Author Archives: sutterlearn

Dativersary

Posted on May 10, 2011 by sutterlearn

Today is the 14th anniversary of my first date with my wife.  I like to celebrate this day each year just by sharing with the world what a great choice I made to ask this girl out and how extraordinarily … Continue reading →

Posted in Uncategorized | 6 Comments

Downward Trajectory

Posted on May 6, 2011 by sutterlearn

Today I was remembering back to my 11th grade year of high school when I placed an ultimatum on my guidance counselor to help me graduate early or I would drop out.  How smug I must have sounded!  I don’t … Continue reading →

Posted in Students, Teachers | 7 Comments

Helping Hands

Posted on April 28, 2011 by sutterlearn

As an adult, I sometimes notice a behavior or response in myself that I can attribute to some passing wisdom one of my parents imparted along the way.  When this happens I try to call one of them as soon … Continue reading →

Posted in Students, Teachers | Leave a comment

Give Me A Lever…

Posted on April 20, 2011 by sutterlearn

I am halfway through a week-long teaching experience at a local nature center.  My teaching partner and I have 42 of our kids outside, experiencing learning through experiencing nature up close.  As expected, it snowed on the first day, rained … Continue reading →

Posted in School Reform, Students, Teachers | 1 Comment

Self-Organized Learning Environment (SOLE)

Posted on April 17, 2011 by sutterlearn

I don’t typically watch something again and again, unless it’s involves the Three Stooges or the first season of Scrubs.  However, I have watched this video from the 2010 TED Conference, repeatedly over the past year.  If you’re interested in … Continue reading →

Posted in School Reform, Students, Teachers, Technology | 2 Comments

Eating Our Young Is Naïve

Posted on April 17, 2011 by sutterlearn

During my undergraduate studies, I heard people speak of how public education is a profession that “eats our young”.  While I wasn’t sure how this could be much different than the challenges and rituals rookie employees might face in other … Continue reading →

Posted in Leadership, Teachers | 3 Comments

We

Posted on April 1, 2011 by sutterlearn

I read a post on Facebook in which someone made some pretty pointed remarks about their child’s teacher.  I put myself in both the parent’s and the teacher’s shoes to try and understand the situation.  As a parent, I’ve experienced … Continue reading →

Posted in Parenting, Teachers | 2 Comments

I Get Merit Pay!

Posted on April 1, 2011 by sutterlearn

For a while I’ve been in limbo about merit pay for teachers, or providing bonuses to enhance teacher salaries based on their professional performance or students’ achievement.  I thought I was leaning toward this being a good thing, given my … Continue reading →

Posted in Leadership, Politics, School Reform, Students, Teachers | 1 Comment

Higher-Order Thinking

Posted on March 28, 2011 by sutterlearn

Stick with me on this, as it may be a little complicated and long, but one of the more profound realizations I’ve had since becoming enmeshed in public education! Around 1956 psychologist Benjamin Bloom unleashed his “taxonomy” of escalating thought-process … Continue reading →

Posted in Leadership, Politics, School Reform, Teachers | 1 Comment

Playground Politics

Posted on March 20, 2011 by sutterlearn

Again it played out on television, this time with a backdrop of Libya.  It could have been Iraq or Afghanistan, perhaps even Vietnam years before.  Either way, we’ve seen it, teachers more than most.  The journalist is surrounded by adrenaline-pumped … Continue reading →

Posted in Leadership, Parenting, Politics, Students, Teachers | 2 Comments