th grade classes have just finished a unit on geography using zombies as the lens to explore the concepts. Now, for their final, they are creating plays about a post zombie apocalypse resettlement. The characters have to use geography tools and concepts to find and… Continue reading Zombies and Trump
Its a New Year!
Happy New Year Everyone! As I did not win the big Powerball, I'm still teaching in Gallup, NM. 🙂 My kids and I have finally moved into a rhythm that seems to mostly work for all of us. My sixth graders are just about through a unit on Malala Yousafzai, the young girl in Pakistan… Continue reading Its a New Year!