A Reduced-Stress Existence: Reading Great Books!
I realize that stress is healthy when experienced at certain levels for each individual and that the amount differs depending on the person. However, some of the best training sessions I have attended recently have been related to reducing stress because of its deleterious health effects. One of my favorite means of coping and okay, escaping, is through reading great literature. So I will make several recommendations at this point. I don’t take this lightly either, no yawns please! I recently read a GREAT book written by a Spanish author. It is entitled The Shadow of the Wind by Carlos Ruiz Zafon. It takes place in Barcelona, Spain after WWII and tells the story of an antiquarian book dealer’s son, who finds solace in another book. Go figure! It is captivating, beautiful, filled with mystery and intrigue, and would make one of my top 20 books list for my life. Another book I am reading, one for the bibliophiles, is entitled, Special Topics in Calamity Physics, by Marisha Pessl. An intellectual, young woman is searching for meaning in her life and gets involved with some questionable characters. Don’t forget The Yiddish Policemen’s Union, by Michael Chabon. It describes an hypothetical situation in Sitka, Alaska for displaced Jewish persons, circa WWII. Even when I nurtured three children, worked full-time, and earned an additional degree, I felt compelled to read for solace!
Filed under Uncategorized | Comment (1)Teaming–More Thoughts
I think that team planning time could be arranged through allocating the time from Institute Days to weekly planning meetings. This would address part of the scheduling issue. In addition, teachers might take on multiple subject assignments in a grade level versus assigning teachers across grade level. Most of us are certified to teach more than one subject. Teaming is a research-based idea; the focus is on the students. In terms of philosophy of education, there may be some differences. This will never change!
Filed under Uncategorized | Comments (2)Teaming at Reagan Middle School
As I contemplate what it important to me in terms of education, I think about teaming and its value to our students. I have been working with 8th grade students in our after-school “Homework Club.” It helps me to appreciate what a student is expected to do on a daily basis, and consequently, I realize how demanding this curriculum is for an average (or lower) student. It would benefit the 8th grade student to have a core group of teachers with whom he is working. It is also advantageous when teachers in a department plan together and reach a consensus on similar goals because it allows the students and me to target specific skills and work to master them.
Filed under Uncategorized | Comments (6)Hello world!
Welcome to your brand new blog at Edublogs.
To get started, simply log in, edit or delete this post and check out all the other options available to you.
Also, please consider becoming an Edublogs Supporter – you can remove ads from yours and other blogs, upload up to 5GB or audio, video and every other sort of content and access great features under your ‘Plugins’ menu.
Supporters are what keeps Edublogs running and providing free blogs for education, so give it a go today 
For assistance, take time to view our some helpful introductory videos, read through our Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) or stop by The Edublogs Forums to chat with other edubloggers.
You can also subscribe to our brilliant free publication, The Edublogger, which is jammed with helpful tips, ideas and more.
And finally, if you like Edublogs but want to be able to simply create, administer, control and manage hundreds of student and teacher blogs at your school or college, check out Edublogs Campus… it’s like Edublogs in a box, all for you.
Thanks again for signing up with Edublogs!
Filed under Uncategorized | Comment (1)