June 2011
85 posts
6 tags
positivelypersistentteach asked: Yes they still do it, and its much more accessible (you're still featured)... and really we don't consider ourselves big names. We're just people. :-)
jessiesspot asked: Hi! I just read your thing about followers who you don't know, and I am one of them. I found you when I looked for education tags, read some of your stuff and thought that you presented an interesting alternative to some of the other, more conservative or traditional points of views....I have just gone back to uni as a mature age student (at 25) to start my teaching degree, and I want to be...
7 tags
That's okay, Oxford.
I’ll just use the serial comma instead.
mcdevinpants asked: I've been gaining a bunch of seemingly random followers too, at least a couple of whom I'm sure are spambots. But since they don't affect my feed unless I follow them back, I just don't worry about it. I felt slightly paranoid for a little while, because...well, I was being followed by people I don't know. Think about that for a moment and see if you don't get a...
positivelypersistentteach asked: well you were featured in the education spotlight so I am sure that had to do with the increase of followers as well!
1,000 Followers?
I’m sure that a good percentage of those have to be spam, because I cannot comprehend that so many people would take such stock in what I have to say — but every time I go through and consider blocking obviously spam accounts, all I can think is, “What if the person behind the movie downloads/porn photos/supposedly free ipods is just interested in education, too?”
How...
Slooooowed down.
Today is a great day to ask me things. My back is almost out and it’s slowing me down, meaning that in between jobs at work today (we’re a mobile business and I’m not the driver) I’ll be working on some articles for Team Teachers and hanging around the Education tumblr (as well as other non-Education productivity).
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Some Notes on Critical Incident Stress Management
Any information in the following article is either drawn from the Family Service League presentation on Crisis Intervention, which draws heavily upon methods and materials put forth by the International Critical Incident Stress Foundation, or relies on common psychological knowledge gleaned from psychology courses taken throughout my undergraduate career.
Broad Applications
I’m adding...
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In Little Rock I had the reputation of being "That...
My friends in the corps there loved it and tossed me new phrases to incorporate into my vocabulary on a weekly basis. (“I see you___!” became a greeting.) It was a huge novelty, and I really didn’t get what the big deal was because that’s the way I’ve always been even though most of my formative years have been spent in very monoculture suburbia.
Today on some...
Dear Tumblr,
PLEASE do not truncate posts like that again. PPT had some great things to say about rap as an educational tool and that ellipsis made it look like she was agreeing with the OP.
Shame on me for not looking back over it before I posted it. I didn’t even think to check. Now I know better - sorry PPT!
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For LGBTQ Teachers - You Are Not Alone →
A couple of days ago I asked if there were any LGBTQ teachers out there on Tumblr. Then, because I knew better, I corrected myself and asked where they were on Tumblr.
I got one public response and one private response. and waited to see if any more would come out (no pun intended) of it. Then I remembered that outing myself as a gay educator even on tumblr where no one knew who I really was...
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Aunque se vista de seda, mona se queda.:... →
sarahtopz:
No ‘him’ or ‘her’ at gender-neutral preschool - Chicago Sun-Times
Below is the original article, though a picture and description are also present if you follow the link.
STOCKHOLM — At the “Egalia” preschool, staff avoid using words like “him” or “her” and address the…
This is an interesting concept, but I question the full avoidance of traditional tales in favor of...
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Would this have practical application for anyone...
I was able to sit in on a Crisis Incident Stress Management Training overview today, which addressed the basics of “Critical Incidents,” their effects on individuals and groups, and ways in which to address them. Because it was run through the organization that includes our after school program, we had a heavy focus on students and staff in schools.
It wasn’t a full...
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I was hoping to post a good example of a...
…but I completely forgot that the one sitting in my favorites (snagged before I was in Education, when I was appreciating it as a college freshman with a thing for Hamlet) refers to Ophelia as a “ho.”
So I guess that’s not particularly appropriate.
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Positively Persistent Teach: Rap is not an... →
positivelypersistentteach:
ikillthings:
In the days of primary school, three separate teachers issued a project of writing a rap about the environment.
Um, what?
And just last year, we were given this same project in French class to do in French.
When did rap become an acceptable way to teach the modern yoof?
Maybe its not a good tool for you — but putting students interests into lessons...
bourdonrypien asked: Ya know, I didn't think of it that way. I saw that picture on a different website, a 'funny' website. (Took the tags off the website also) When I saw the picture, I just thought of it as if the chair had broken, and the student had just put books underneath it. Not that the school system was fucked up. I am truly sorry if I've offended you, i'm not on Tumblr to be an...
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“I have never witnessed anything like the tidal wave of unwarranted enthusiasm...”
– U.S. Children Misdiagnosed with Bipolar Disorder
I have students who wear “mental illness” and “learning disability” like a badge. I’m not trying to belittle real mental illness here; yet, I have hold myself in check every time a kid says, “Miss S, I just can’t do this. I’m not on my medication....
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I'm curious about something.
Because thus far the #Education tag has proven to be a safe place,
because many of us separate anything on the internet from our personal identities anyway,
because I’ve had people mention to me privately that they teach and are gay, or
because I’ve had students in my teaching program contact me letting me know they’re afraid of who they are in this profession —
Are...
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Association of American Educators Signs on in... →
positivelypersistentteach:
mspersaud:
“While we feel that nationalized curriculum is not in our best interest, AAE believes that expectations should be high and similar for all schoolchildren, regardless of their state of residence. Having said that, AAE does not agree that a one-size-fits-all, centrally-controlled curriculum makes sense for this country or for any other sizable country with...
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For all that I promote self-acceptance and...
…it occurs to me that seeing a blatantly gay-related news tumblr like one of my posts sent me into a small panic, because for a moment I thought the teacher-me wires got crossed with the personal-me ones.
So, there’s still a long way to go.
(Thank you, by the way, to anyone who likes my posts, regardless of their focus. I appreciate that you think I have something to say...
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Closer to Justice For All
Congratulations this evening in New York to many LGBTQ youth and families and their allies who have endured sometimes unwelcoming school environments, who can now look to the state for that extra “validation” though they shouldn’t need it, who now have that much more protection and that much more hope.
It would be a lie to say it doesn’t make me a little excited to be...
Something May be Wrong with my Focus
For some reason, I felt the need to click and see if the newest liker, “First-Sexual-Love”, is actually a person or a bot.
They are a bot posting “sexy” photos
My first thought on seeing them was, “I wonder if I could knit that bikini top.”
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What is "My Virtual Child"? →
If you work in Secondary or Higher Ed and your students, for whatever reason, need to put some parenting or developmental psych concepts into play, you might want to check out Pearson’s Virtual Child (more about it here), which comes with some textbooks but use of which can also be purchased on its own. Granted, you lose out on the wake-up call that the programmed faux-babies give —...
“How wonderful it is that nobody need wait a single moment before starting to...”
– Anne Frank (via firstbook)
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Work in Progress: Dear Virtual Child Software, →
positivelypersistentteach:
btchenbernie:
My virtual child is gifted, and my parenting skills rocks. Stop trying to make my “strictness” an issue. I have raised a well rounded and talented kid thus far. He has exhibited high levels of competency in his cognitive, language, scientific and mathematical ability. He sings very well, is…
Things I am confused by…
I actually had to run the Virtual...
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Positively Persistent Teach: Grade 7... Uhoh.... →
adolwyn:
Let me me begin by saying that my teacher education and teaching practicum prepared me for grade 9-12 teaching (or so it claimed). I had very little classroom time dedicated to the younger kids in college or even in my practicums. My first teaching job involved teaching 9-12. My…
I have a sort of indirect exposure to 7th grade students. I’ve student-taught 6th grade ELA,...
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stone wings: the problem with me →
bombshellcat:
flightsandnightmares:
is that I’m an extremely academic-minded person who hates her entire experience of education thus far and has very, very rarely enjoyed actually learning anything in school.
There has to be some kind of problem here. I love learning. Honestly, I do. When I was a kid I would sometimes spend days…
I think, sometimes, that Haley is my soul twin. My much more...
positivelypersistentteach asked: there are other ideas on that site beside candy if you click on the different tabs :-)
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Science of Cooking →
positivelypersistentteach:
In college, my good friend Greg always told me how he was a good cook followed by “of course I am, I’m a chemist!” Greg is one of those people that is actually a genius when it comes to science. He is currently working on his PhD in chemistry at Berkeley, and has won a number of chemistry awards. Cooking, for me, has never been so much about science than as a way to...
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Arts to Grow: City Reduces Chronic Absenteeism in... →
artstogrow:
New York Times article, By SHARON OTTERMAN, Published: June 16, 2011 discovers one of many public school problems in the USA, attendance.
At Public School 309 in Bedford-Stuyvesant, Brooklyn, students wear necklaces with colorful pendants, each marking a month in which they…
I know those red jackets!
I wore that red jacket!
I’m so excited to see them featured in...
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"5 Suprisingly Easy Ways to Make Kids Smarter" →
Actually, “5 Ways to Help Students Better Reach Their Potential” would be more appropriate, but regardless:
I spend an unfortunate amount of time on Cracked at my brothers’ beck and call, where they find frequently fascinating, sometimes horrifying, generally irrelevant food for thought. I found this from my youngest bro in my inbox this evening and thought I’d share...
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The death of anyone is tragic.
I want to hope that the death of “Jackass” stuntman Ryan Dunn will also be a cautionary tale, considering he posted a photo of himself drinking at a bar before getting into the car and killing himself and a passenger.
I also want to hope that this will make young people reconsider many of the stunts that have made these men famous as the potentially dangerous poor decisions that they...
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Anatomy of a Teaching Portfolio
This is just one example, and because it was given to me as a student I don’t know how professionally viable it is vs. what other seasoned teachers may have created. But I look at it as a good starting point, which can be modified to your needs according to your own creativity!
The professor who created the guidelines for this assignment — a graduation requirement for individuals in...
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Human Services (A Call to a Local Non-Profit...
The man who answers the phone sounds slightly older, and is for whatever reason answering with incredible volume and a tone that sounds like he may be bored.
Man: [Name of Non-Profit].
Me: ...yes, I'm calling because I have some questions about the services you offer -
Man: Well the first question is "Are we accepting applications?" and the answer is no.
Me: ...right. Thank y -
I want to hang up abruptly in displeasure, but he has already hung up before I can finish. Sometimes I feel like this must be a joke.
A Weird Place for Such Spam Bots...
A “Sexy Girls, Sexy Photos” tumblr just gave favorites to a dozen of my posts. I guess sexy girls like education too.
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I am mental, but so are you.: I'm bored with these... →
monasequeda:
ieatcatlitter:
I have been reading various blogs all night about BPD and they’re so very monotonous and boring. I’m so bored of people complaining about the same old stuff and not doing anything to change it. You ask them if they’re in therapy or on medication, they say no and tell you a million reasons why. You…
Why do you keep reading them if they’re so monotonous and boring? ...
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I don't know why I didn't think of this before,...
try looking at residential programs, day programs, and respite positions through both local and national organizations who serve individuals with developmental disabilities, emotional disturbances, etc. These could be government institutions, non-profit organizations (both secular and faith-based), private organizations, or public health or mental health facilities.
I know that I recently posted...
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Just a Note to Teachers Looking for Jobs:
If you’re having trouble, think outside of teaching. I’m not saying to give up the hunt for a classroom, but it might be that you’ll need to find employment that doesn’t match up with what you were hoping for, for the time being.
Don’t think that teaching is the only thing you can do with a teaching background.
Your education background, your ability to work with...
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Apologies for more dead air
Things that have been going on:
Discovered that thanks to City Year, I could have up to two years of free tuition at the Boston University School of Social Work
Also discovered that this school has no Spring admissions, so I would have to wait until October to apply for the 2012 school year
Have been dealing with increasingly difficult home life issues that have, thankfully, seemed to calm down...
I'm guessing he's headed to high school next year,...
Female Coworker: [Student], stop being a loser!
Student: I'm not a loser, you're a loser!
Female Coworker: I'm not a loser, I've got a girlfriend!
Student: Girlfriend? You mean boyfriend!
Female Coworker: Uhhh...no. Nope, girlfriend.
Student: (after she walks away, stares at me) ...she called me a loser!
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LGBTQ issues in Education:
I cannot tell you how happy I am to be having these conversations with teachers and students. Even better, I cannot tell you how happy I am to be seeing these conversations started by other people when I’m used to being one of the only voices locally on the issue.
I am proud of this, and I am proud of you.
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Hello, Manatee!: I think I outed myself to my... →
adayania:
shapefutures:
boobysmash:
A few boys have taken to using “faggot” and “queer” in sentences and trying to pass it off as literally “a bundle of sticks,” and “strange” to skirt the line, even though, obviously, they know the real connotations. I knew getting pissed off would encourage them, so at first I told them very…
Why is it important to look at LGBTQ issues in education?
...
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Hello, Manatee!: I think I outed myself to my... →
boobysmash:
A few boys have taken to using “faggot” and “queer” in sentences and trying to pass it off as literally “a bundle of sticks,” and “strange” to skirt the line, even though, obviously, they know the real connotations. I knew getting pissed off would encourage them, so at first I told them very…
Why is it important to look at LGBTQ issues in education?
Because LGBTQ teachers...
4 tags
It's much easier dealing with spiders in a room...
Students might scream or panic or try to kill it, and then you can be the role model, stay calm, and tell them all about how helpful spiders can be as you carefully catch it on a piece of paper or in an empty cup and put it outside or up in a corner.
But right now it’s just me and I am squeemishly tiptoeing around the upturned box I’ve caught it under because I haven’t gotten...
