Last week my students and I learned about graffiti. They created thier own graffiti artist name (so as not to get caught yo!) and then chose a social or political issue to make a statement about. I am always amazed at the creativity that can be found in these students! My greatest [...]

I know that I’m different. It must be on my mind lately as I’ve written about it a few times here. I feel normal and right within myself, but I don’t fit in with the rest of the world. I notice things. I see the way that the spily milkshake makes [...]

It has been 9 months and 15 days since the California Commision on Teacher Credentialing received my application. Today, I was honored to find that I have successfully jumped through the right hoops and the State of California has found me worthy to teach in their state. My certificate arrived in a large, [...]

I’m a substitute teacher. I spend my days in random classrooms across this city handing out worksheets, putting on instructional videos, and mis-pronouncing students names. I understand and embrace the consequences of my position. Students are going to try to sneak out of class. Students are going to call me “Mrs… [...]

I am awed daily at the hostility and apathy I find in the classrooms that I teach. I encounter 13 year olds who are more sexually experienced than me, and love to talk loudly and rudely about it. It sends little pains into my heart. I feel helpless. I am too [...]

I’ll tell you a secret. I’m an art teacher. *grin* that’s not the secret! The secret is that I can’t draw very well! I made my way through college (and a BFA program) without having to draw too much by claiming a style that didn’t require too much precision. =) [...]