Teaching

Last Friday, two other teachers and I did an activity with our classes called “A-Frame.”  We like to do physical, experiential activities with students.  It helps build teamwork and breaks down walls and barriers.  I don’t know why, but when you have to do something physical it bonds you with the people you are doing [...]

. . . I will be sitting in a conference room. . . . I will be answering questions about my teaching methods. . . . I will have driven 7 hours. . . . I will have hopefully had a good night’s rest. . . . I will hopefully not forget my portfolio, . [...]

Before I started teaching high school, I substitute taught. One day I subbed for half a day in a fourth grade classroom. After 2.5 hours, I left crying. Literally. Crying. I had no idea how to handle a bunch of rambunctious kiddos. I never subbed for elementary school again. The second job I have now [...]

A few weeks ago, the gals at my school got together and had a “Girls Night Out.” It was so nice to see each other outside of the school. Yes, yes. Teachers do have a “real” life outside of school. And while I can’t say we didn’t talk about teaching, school, or the students, I [...]

Today, a student said to me at the end of a poetry lesson where I made them identify every instance of end rhyme, internal rhyme, slant rhyme, and alliteration in a rap song: “Thanks Lesli for making this fun today.” I just start laughing at him. “Why are you laughing?” me: “Oh, you’re being serious.” [...]

Today, my morning commute, which usually takes 25 minutes, took 1 hour and 20 minutes.  From the point of the mountain to Center Street in Orem I followed 6 snowplows. I only made it up to 20 mph.  It was so frustrating. Normally, my commute doesn’t really bother me because I get to think and [...]

Most teachers probably love getting letters from students.  I don’t.  I know, that is weird, but true.  Every time I get a letter from a student it is because that student is writing me from jail.  (If you didn’t know, I work at a school for Youth-in-Custody of the state.) You see, they have lots [...]