I Want To Be Subversive

What do you want your students to be able to do, not by the end of the year, but in 2026?

I love this woman. I want to be this teacher.

Party Time!

"You're either part of the solution or you're part of the problem." - Eldridge Cleaver

As you may have guessed, I have an aversion to school day parties. My first class nearly revolted and left me tied up in the supply room when I said No, my dear 5th graders, you may not bring cupcakes for _____'s birthday. For the 7th time. So quit asking!

Then I was a-thinkin'... How about one of those Guess Who I Am? parties where the students can each be assigned a person, place, maybe even a concept that was studied during the past year? They could know who they are ahead of time and research/prepare clues and answers to questions other students ask to figure out who or what they are, or they could not know and have to ask the questions of others. Maybe one visual clue, although costumes may give away some characters too easily. Students could be fiction, Charlotte or Poseidon or Katniss, they could be historical or current events figures, maybe even lava or pi depending on the student. Easily differentiated to many levels.

Throw in some apple slices and crackers and *voila!* we have a par-tay!

I Need Inspiration!

1. Dads.  Not fathers: Dads.
2. Deion Sanders.
3. Jules Verne.
4. Music.
5. My sons.
6. My students.
7. Crossword puzzles -- yes, #s 5, 6, and 7 also confound and confuse me, but their inspiration factor overcomes the grey hair production.
8. A well planned meal.
9. Frank McCourt
10. Michael Collins.
11. Van Morrison.
12. A lot of Irishmen. See #1. 
13. walk-off home runs
14. quarterback sacks
15. Special Olympic athletes.
16. Mr. Boren, my 8th grade English teacher.
17. Mickey Stonier, High School youth group leader
18. Todd Morano, Teaching Credential professor
19. Debbie Higdon, "Yes, you can do it" career mentor
20. Matt "The Legend" Davis, inspiring coach
21.  Los Lobos.
22. The Boss.
23. The Greatest: Muhammad Ali.
24. The Coach: John Wooden.
25. John Glenn.
26. John Unitas.
27. Super Bowl III. (sorry, Dad)
28. Spud Webb.
29. Charlotte's Web.
30. President Obama.
31. Condoleezza Rice.
32. Jackie Robinson.
33. Narnia. 
34. My Wife. Obviously, my inspirations are not listed in order of importance.
35. The man who coined the phrase "Happy Wife, Happy Life."
36. Librarians! 
37. Roald Dahl.
38. Theodore Geisel.
39. John Steinbeck.
40. Toni Morrison.
41. Teddy Roosevelt.
42. Batman. 
43. Haiku Education 
44. Wonderopolis
45. The Cornerstone
46. Mr. Rogers, Big Bird, and The Electric Company!
47. Jan Vermeer.
48. The Sistine Chapel.  
49. Christie Brinkley.