Category: Blog

  • Friday Writing Challenge: Memories

    Five childhood memories. 1968-ish: When I was about three or four (it was when we lived in our first house off Genesee Street), I remember playing with a little girl about my age at her house. I don’t remember her name or much about the house itself, but I do remember coloring with her. After we…

  • Kaplan’s “Path to Recess”

    Excellent post about what is truly important for success. The “soft skills” Kaplan refers to are the 25 things I wrote about in my book, Uncommon Core. “Reflecting on my experiences teaching both at this school and at more traditional public schools, I find myself wondering if the methodology that enables young children to achieve…

  • Friday Writing Challenge: Tattoos

    Writing Prompt #2: What tattoos do you have, or what tattoos would you get, and why? July 31, 2013: I’m sitting on a table watching Bryan artistically carve my children’s names into my ankle. The pain is so intense that I’m screaming out obscenities–words that explode out of my mouth even as my clenched teeth try…

  • Friday Writing Challenge: Five Problems with Social Media

    Writing is my exhale. I’ve realized I’ve been holding my breath for far too long. At least once a week I will exhale, which I hope leads to a healthier breathing pattern. I encourage you to join me, either share your writing on my blog through the comments or in your own forum, whatever that…

  • Blessing 27: Nelson

    My father-in-law, Nelson Hawkins, was a blessing in my life for so many reasons. Even during the last few years, things between us didn’t change. Nelson continued to send me Mother’s Day cards, birthday cards, and Christmas presents–something no one would have expected him to do–yet he never stopped treating me like a daughter-in-law, and…

  • Top 12 Global Teacher Blogger Discussion: November

    “What are the top games (online or video games) that can help students learn?” In order to answer this month’s question, I had to go to the expert–my 10-year-old son. When I asked him which game has taught him the most, without hesitation, he answered Call of Duty. This is what he had to say:…

  • Top 12 Global Teacher Blogger Discussion: October

    Can social media have a role to play in managing a successful classroom? Social media can be used in certain classrooms successfully. If teachers need to send out announcements, Facebook and Twitter meet students where they spend much of their time. There is no better application available to send out last-minute reminders or changes of…

  • 4 Steps to a Healthier, Happier Me

    Over the past 30 years, I have had the same battle with weight that I’m sure many people can relate to. Before I had children, I had time to work out, could eat whatever I wanted, and not worry about my weight. After children, however, it was a different story. As the years packed on,…

  • Top 12 Global Teacher Blogger Discussion: September

    What was your most challenging classroom and how did you turn it around?  Early in my teaching career, I had a class of freshman English with 27 students–22 boys and 5 girls. If having 22 freshman boys in one class wasn’t challenging enough, this class met after lunch in the last 90-minute block of the day.…

  • Uncommon Core Book Reading: Chapter 14

    On September 10, 2015, I read Chapter 14: Teach Them to Be Problem Solvers from Uncommon Core: 25 Ways to Help Your Child Succeed in a Cookie Cutter Educational System at The RiverRun Bookstore in Portsmouth, NH. To purchase Uncommon Core, go to WordCrafts Press or Amazon. To schedule a book reading, speaking engagement, or interview contact me at pdhawk1010@msn.com…