Jumpin' Off the Edge

It all began with a little curiosity. After speaking with a friend and seeing the movie last week, I began to wonder What makes a teacher great? Research shows that both schools and students are successful due to the greatness of their teachers. They (whoever they are) have followed students for several years, watched test scores, and have observed the cream of the crop in action. Many charter schools and teaching organizations such as Teach for America are committed to having the best of the best work for them. All this research is great and gives us information based on the data collectors and statisticians, but I wanted to know how students define a great teacher. Does their definition match up to what the experts say? So I decided to ask some of my students from the past and present. (Thank you, Facebook.) If only my brain would stop there. It didn’t. I began wondering about how parents would respond to the question. Do parents focus on their children doing well on the t

They were my introduction to the south. They attempted to teach me the country way of doing things. They trusted me not only in the classroom, but also with honest writing. They came to me when they needed someone to tutor them, offer a kind word or just to listen. We laughed together. We made memories in the classroom. I went back for a visit today. There is something magical about visiting students of the past. They think back fondly to the time we spent together. The piles of homework I assigned, forgotten. Today when I walked into the lunchroom at Benson Middle School, I was greeted with hugs and smiles. For the thirty minute lunch period, I bounced from table to table. Each table wanting me to stay longer, other tables calling me over. Why were they so happy to see me? I was just another teacher in their lives, some I didn’t even have in class. What made my visit so exciting that they talked about it all morning before I arrived? Why do I miss them all so much? I have

I drove 6 hours to watch it after a colleague told me about it. Needless to say, I spent the night. The hotel was an hour away from the elementary school where it was shown. Was my trip to Vienna, Virginia worth it to see Race to Nowhere ? Without a doubt. For the past four days I have been thinking about what we as a nation are doing to our children. The movie focused on the population of students I teach on a daily basis. Students whose parents expect them to do well in school. Most of who will do whatever it takes for their children to be successful. Students who expect to do well in school, as well as sports, clubs, instruments, etc. Many topics were brought up in the movie: homework, testing, stress, teaching, and even medical issues. I focused on the ones that are still on my mind days later. No matter where I have taught, be it a public, private, or charter school, homework is an issue that comes up every year. How much is too much? Research shows ten minutes per year