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[History Buff]

My newest book focuses on teaching.  I've collected my thoughts and reflections into one volume for educators - There's NO Busyness Like School Busyness​.  A majority of the text has been completed and is currently being proofread and edited.  I hope to offer this book online before school begins.

In this volume, I go all the way back to the beginning, when I had to interview for my first teaching job in Oklahoma.  I talk about the journey from that first class in the inner city, through my experience with the terrorist bombing four and a half miles from our class, and the 2011 EF5 tornado that cut our school year short in Joplin.

While short accounts of those events are part of School Busyness, they are not the focus of the book.  Instead, I wanted to share some of the lessons I've learned in the last 27 years - the ups and the downs.  In fact, the book begins with this:

After nearly 30 years as an educator, after experiencing many ups and downs, I set fingers on the keyboard and intentionally pattered out some wisdom that I hope makes sense.  Whether you've been in the classroom for a quarter century or you're just starting out, you should find something here that will help you along the journey.
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There was a time when I was ready to leave – actually a couple of times if we're being honest.  I had heard about teachers hitting a wall, being burned out, leaving the profession prematurely.  I had heard the short longevity for teaching, and I vowed to never let that happen to me.

But it happened.

And it happened at a very inopportune time.

I had been teaching for two decades.  It was too late to start over, and too early to retire.  I was invested in a profession I loved, and it had become a profession I despised.

This book is intended to make teachers think and give them some practical tips and ideas to help them develop their teaching muscles.  Hopefully many will find it useful and maybe even motivating.

[Swoosh]

I'll tell you what - getting out of public school into private was the best choice I've made in s long time.  All of the crap you have to deal with in public (NCLB, EOC, IEP, 504, etc) are gone. Poof. Stress levels are much lower.

[sirwillow]

I'll tell you what - getting out of public school into private was the best choice I've made in s long time.  All of the crap you have to deal with in public (NCLB, EOC, IEP, 504, etc) are gone. Poof. Stress levels are much lower.

I imagine the parents were also a lot easier to deal with since you had a lot more leverage on them than in public schools (don't like it?  to bad, get out!)  :-)

Biggest issue in our neck of the woods there is the pay is nowhere close, and the admins at the relatively close private schools leave some to be desired.

[History Buff]

Here are the "chapter" titles for There's No Busyness Like School Busyness:

[Swoosh]

I'll tell you what - getting out of public school into private was the best choice I've made in s long time.  All of the crap you have to deal with in public (NCLB, EOC, IEP, 504, etc) are gone. Poof. Stress levels are much lower.

I imagine the parents were also a lot easier to deal with since you had a lot more leverage on them than in public schools (don't like it?  to bad, get out!)  :-)

Biggest issue in our neck of the woods there is the pay is nowhere close, and the admins at the relatively close private schools leave some to be desired.

Well you take the good, you take the bad, you take them both and you have the facts of life.
Really the only issue I had was dealing with some entitled kids.  They soon found out I was one of the stricter teachers in the school and don't mess around.  I really love how we use demerit cards.  There's no grey areas.  10 on a card and once the card is full you get a "Breakfast Club" on Saturday.  50 total demerits, you lose your parking pass privledges. 80 total demerits, Helloooo public school.   

[History Buff]

Look what came in the mailbox, today!

[History Buff]

For the new school year
For the smells of new pencils and new shoes
For the laughter of children
For crisp smiles and laughter
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For peers who want the best for our future
For parents and grandparents
For administrators, teachers
For support from many sources

For art and science
For history and numbers
For a love of reading and writing
For music and movement

For peace, perseverance, and passion
For nurture
For patience and cooperation
For responsibility and respect

For challenge
For tears
For empathy
​For compassion

For unity
For vision
For legacy
For a universe of dreams and untethered possibilities

For these and more, we are thankful

May we fill the hungry
May we heal the injured
May we comfort the cold
May we regard the neglected
May we inspire the complacent
May we calm the distressed
May we love the unloved

May we teach



#DEdHoggatt

https://www.createspace.com/7298342

[Junior, too!]

Congrats on the new book!