-
Recent Posts
Archives
- November 2016
- July 2016
- February 2016
- December 2015
- October 2015
- August 2015
- July 2015
- June 2015
- April 2015
- March 2015
- January 2015
- November 2014
- September 2014
- August 2014
- April 2014
- March 2014
- February 2014
- January 2014
- December 2013
- October 2013
- September 2013
- August 2013
- July 2013
- June 2013
- May 2013
- April 2013
- March 2013
- January 2013
- December 2012
- September 2012
- May 2012
- March 2012
- February 2012
- January 2012
- September 2011
- August 2011
- July 2011
- June 2011
- May 2011
- April 2011
- March 2011
- February 2011
- January 2011
- December 2010
- October 2010
- September 2010
- August 2010
Categories
Meta
Author Archives: Mark E.P. Roberts
Gratitude and Impact
I spent a great deal of time these last few weeks thinking about teaching and what it means not only to my students, but also to me. DC’s new evaluation tool–they call it IMPACT–has a way of making you think. … Continue reading
States of Being
Sorry for the delay on this one, but my thoughts kept scurrying away to places where I was hesitant to follow. At night, when I was a child, I imagined a nest of monsters breeding and taunting from the dirty … Continue reading
Give The Drummer Some
I awoke abruptly this morning from one of those “teacher” dreams I often have now. An unfamiliar classroom with me in the front featured an influx of students, only some of whom I recognized. During the five minutes before the … Continue reading
Optimism Ain’t Easy
It’s so cozy living in the abstract. Concepts and what-if’s assume their own comfort zone. Intellectual gamesmanship is, after all, the hallmark of the ordained, and everyone wants to be considered noteworthy, at least once. Later today, a Sunday, the … Continue reading
Try to “Rhee-member”
Since I began my teaching career in 2005, the state of public education in DC has been the source of much speculation and experimentation. If I retreat even further to 1995, when my wife and I moved from New York … Continue reading
Mr. Potato Head
Back before I grew my hair back this school year (my mother made me promise in the spring), many students relished yelling, “Mr. Potato Head,” as my shaved head and I walked the school halls. I always feigned consternation, and … Continue reading
“Education Nation” Recommendation
My mother passed away in early June. There are days when I still find myself weak. But I gather strength from the lessons she taught me. Our home in Anacostia (they call it the poor part of town) shimmered with … Continue reading
Thank you, Mr. Rhines
Friday afternoon finds my last class of the day, English III, restless again. The new seating arrangement has helped, but there is a football game tonight against a beatable rival, and the young men have a nervous energy. Generally, I … Continue reading
A Teacher Being Taught
Today, after school, a senior I have not seen in a while comes to visit. I am in the midst of rearranging my room. I have this one English III class at the end of my B days with 15 … Continue reading
Terms of Endearment
It took a while to post this week. On Wednesday and Thursday, I sang “Make that change” to all who would listen. I was pleased with the election results, but not with the analysis that followed. To hear others spin … Continue reading
Teachermandc's Blog 