Just a short hiatus ...

The break I took from blogging could be over.  I've been thinking about getting back to blogging and I think I'll give it a try - maybe making a commitment to post, but do it less.

Why the break?  I posted about the fact that I was feeling the need to post less and less when I switched schools.  My new school was very collaborative and we reflected a lot on our teaching and our work with the students.  Suddenly, I didn't feel that I had anything to say on the blog -- okay, and I was sick of thinking about my practice (there is such a thing as too much!).

But, nothing stays the same.  During my hiatus, I decided to go back to school and begin my doctoral studies in English Education.  I'm very excited as I received a three-year fellowship to do my coursework and to work on a research project with a professor in the program.  I'm definitely looking to my classes starting right after Labor Day.  I can see this blog becoming an outlet for me to talk through some of the thoughts and ideas I'm having surrounding my coursework.  I also hope to use the opportunity of the blog to connect what I'm learning in my coursework with what happens in the classroom.

Of course, full-time doctoral study means that I will not be teaching - either at the high school or at the graduate school (where I'm now a student again).  For the past several years, I've really defined myself as a teacher and so it will be weird to NOT be a teacher.  I'm looking forward to it.  To be honest, I'm ready for it.  I will miss the actual act of teaching and the students.  What I don't think I'll miss is the school system.  NYC is beginning testing all grades four or five times a year.  I had successfully avoided teaching years that are tested because I hate what tests do to students and teacher.  Worse, the DOE announced a program to pay students for taking tests and getting good grades on them.  (This absurd idea will surely be a topic of a future post as it makes me so angry!!) Through my doctoral work and beyond I hope to continue my contributions to underachieving adolescents.