var gaJsHost = (("https:" == document.location.protocol) ? "https://ssl." : "http://www."); document.write(unescape("%3Cscript src='" + gaJsHost + "google-analytics.com/ga.js' type='text/javascript'%3E%3C/script%3E")); try { var pageTracker = _gat._getTracker("UA-9318313-1"); pageTracker._trackPageview(); } catch(err) {} Teaching has been the toughest “adventure” I’ve embarked on thus far. No names, locations, etc. will be used due to privacy laws, but as I transition from the corporate world, I’ll share my teaching experiences. Interested in shedding some words of wisdom? Words of contempt? Email me at toughteacherk12@gmail.com.Tumblr (3.0; @toughteacher)http://www.toughteacher.com/I’m starting to realize that life is more and more about connections. Whether it’s who...http://www.toughteacher.com/post/584149644http://www.toughteacher.com/post/584149644Sun, 09 May 2010 08:57:38 -0600I finally realized who two of my students remind me of…drumroll please: 1. One of my third...http://www.toughteacher.com/post/577688794http://www.toughteacher.com/post/577688794Thu, 06 May 2010 20:55:53 -0600I asked my third grader Kahil how he was going to do on our test today. He replied: “I’m...http://www.toughteacher.com/post/559983206http://www.toughteacher.com/post/559983206Thu, 29 Apr 2010 21:37:00 -0600I’m white. I’m as pale and pasty white as they get. I didn’t choose to be white. I...http://www.toughteacher.com/post/510679555http://www.toughteacher.com/post/510679555Sat, 10 Apr 2010 08:11:06 -0600Pint-Sized Student: My birthday is coming up! Guess what we’re going to do? Me: Hm…eat...http://www.toughteacher.com/post/503449452http://www.toughteacher.com/post/503449452Wed, 07 Apr 2010 10:00:00 -0600““Patience is a virtue, one hard to come by in a world that counts time in...http://www.toughteacher.com/post/502127561http://www.toughteacher.com/post/502127561Tue, 06 Apr 2010 20:22:05 -0600“Children are resilient. Period Amen.”http://www.toughteacher.com/post/499496812http://www.toughteacher.com/post/499496812Mon, 05 Apr 2010 19:40:10 -0600This is my first Spring Break in over 5 years, and also the first time in 5 years I’ve had a...http://www.toughteacher.com/post/489689377http://www.toughteacher.com/post/489689377Thu, 01 Apr 2010 14:41:47 -0600““Jaime Escalante has left a deep and enduring legacy in the struggle for academic...http://www.toughteacher.com/post/486670846http://www.toughteacher.com/post/486670846Wed, 31 Mar 2010 07:55:51 -0600Race to the Top announced it’s winners yesterday. The apparent underdogs (Delaware and...http://www.toughteacher.com/post/484452487http://www.toughteacher.com/post/484452487Tue, 30 Mar 2010 10:15:40 -0600“In a recent study of fifth grade students in the Netherlands, most never questioned the...http://www.toughteacher.com/post/482003793http://www.toughteacher.com/post/482003793Mon, 29 Mar 2010 11:00:54 -0600Today we were raising money at school, and kids could wear a hat for a quarter (yes, I believe a...http://www.toughteacher.com/post/475993156http://www.toughteacher.com/post/475993156Fri, 26 Mar 2010 20:30:00 -0600Here’s a highly recommended article on Chicago Public Schools. Some urban school systems are...http://www.toughteacher.com/post/455383853http://www.toughteacher.com/post/455383853Wed, 17 Mar 2010 17:51:22 -0600It’s hard for me to remember having the vivid imagination and lack of world knowledge that...http://www.toughteacher.com/post/453570432http://www.toughteacher.com/post/453570432Tue, 16 Mar 2010 21:01:35 -0600Culturally responsive teaching in action… Me: Am I saying your name correctly? Is it Angel or...http://www.toughteacher.com/post/452773040http://www.toughteacher.com/post/452773040Tue, 16 Mar 2010 14:00:00 -0600As an editor, in my former life, I’ve always been a bit of a grammar nazi. In my first...http://www.toughteacher.com/post/450056874http://www.toughteacher.com/post/450056874Mon, 15 Mar 2010 09:00:00 -0600““Unless we take action — unless we step up — there are countless children who will...http://www.toughteacher.com/post/448010207http://www.toughteacher.com/post/448010207Sun, 14 Mar 2010 11:46:25 -0600Student: Miss I have a secret to tell you. Pinky promise you won’t tell?! Me:...http://www.toughteacher.com/post/445853915http://www.toughteacher.com/post/445853915Sat, 13 Mar 2010 11:55:00 -0700“Consistency is the only way for success in this area. Just because a rule doesn’t work...http://www.toughteacher.com/post/444060827http://www.toughteacher.com/post/444060827Fri, 12 Mar 2010 14:00:00 -0700Supportive principals more than higher salaries. Digital media more than textbooks. Evaluations...http://www.toughteacher.com/post/443581384http://www.toughteacher.com/post/443581384Fri, 12 Mar 2010 10:00:00 -0700