The English Diva

If you've ever been a student in my class, you know there are certain phrases that are staples in my room: Your voices matter. Your opinions matter. Happy (insert day of the week)! (Every Friday) Happy weekend! Make good choices! There are many choices I wish I had considered in college. I wish I had made the choice to find out more about the opportunities available to me on campus. I didn't take the time to research Christian groups to join, so I missed opportunities to fellowship with like-minded students and make a difference in my community through services projects. I didn't know there was a clogging team on campus until the end of my sophomore year, so I missed two years of doing something I loved because I didn't choose to research. I wish I had looked into the possibility of studying abroad. I made assumptions about the program and didn't even look into it because I figured it would be too expensive. Turns out, it isn't much more expensive than a s...

I have the privilege of teaching in a small, public charter school that operates on a modified year-round calendar. This is my fourth year here, and after teaching for thirteen years on a traditional ten-month calendar, I must say... I LOVE IT! Don't get me wrong, I miss the lengthy summers associated with the traditional calendar, but on our schedule, we teach for nine weeks followed by a two-week track out. For us, this track out lands at the end of September and the beginning of October (and the middle of March in the spring), the perfect time for cooler weather; the perfect time to enjoy my morning coffee on the screened porch; the perfect time to recharge for the next nine weeks. While my summer is three to four weeks shorter than the average teacher's summer, let's be honest: the longer the summer, the more difficult it is for us and for students to get back into the swing of things. And if you were to ask our high school students, most of them are ready to be reunite...

Several years ago, while working in a traditional public school, our teachers were saddled with yet one more flaming hoop through which we were expected to jump happily, all while carrying the paper work that went along with it. Professional Learning Communities, or PLCs, became more of a hassle than an opportunity. For years, our teachers were communicating and planning with each other; but for some reason, having to document the whole process for someone who likely did not even read it made it much less enjoyable. This forced process also made it much less productive. Since the beginning of structured education, teachers who genuinely care about the success of their students have been working with other teachers in their discipline or even across curriculums to improve their own practices. Now, with the world at our fingertips, educators across the globe have found new and meaningful professional learning communities, and it has been the single most effective professional development...