Category Archives: Teachers

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 →

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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

Teaching Peace, Reaping Rewards

Posted on March 19, 2011 by sutterlearn

When we were children, my siblings and I would tease when we couldn’t locate our mother.  Before the tethered leash of cellular phones, if mom wasn’t around we would all assume she was, “off at some peacemaking conference”.  Mom may … Continue reading →

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