Let me preface this by stating, unequivocally, that I am not a curmudgeon, uptight, rigid, or unreasonable.  I am not crotchety or cranky.  

There.  Now I can go on and tell my story.

Have you looked over the Common Core State Standards to see how they will affect the way you teach writing?   

Doesn’t everyone dream of being on the Oprah show?              

“Rubrics are performance-based assessments that evaluate student performance on any given task or set of tasks that ultimately leads to a final product, or learning outcome.”

What could be wrong with that, right? 

Recently I took a trip to China. Packing was, as usual, a chore. Beforehand I’d done a little shopping and picked up some lightweight pieces that would pack easily. But, there was no place to hang them in my closet. This realization prompted my latest wardrobe downsizing event.

About twice a year I walk into my closet (or, to be honest, plow my way in) and go on a ruthless mission of purging it of any and all pieces of clothing that either:

a.) I can’t remember the last time I wore

b.) don’t match anything else, or

c.) (UGH!) no longer fits.

At the Connecticut Reading Conference I’m talking to long-time colleague Jim Johnston. I tell him I’m blogging – “about what?” he asks. “About Passion,” I say. Jim chuckles. “Wow.” “About teaching!” I reply – “Passion about teaching!” That’s when I add the subtitle – the art and science of teaching.