The month of December is always a festive time of year. Walk into any store and it is a holiday assault on the senses. Music, displays, food, and countless messages make it very clear. We live in a nation that is predominantly Christian. This fact has made it challenging to maintain the ideals put forth
A recent article in Education Week (Sawchuck, 2012) brings forth the issue of master teachers and their ability (or inability) to mentor student teachers. It tells of Summer Brewer’s first student-teaching experience, where the “master” teacher practiced the habit of worksheet marathons and desk sitting. According to Summer, the mentor spent most of her time
Thanksgiving. While I have many fond memories of my family traditions, I have also come to recognize the complexity of this holiday. Do we choose to celebrate after light has been shed on the more accurate events associated with the historic feast story? If we do, how do we reconcile the conflicting portrayal? Many of
What is wrong with our society!? In a nation that talks the talk of high achievement and education for all students, why is there so much pressure placed on “normal?” Think about any young student starting school. How quickly do they learn to feel shame for non-English ways? How readily to they perceive that “pink
At the start of my PhD journey I heard the phrase “steward of the discipline.” At first these words did not mean a great deal; I considered it PhD mumbo-jumbo. As the semester moved and as the years edged forward, the phrase has become a weight of responsibility. It is a commitment to improving our
Most recently, my participation in the Emerging Scholars Conference has been on my mind. The topic of bullying has moved front-and-center with the news of a 14 year-old Santa Ana student who was shot by police officers a few days ago (9/28/12). It turns out they found a suicide note. One must wonder what was
On August 30, 2012, a two-year effort to restructure teacher performance evaluation fell silent. Assembly Bill 5 called for the use of student test scores to be considered when rating teacher effectiveness. This is not a new concept and it is sure to be resurrected, as the author of the bill urges a future review
On my bookshelf and desk sit a large variety of books related to the teaching profession. Recently, I rummaged through the titles to prepare for the new school year. It is an interesting time because I have the privilege of working with teachers across the continuum: soon-to-be teachers who are at the Praxis stage spending
I have the privilege of working with teachers. Within this group I include: future teachers, new teachers, “veteran” teachers, and retired teachers. As I get closer to the end of this list, I see one common thread- a belief that teaching is life-long journey. I vividly recall one experience in my pre-service preparation experience.
by Marisol Rexach (Part 1 of a Series by Ph.D. Students) Recently I’ve been spending some time in K12 classrooms. These classrooms have been in Los Angeles and Orange County. All have been a call for help. Teachers who need another set of eyes to witness the student behavior in their classrooms. These teachers,