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The Dangers of Denim Day

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2009 10 17

John Spencer

15 Comments

a really short post

I just finished making small talk with the lady who cleans my classroom. She's dusting the cabinets right now. It's hard not to feel guilty. By accident of language and culture and geography, she sweeps my floors and I teach her children. By sheer military Read More...
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2009 08 26

John Spencer

3 Comments

blowing in the wind

how many bubbles must a child fill out before he sees there’s no choice? yes and how many walls will be painted white before they silence our voice? an extra lined I added to a classic when I drove past the freshly painted white space that used to house Read More...
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2009 08 22

John Spencer

4 Comments

semi-functional family

I once sat around a table with three stay-at-home moms who all chose to home school their children. Knowing that I was a teacher, they used the moment as a chance for the proslytizing of "unschooling." They offered anecdotal stories of children learning Read More...
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2009 08 17

John Spencer

0 Comments

Roman Rulers and the Ladies in Black

I had a friend in high school who attended a parochial school. It wasn't parochial in the sense of belonging to the community. In fact, it was as transient and gated as the suburban neighborhoods of my high school. He told me that it was "more Roman than Read More...
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2009 08 8

John Spencer

0 Comments

fresh start

I'm a big fan of fresh starts. I love how Apple reinvented itself by selling all that cool iCrap. I love how Bill Gates reinvented himself as a philanthropist (though I think he should stay out of educational reform). I'm a fan of second chances and redemption Read More...
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2009 08 6

John Spencer

3 Comments

a trend in teacher books

In going back and re-editing my book, I'm realizing that there were moments when it suffered from something I see in a lot of teacher books. It's a sort-of smug view of the rest of the staff. For example, Rafe Esquieth is a phenomenal teacher, but he Read More...
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2009 07 17

John Spencer

6 Comments

bragging rites

It's a ritual that occurs in nearly every staff lounge at this time of year. (Sorry for the pun on the title) Teachers stand around and talk about how tired they are. "I'm so tired. I got only five hours of sleep last night," a person will ante up. "Yeah, Read More...
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2009 05 16

John Spencer

1 Comments

Monday Metaphor: The Acoustic Classroom

When all the kids in our neighborhood memorized the words to "Beat It" and "Thriller" and "Girls Just Wanna Have Fun," I sat in front of the record player to hear "Sweet Baby James" (before James Taylor had become the staple music for grocery stores) Read More...
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2009 04 27

John Spencer

1 Comments

Monday Metaphor: Photo Radar

At first glance, the metal creature seems innocuous, even cutesy. He's a Wall-E character transplanted on the side of the highway, a boxy metallic head peering out at the traffic. Next he's shooting lightening or red lazers into the unsuspecting glances Read More...
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2009 04 20

John Spencer

5 Comments

Thursday Thoughts: Politics

Our staff lounge can be really rough when it comes to gossip, rumors and outright slander. I admit that I occasionally engage in the backstabbing; and that's exactly what it is, a stab, a bloody knife used for groups to gain power. I share stories about Read More...
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2009 02 19

John Spencer

0 Comments

What-if Wednesday: Beautiful Schools

This is a picture of our in-class mural before it was finished. I admit that this is a more humble suggestion in comparison to others. At our school, students litter constantly. People often make an excuse, blaming a "ghetto mentality." However, I have Read More...
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2009 02 11

John Spencer

8 Comments

Monday Metaphor: Teeth Cleaning

I made this last year. Some of you have seen it before. The basic idea is comparing teeth cleaning with classroom climate. I'm not a great "video guy," but I might try doing some more video blog posts in the future. Read More...
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2009 01 26

John Spencer

2 Comments

Legos

My thoughts on how schools change. Read More...
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2009 01 24

John Spencer

0 Comments

Metaphor Monday: Aspirin

When I first began teaching, nearly every teacher book admonished me to avoid the staff lounge. "Watch out for the lounge lizards," they warned. "Beware of those who sit around in the staff lounge and gripe." Thus, I attempted to head this advice. I planned Read More...
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2008 12 8

John Spencer

1 Comments

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