Often times, the thing that keeps me from doing the deep, non-instructional work of teaching — the planning, thinking, giving feedback, researching, problem-solving — isn’t students dropping by (which we discussed last time). Instead, it’s me. In particular, it’s my bad habits — my time-wasters on autopilot. When my bad habits kick in — news reading, […]
The Secret Skills of Master Teachers: Reducing Distractions from Students
To produce the clarity of thought necessary for deep and impactful teaching, the teacher has to do something that her environment constantly resists: she must avail herself of distraction-free blocks of time each day in which to do her most important work. I’ll use my setting as an example of what I mean by an […]
The Secret Skills of Master Teachers: Are They a Thing?
If you had walked up to me as a struggling first year teacher and said the kinds of things I needed to hear — something like, “Dude. Slow down. Focus. Breathe. You’re working too hard.” — then I think I would have looked at you with eager eyes and said, “You know what? I’d love […]
What I Ask
A few days ago, I shared the gist of this blog: the work, the gap, the mission. This time, let me be real about something. The most common affirmation I get from readers like you is that you appreciate that I write from a real and living classroom. It’s clear, you tell me, that I […]
What I Do
I picture this blog as a sort of big ol’ teacher speakeasy. We serve uppers in the morning and sedatives at night. We come here for encouragement, equipment, refreshment, and refining. You know it’s a place where the folks understand you; you’re not judged when things don’t go right in your room all the time […]