Alan Lawrence Sitomer » Don

Don’t our students deserve it?

Alan Sitomer — Wed, 19 May 2010 12:00:25 +0000

There’s a part of me that is just tremendously old fashioned.

I believe in the value of hard work.
I believe in the potential of kids.
I believe in saying please and thank you.

Therefore, when it comes…

420

Alan Sitomer — Thu, 22 Apr 2010 12:00:01 +0000

So for those of you who do not know, 420 became a slang term for smoking weed back in the 1970′s. There’s actually a really interesting – and funny – article here for those who want to learn a bit…

The Writer as Spelunker

Alan Sitomer — Sat, 17 Apr 2010 15:00:49 +0000

There’s an entire industry out there promising to “teach you how to write”. And you know what? None of them can deliver.

Now sure, they can help. How much? Whose to say? But can they “teach you how to write”?…

Don’t ya just wish that somebody would just stand up and shout APRIL FOOL’S!!

Alan Sitomer — Thu, 01 Apr 2010 12:30:54 +0000

Don’t ya just wish that somebody would just stand up and shout APRIL FOOL’S!!

Remember when we said we were cutting 5 instructional days off of this year’s academic calendar and 7 day’s off of next year’s academic calendar so…

The Outstanding Plus Side of Rejection

Alan Sitomer — Sat, 27 Mar 2010 12:30:36 +0000

I think I’ve spoken before about how, as a writer, I spent years and years and years knocking out material only to be rejected and rejected and rejected.

I used to think, back then, that it was a sign of…

Bust out a Blow Torch! (i.e. Marry meaningfulness to rigor through “fun”.)

Alan Sitomer — Thu, 25 Mar 2010 12:30:06 +0000

I work hard at trying to provide learning opportunities that can be fun. For sure it’s a “special sauce” in my teaching methodology because I deeply believe that people try harder – and that there is more “stickiness” to education…

If merit plays no role, our institution of public education will crumble.

Alan Sitomer — Thu, 18 Mar 2010 12:30:36 +0000

So since I am in the mood to offer up so many thoughts as of late about how to re-shape K-12 education (heck, who isn’t doing it these days) I thought I’d chime in on the silliness of the manner…

Measuring teacher effectiveness: Day 4

Alan Sitomer — Thu, 11 Mar 2010 13:30:12 +0000

Okay, so for the past few days I have offered up a perspective on measuring teacher effectiveness, devising a matrix that would include…

* student test scores
* peer evaluations
* administrative evaluations
* student

…

When Peers Face the Dragon… and Come Out on the Other Side

Alan Sitomer — Wed, 17 Feb 2010 16:46:33 +0000

The teacher down the hall from me hasn’t been at our school very long. And while I know her name, my high school has well over 150 educators and, some years, more than 4,000 kids on campus. Additionally, our professional…

Don’t you love how everyone feels as if they can do your job better than you can do it yourself?

Alan Sitomer — Tue, 19 Jan 2010 13:30:58 +0000

Whenever any other adult walks into my classroom, things change. Why? Cause classrooms are fishbowls and when a new species enters the tank, the environment changes.

Sure, in some ways, things will revert back to normal. Especially if I, at…