Here's the new me, with Emiko and Hideo

I made my Weight Watchers goal almost a month ago. I have been waiting to blog about it until Todd took a good pic of me. He still hasn't done that, so this pic will have to do. I love this … Read full post »

Just to prove that I often have a good time at work. Each year a group of teachers and staff get together and perform for the homecoming pep rally. We call ourselves the Mighty Divas, since we are the Dunbar Mighty Men and Women. Which… Read full post »

This post makes my post from yesterday seem frivolous. In the grand scheme of things, I have nothing to complain about. Not when things like this keep happening.

A student was beaten to death outside Fenger High School last week. Apparently students were beating on the door of the high school,… Read full post »

It's now the fourth week of school. I am sorry I haven't blogged yet -- I've been meaning to. I am finding it harder to get everything done now that I've got two kids to take care of. I'm not complaining; my kids are amazing and I wouldn't trade them for… Read full post »

One of the things I've been doing this summer is getting in shape. I've hesitated to write about it, because I wanted to make sure I could do it, and because I really, really hate talking about weight loss issues.

But after having Hideo, I realized that I needed to decide what… Read full post »

Since my last school post, I've been feeling that I came across as an elitist bitch. Which has been bugging me a lot. It's taken me awhile to update, because I have a fussy baby who likes being held, and it's really hard to type while holding him.

But he's happily sleeping… Read full post »

People who are not teachers for Chicago Public Schools often enjoy hearing my horror stories about my job. After one anecdote or another, they inevitably ask why I don't work for a better school. Or they wonder if I have tried to get a job at a better school.  As if… Read full post »

Here is Hideo William -- he was born via c-section at 6:26 am on Saturday, December 20th. He is 6 lbs 10 1/2 oz, and is 19 inches long. And he's super cute. He was a little early, so that's why he has the nasal cannula and feeding tube.… Read full post »

I'm not surprised by this, but I'm not too excited. I really wish President-Elect Obama had consulted me before making this pick.

I'm trying to decide if I want to write a longer post about this. Right now class is about to start. I may get back to you. In the… Read full post »

I read this article by Malcolm Gladwell yesterday, and I found it rather fascinating. It was published in The New Yorker, but I read it online.

I like Malcolm Gladwell -- I heard him speak a few years ago, and he was entertaining. I'm looking forward to reading his new book.… Read full post »

Sorry I've been lax in blogging the past couple of weeks. I've been so tired and have been working on Christmas crafts (that's a separate, upcoming post). This baby can show up at any time, and I want all my Christmas decorations done before then. I don't know why this is… Read full post »

As Thanksgiving is upon us (yay yay yay!) and the month is drawing to a close, thought I'd update you on a few exciting events at work. Things just get more and more exciting.

Report Card Pickup Day was November 13. That is the way CPS handles Parent Teacher conferences. Teachers are… Read full post »

OK, seriously, I can't make this stuff up. My job is so ridiculous. Let me share with you my latest adventure.

I forgot to pack a snack for myself this morning. I don't know what I was thinking -- so I will blame Emiko for distracting me. On the way to work… Read full post »

I was talking to my dad this morning, and we were discussing the election. He was not a supporter of President-Elect Obama (how I love typing that!), and I told him that all week I was going to call and gloat, but decided that I would be nice and not, because… Read full post »

I am so tired of being depressed at work, but it's just getting worse. I keep thinking that's not possible, but I am continually mistaken. I need to stop thinking about it. Bad things just keep happening.

Jennifer Hudson is a graduate of the high school where I work. So everyone here… Read full post »

My students have many, many obstacles in their way. Most of them live in substandard housing. Most have been educated in substandard schools, so they don't have the necessary academic skills to aid in their success. And most have family lives that are unstable.

But there is another obstacle that I thi… Read full post »

Yesterday was the first day in several weeks when it was actually pretty seasonal outside and not super hot. We've had a long Indian Summer in Chicago, and most Chicagoans are really enjoying it. But if you teach in a high school with no air conditioning, in a tiny classroom on… Read full post »

...Sitting in an empty classroom. I kind of like sitting in an empty room. It's really quiet. But I'm supposed to be sitting in a room of 22 students. I'm not sure the students know that, though.

 I took last Friday and this Monday off to go visit my family in… Read full post »

I've been avoiding this topic, since I've so enjoyed my summer break and haven't really wanted to think about school until the last possible minute. However,  I report back to work tomorrow, so I may as well jump into the fray.

 I think one of the major problems with American schools… Read full post »

This post is in response to my friend Olga Little's post "Race Does Matter." Olga and I are actually friends -- she and I work at the same high school on the South Side of Chicago. We teach in the same department. I am proud to call her my friend, and… Read full post »

This post was originally published on my personal blog on April 2, 2008, but I think it is worth sharing with Open Salon readers. Just another portrait of life for many of my students on the South Side of Chicago.

This has been a tough week. First thing Monday morning,… Read full post »

I'm an English teacher who is thoroughly enjoying her summer break. I can't believe it's almost August already -- there is so much I've yet to do!

But one thing I have been good about this summer is doing a lot of reading. It's only appropriate, really, as it is supposed… Read full post »

I just read this really interesting article in Slate about the problem of hiring better teachers. The author suggests an apprenticeship program for teachers -- if you can make it in two years of on-the-job training, then you can get your union card and employment for life (as opposed/… Read full post »