Constant testing is sapping the joy out of reading. It’s also counterproductive as readers learn the most when they find reading fun.
Tag Archives: teaching
Child Spy Rats Out English Teacher
The child spy tip line in Virginia received a complaint about how a teacher was teaching “Beowulf.” Meanwhile, a Texas school has banned Neil Gaiman’s works.
Posted in Uncategorized Also tagged Beowulf, Book banning, censorship, culture wars, Glenn Youngkin, J.R.R. Tolkien, Neil Gaiman, Sexism Comments closed
White Privilege Explained in Oral Poetry
Tennessee teacher Hawn was fired in part for showing a video of an oral poet reciting this poem about white privilege.
Posted in Uncategorized Also tagged "White Privilege", Kyla Jenée Lacey, race instruction, racism, white privilege Comments closed
Teachers as Literature’s Missionaries
If literature teaches foundational social values, then teachers can be seen as missionaries.
Great Teachers Inspire Great Teachers
This being Teacher Appreciation Week, I nominate Charlotte Bronte’s Miss Temple as exemplary teacher.
Pratchett’s Ideal Teacher
Terry Pratchett describes his ideal teacher in “Thief of Time.”
Posted in Uncategorized Also tagged COVID-19, school children, Terry Pratchett, Thief of Time Comments closed
Remembering a Favorite English Teacher
My favorite English teacher just died after years of Alzheimer’s. I share the epitaph from Gray’s “Country Churchyard,” which he introduced me to.
Posted in Uncategorized Also tagged Elegy Written in a Country Churchyard, English teachers, Thomas Gray Comments closed
Read Your Children Poetry
A middle school teacher describes how he starts every class with a poem. Also, a note on school shootings, this one at a local high school.
Graded Essays Are Like Chopped Wood
If you are a teacher swamped by end-of-term essays, Frost’s “Woodpile” has some good advice for you.
