I Wonder…
“We have to have curiosity, or we are lost – lost in judgment of ourselves or others, entangled in shame or blame.” Jenny Horsman Continue reading
a) A Safer Space
I’m not a counsellor. What can I do?
Of course I listen sometimes. But my strategy is to get myself out of the role of caring ear. Continue reading
The Heart Connected to the Ear
Could you deal with some of the issues your students are facing? And if you were, would you not want a caring ear to listen to you? Continue reading
Silence Sends a Message
Whenever we talk about safety in the classroom, the question always comes up: How much can or should an instructor … Continue reading
Not a Fairy Tale
In a recent post I told the story of Naomi, who said “I pass” for more than three months in … Continue reading
b) Setting the Stage for Learning
“I Pass!” is Active, Not Passive
The “Just say Pass!” rule implies an expectation that most people will participate most of the time. Continue reading
Just Say “I Pass.”
When someone says, “I pass!” I move the spotlight quickly on to someone or something else. Continue reading
Refuse to Be Bored (A Second Look)
I know you’ve done it before—but you didn’t do it well, or you wouldn’t be here doing it again! Continue reading
Refuse to be Bored
I don’t have many rules in my classroom, but the most important one is “Refuse to be bored.” Continue reading
c) Marking for Confidence
Learning from Our Mistakes
Often what students are learning is not what the teacher thinks she is teaching. Continue reading
Frustrated
Our students need help to see themselves as acting like successful students, even when they are not learning quickly. Continue reading
Who’s Engaged Here?
When I help students see and articulate what they do know, they may notice areas where they have trouble. For example, … Continue reading
Bernice Shows the Way
I remember the moment that I began to mark for confidence. It was Bernice who got me started. The class … Continue reading
d) Respect
Trigger Warnings 3: An Outlier
Did I think everyone would be comfortable talking about menstruation in an ABE class? Or did I bury any misgivings because I wanted to right an imbalance my feminist soul had noticed and railed against? Continue reading
Trigger Warnings from Students: Standard Procedure
After my success with asking First Nations students to decide whether or not to use a video about one reserve’s struggle against alcoholism, I began to use the same procedure with other content that I thought might be problematic. Continue reading
Trigger Warnings
You might think if ever there was a place for a trigger warning, it’s an ABE, adult literacy or GED class where teachers daily work with students who have experiences of violence. Continue reading
Back to Basics
A year ago today I began writing this blog, with the goal of sharing some of the things I’ve learned … Continue reading
e) Power and Privilege
Power Share
I don’t want any student to lose in a power struggle with me. If he loses, I cannot teach him. Continue reading
Who’s in Charge Here?
I was just one of the crowd of people on the trip—old and young, fat and thin, First Nations and … Continue reading
I’m Sorry…
Pete was in my class that term, a student who described himself with pride as a “recovering asshole.” Most days … Continue reading
f) Motivation
Wrong Problem, Wrong Solution
So easy to make assumptions about what’s behind students’ behaviour. Often if we knew the reasons they were absent, late, inattentive, etc., we would be heartbroken, not angry. Continue reading
Survival Strategies Come First
The assignment was to make a graphic representation of the plot development in a novel we were reading together in class. To … Continue reading
If They Come, They Care
I expected it to be an interesting activity. I was sure people would take part, and hoped they would enjoy … Continue reading
Every Student Cares
Frank commented on my post “I don’t give grades” by saying “Agreed – spend more time helping students who care – … Continue reading
g) Resistance
Resistance Live
Attending to Resistance: An Ethnographic Study of Resistance and Attendance in an Adult Basic Education Classroom. Every teacher who tries … Continue reading
What’s in It for Me?
Two people commented on my last post, about how working with Bernice got me started on marking for confidence. First, … Continue reading
h) Unneeded/Unheeded
Joy in Disguise
The opportunity for joy often comes disguised as a request for advice. When I refuse to give advice, when I take a moment to ask a question instead, a space opens up to let the joy of teaching in. Continue reading
The Perils of Giving Advice
“I can’t decide,” Maria said. “I don’t want people to smoke in my apartment any more, so I’m making a … Continue reading
Refuse to Give Advice
If you’re trying to have a more equal relationship with students, refusing to give advice is the best policy. Continue reading
i) Making Learning Social
Matching Exercises: Off the Page
If you’re a kid who can’t sit still, you get into a lot of trouble in elementary school. Kids like … Continue reading
j) Relationships with Students
Foot Feedback
Scenario 1: Mohan tells you he has an appointment tomorrow at the financial aid office, scheduled for the middle of your class. He adds … Continue reading
A Restless Student Settles
Ken was restless. His legs and feet moved under the table so much that the whole table shook. Other students complained. Continue reading
Building Strong Relationships with Learners
Five strategies for developing stronger relationships with learners: Listen, Yes Means Yes, Make Your Teaching Transparent, Say How You Feel, Refuse to Give Advice.
Say How You Feel
Like most of us I can’t hide my feelings. They show on my face, or in the set of my … Continue reading
k) Students on the Teaching Team
A Teacher Hits the Target
I learned a lot about how to give learning a physical component from the late Christina Patterson. I had always been … Continue reading
l) The Teacher, Taught
Tempest in the Pool
I was a student today, at my aquafit class. I was a student who resisted, who didn’t participate, who went missing. … Continue reading
The Grammar Hatchet
I had a taste, once, of someone using grammar to do a hatchet job on something that was full of meaning for me. Continue reading
A Cheater Learns a Lesson
The first time I failed at school I was over 30. Don’t get me wrong. I have failed at many things–relationships, … Continue reading
m) Taking Care of the Teacher
Neither Kind Nor Patient
The last time I had my teaching evaluated by my administration, I was disappointed. Although I was happy to get a … Continue reading
I Don’t Give Grades…
They grumble at me: “Teachers are supposed to give us marks.” “How can we know how we did, if you don’t give marks?” Continue reading
We Value the Joy
I once made an appointment with a counsellor provided by my employee benefit package for people having difficulties with situations at … Continue reading
800% Improvement
“I’m surprised I’m still here. Usually I drop out of these things after the first morning.” Continue reading
Teaching Math
“Afraid” to Teach Numeracy
According to a recent report, primary teachers in Great Britain are scared of math, which results in poor math teaching. Continue reading
Fractions on Your Feet
When students can match 1/4 with 25% with .25, you know they have some understanding of the value of each. When … Continue reading
Human Digits
“Pick a digit. Pick your favorite digit–any one you want, from the pile on the table.” That’s how the “human … Continue reading
Make Math Social
Elana Feder and her GED class doing a social math activity about Positive and Negative Numbers. Continue reading
Teaching Reading
A Healthy Disrespect
Adult literacy and GED students have enormous respect for text–too much respect, I think. Continue reading
Reading from Life
“What reading materials are appropriate for adult literacy students?” Kat posted this question on my blog the other day, and … Continue reading
Reading on Your Feet
The other day I talked about Human Digits, and today I’ll talk about a similar kind of activity for reading … Continue reading
Getting Out of My Own Way
Some moments just stick with you–the flash of insight that marks a big change. A pivotal moment. I am teaching … Continue reading
Teaching Spelling
To, Two and Too
When I’m looking for something to do on Monday, I don’t want to see something that says, “Teach ‘to,’ ‘too,’ and ‘two’ by examining meaning and pronunciation, and find kinesthetic and auditory hooks… Continue reading
Teaching Writing
Your Students Should Blog–
Giving students a blog provides an instant audience, and a shift in identity for the blogger. Continue reading
Students Celebrate Their Supporters
Students’ writing improves when they write for an audience. When you find them an audience that is close to home … Continue reading
The Launch
The launch is a big day in the life of any book. It is the day when the art made … Continue reading
Getting to Grammar
In her comment on The Grammar Hatchet Joyce used the phrase, “a constant reminder to consider people before grammar.” The … Continue reading
Working in Adult Literacy 