Category Archives: Students

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

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

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

Ram Pride

Posted on March 17, 2011 by sutterlearn

Today during the daily 10-minute snack break in the morning at our own Holt High School, as the students were gathered in the Commons, music played and the staff came from all over and joined in a dance routine for … Continue reading →

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Recess Privilege

Posted on March 14, 2011 by sutterlearn

Leave it to my neighbor and friend, Mike.  He always shows an interest in education and challenges my thinking in a good way.  Tonight we chatted ever so briefly about the improving weather as I unloaded the car from work.  … Continue reading →

Posted in Students, Teachers | 3 Comments

Super-Boogeyman: Still Scary, But Nothing New

Posted on March 13, 2011 by sutterlearn

A few months ago, I wrote a piece for a different blog about the documentary “Waiting for Superman” in which I forecasted how educators should see this movie upon its release to be part of the conversation that I felt … Continue reading →

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A Balanced Calendar

Posted on March 6, 2011 by sutterlearn

I’ve been ruminating for a while on the questionable value of a balanced Pk-12 academic calendar (in other words, year-round school).  There are good arguments on both sides of that debate, some more perfunctory than others.  FYI – The “outdated, … Continue reading →

Posted in School Reform, Students, Teachers | 8 Comments