power of introverts

This video is absolutely contradictory to everything that I hear from teachers and trends. I am always reading about how to get children to work in groups, about how to include more opportunities for collaboration in my classroom. I have even felt guilty for implementing a quiet writing period three days a week.

"There is zero correlation between being the best talker and having the best ideas."

A TED talk on the power of solitude by Susan Cain.

common core

States face key spending decisions as they implement the Common Core State Standards, and a new study finds that they could save about $927 million—or spend as much as $8.3 billion—depending on the approaches they choose in three vital areas: curriculum materials, tests, and professional development. 

-EdWeek

this is why my kids rock

I went down to get my kids feeling pretty grim. Then, a fortunate series of events occurred.

Am ran up to me with a paper: farit titro Ms. Hay. Translation: Favorite Teacher Ms. Haley.

Sunshine gave me my first hug EVER from him.

And Li said, "You forgot to give me my morning hug!" while handing me a stack of stapled books.

unsettled

I'm not feeling it this morning. It's roughly 12 degrees outside. I couldn't find a solid red shirt. Also, some other stuff. Awkward. Uncomfortable. Tense.

Can I just go back to bed?

just realized

Twelve. More. Days.

still in the hole

Since four o'clock I have:

• written a long-term plan for reading comprehension
• revised my writing long-term plan
• created two unit maps

and I'm still behind. All in the name of 2012-13.

Sleepy teacher needs sleep.

cost of merit pay

Another of my friends teaches fifth grade on the South side. Today, she will spend most of her evening calculating the percentage of time students spent in her room (as a result of special ed pullout, transfers, room switches, etc.) so that CPS can calculate the weight of each child's test scores in relation to her.