“Stop Putting Cheetos in His Hat”: Establishing Proper Authority in the Classroom

August 24, 2020March 25, 2021 ~ Ellen Norris

Classroom management is a part of teaching that we as teachers often dread. Despite five years of running an ordered classroom, I still have nightmares about teaching students who won’t listen to me. Inevitably, my dream-self begins shouting to be heard above all the ruckus; inevitably, the dream ends in anarchy and failure. I am … Continue reading “Stop Putting Cheetos in His Hat”: Establishing Proper Authority in the Classroom

On Being a Cool Teacher

July 21, 2020 ~ Ellen Norris

I was not a cool kid. I conducted my high school and college life on the fringe of popularity. I did not know the right thing to say at the right time; I certainly was not funny or spontaneous; I was neither strikingly beautiful nor impressively fashionable, and I was far too scrupulous--or at the … Continue reading On Being a Cool Teacher

Classroom Discussions: “There Are No Wrong Answers” Is the Wrong Answer

July 15, 2020July 15, 2020 ~ Ellen Norris

“In this discussion, all opinions are equal. It doesn’t matter what your opinion is--there are no wrong answers.” Haven’t we all heard this? Teachers use the above concept to preface all kinds of conversations and assignments. I can not actually say that I haven't: I would hope that I haven't, but sometimes in flustered, blushing … Continue reading Classroom Discussions: “There Are No Wrong Answers” Is the Wrong Answer

Even Accomplished Scholars: A Teacher’s Thoughts on the Limits of Education

June 24, 2020 ~ Ellen Norris

My Dear Students, After eight posts which emphasize the importance of education, I find it a fitting time to temper my enthusiasm for education by saying this: it is better to be uneducated and love God than to be an accomplished scholar and despise wisdom. Of course, uneducated people can certainly despise wisdom, and educated … Continue reading Even Accomplished Scholars: A Teacher’s Thoughts on the Limits of Education

Why School? Part 7: Coffee and Life Skills

June 5, 2020 ~ Ellen Norris

My Dear Students, For this second-to-last blog post on the purpose of school, I will finally concede that school should be useful after all. If you have read my other posts on the purpose of school, you may be thinking, I knew it! Sooner or later she had to admit that school should be useful! … Continue reading Why School? Part 7: Coffee and Life Skills

Why School? Part 5: Beautiful Not Boring

May 19, 2020 ~ Ellen Norris

My Dear Students, Why have I spent so much time talking about how school helps us become wise and virtuous people? Why does that matter so much and why does it make education significant? Our God loves wisdom and goodness and hates foolishness and evil. As His followers, we know that we should seek wisdom … Continue reading Why School? Part 5: Beautiful Not Boring

Why School? Part 4: Math, English, and Wisdom

May 9, 2020 ~ Ellen Norris

My Dear Students, In my last post, I promised to show you the connection between wisdom and what you do each day in school. I think the best way to begin is to discuss a couple typical assignments. I have chosen two generally unpopular assignments: an English essay and a series of math problems. An … Continue reading Why School? Part 4: Math, English, and Wisdom

Why School? Part 2: Common yet Incomplete Answers

April 30, 2020 ~ Ellen Norris

My Dear Students, Since we are asking the question, why do I have to go to school, I think it is worthwhile first to look at many of the common answers given in answer to that question. I have compiled some here. Perhaps the most common is the answer that appeals to the future. It … Continue reading Why School? Part 2: Common yet Incomplete Answers

Why School? Part 1: Asking the Question

April 24, 2020May 21, 2020 ~ Ellen Norris

My Dear Students, I would be surprised if sometime in your school career you had not asked the question, Why do I have to go to school? I think that my younger self--who very often spoke those words--did not ask them because I actually wanted an answer. Instead, I used them as a tidy little … Continue reading Why School? Part 1: Asking the Question