http://www.teachopedia.com/blog From your friends at Teach Kentucky Tue, 20 May 2008 15:15:42 +0000 http://backend.userland.com/rss092 en Just after school, last week  “Tim, are you obsessed with texting?” I asked.  The final bell had rung, and students can take out gadgets without worry of confiscation.  The black piece of plastic was an extension of his arm.           “Yes.”          “Well, I apprecitate the honesty.  But what does obsession mean?”          “15,889.”            ... http://www.teachopedia.com/blog/classroom-happenings/ As a third year teacher, I haven't known any other education climate than one completely saturated by high-stakes testing, standards, NCLB, and the surrounding controversy.  So, knowing only one way, I have to tease out my stance and position in the abstract - what would it be like without standards and ... http://www.teachopedia.com/blog/what-happens-to-writing-in-the-era-of-high-stakes-testing/ Writing and teaching are the two defining occupations in my life.  They are strongly connected with my identity, not only in that they classify me as one “writer” and two “teacher,” but also in that it is through writing and teaching that I have come to know myself and improve ... http://www.teachopedia.com/blog/why-i-teach-writing/ I've found myself writing various reflections and essays on education recently, and the piece below challenges the assumption that traditional grading practices are best for kids. Over the past few years, nobody has positively influenced my own pedagogy more than Alife Kohn. Traditionalists and conservatives often dismiss his views, because ... http://www.teachopedia.com/blog/could-standard-grading-practices-be-counterproductive/ Interested in learning more about Teach Kentucky? Be sure and check out a host of videos including Teach Kentucky supporters explaining why they value the program and Teach Kentucky teachers sharing their experiences, by clicking here. http://www.teachopedia.com/blog/videos-2/ On Sunday the 27th of January, Teach Kentucky hosted its annual dinner where perspective teacher, current teachers, mentors and supporters from all throughout the community gather together.  Be sure to check out the photos by clicking: here. http://www.teachopedia.com/blog/videos/ First semester really wore me out this year, and I think I was teetering on the edge of some serious burn out.  Even over break I found myself questioning my career in education and whether or not this was the right path for me.  (The usual doubts: can I keep ... http://www.teachopedia.com/blog/new-years-resolutions-in-teaching/ Writing education greats like Nancy Atwell have stressed the importance of writing in order to teach writing.  After all, if we are not familiar with the process ourselves, how can we instruct others on its best approaches?   Recently I decided that although I still come home exhausted, I am done with ... http://www.teachopedia.com/blog/practicing-what-we-preach/ While teaching 7th Grade Language Arts at Shelby County East Middle School (12-05) "I hate it. It’s for sissies. I don’t understand it. I only like lovey-dovey poems... We did poetry in fourth grade, that’s all I know. Shakespeare sucks! NO i do not Like poem because i can’t keep a good poem going so that why ... http://www.teachopedia.com/blog/from-the-archives-part-3/ The month of November has been a difficult one.  I returned from the NCTE annual convention in NYC late Sunday night, inspired albeit exhausted from the four days I spent in the city, starstruck before such English education big-wigs as Nancie Atwell, Kyleen Beers, Janet Allen, Bob Probst, Jeff Wilhelm, and many authors I ... http://www.teachopedia.com/blog/ncte-in-short-amazing/