The Classroom

While talking to my student teacher about how to increase student by-in I made reference to the movie Dangerous Minds.  I’ve always loved how this movie is based on a true story, and how the original book is entitled “My Posse Don’t Do Homework”.  I’ve always thought of my class in that manner… My posse, my crew, my team.  Well having never actually READ the book, I decided to log on to my friendly internet book store and order it.  Sadly its no longer in print, but Louanne Johnson (the author) has written more books, her most recent being “Teaching Outside the box: how to grab your students by the brains”. Read the rest of this entry »

I know I keep referring to my first principal, Bill Drake, in a lot of my writings. The man had a profound effect on me. His motto of “Teach as you would like to have been taught” is the foundation for most of my educational beliefs. It’s a concept I had already subscribed too long before I met Bill, but to hear him say it and reinforce that belief was what I needed at the time.

So how did I like to be taught? How did you like to be taught? How do we know? The answer is simple. Think of your favourite teacher – and what made them so. It’s what I did. I’ve based my entire teaching practices upon what I can remember of my grade 5 teacher, Mr. Glance. Read the rest of this entry »