http://blogs.edweek.org/teachers/hdenney/ Hanne Denney is a third year special education teacher at Arundel High School in Gambrills, Maryland. A career changer who entered the profession through an alternative-certification program, she's an older "new" teacher trying to bring relevance and rigor to her classes by tirelessly seeking wisdom as an educator. Hanne shares her perspective and ideas in this blog. Copyright 2008 Thu, 28 Jun 2007 10:38:37 -0500 http://www.movabletype.org/?v=3.34 http://blogs.law.harvard.edu/tech/rss So I am moving to Southern Middle School, beginning a new chapter in my educational career. I have to laugh at that line, because "new chapter" sounds profound, but I think educators make changes in their careers more frequently now.... http://blogs.edweek.org/teachers/hdenney/archives/2007/06/moving_to_middl.html http://blogs.edweek.org/teachers/hdenney/archives/2007/06/moving_to_middl.html Thu, 28 Jun 2007 10:38:37 -0500 Joy to the World, 'tis the season for celebration. I know it's not the winter holidays, but it is holiday time for educators. We're celebrating the end of our year. First of all, let me tell you about the Prom,... http://blogs.edweek.org/teachers/hdenney/archives/2007/06/tis_the_season.html http://blogs.edweek.org/teachers/hdenney/archives/2007/06/tis_the_season.html Sun, 17 Jun 2007 18:21:48 -0500 The other day I took a walk at home. My neighbor saw me and said, “Haven’t seen you much lately.” Without thinking I answered, “I haven’t seen myself much lately either.” A moment later, standing on a pier looking over... http://blogs.edweek.org/teachers/hdenney/archives/2007/05/prom_dress.html http://blogs.edweek.org/teachers/hdenney/archives/2007/05/prom_dress.html Wed, 02 May 2007 05:35:30 -0500 I think every teacher spends Sunday evening thinking about the upcoming week. We plan for lessons, meetings scheduled, copies to be made, grading papers we didn’t get done this weekend. But this Sunday I’m thinking back on last week. It... http://blogs.edweek.org/teachers/hdenney/archives/2007/03/sunday_evening.html http://blogs.edweek.org/teachers/hdenney/archives/2007/03/sunday_evening.html Sun, 11 Mar 2007 21:08:02 -0500 I am not a “new” teacher any more, this being my third year at Arundel High School. And I am certainly not a “young” teacher, this being my 49th year of life. I began my education career through a career-changer... http://blogs.edweek.org/teachers/hdenney/archives/2007/02/paths_in_the_wo.html http://blogs.edweek.org/teachers/hdenney/archives/2007/02/paths_in_the_wo.html Mon, 05 Feb 2007 06:40:43 -0500 They aren’t really resolutions, but here's a countdown of ten ideas that may help you become a better teacher, or at least a happier one. Some have already worked for me, and others are goals for this year. I'm not... http://blogs.edweek.org/teachers/hdenney/archives/2007/01/countdown_to_ha_1.html http://blogs.edweek.org/teachers/hdenney/archives/2007/01/countdown_to_ha_1.html Sun, 14 Jan 2007 15:53:52 -0500 Just a quick note to tell you that The Arundel Tales presentation went well. The students practiced their stories with each other, made final revisions, and then presented them aloud. They mostly read from their papers, but they read competently... http://blogs.edweek.org/teachers/hdenney/archives/2006/12/tales_well_told.html http://blogs.edweek.org/teachers/hdenney/archives/2006/12/tales_well_told.html Tue, 26 Dec 2006 06:05:05 -0500 I teach senior English. It’s a group of 10 students, all of whom I’ve taught before. Some of them were in my world civilization class my first year as a teacher. I was terrified when I entered that classroom. It... http://blogs.edweek.org/teachers/hdenney/archives/2006/12/the_teachers_ta.html http://blogs.edweek.org/teachers/hdenney/archives/2006/12/the_teachers_ta.html Wed, 20 Dec 2006 04:43:13 -0500 I received tremendous response to my last posting about using manipulatives in secondary English and Social Studies classes. The posting was really about teacher fatigue, and trying out new ideas. Or maybe it was about burn-out, for both teachers and... http://blogs.edweek.org/teachers/hdenney/archives/2006/11/music_magic.html http://blogs.edweek.org/teachers/hdenney/archives/2006/11/music_magic.html Sat, 25 Nov 2006 16:13:04 -0500 I have to say I am feeling better now. Thanks for your messages of support. It seems I am not the only teacher who sometimes feels lonely, even if the midst of a teeming high school. Here’s how I am... http://blogs.edweek.org/teachers/hdenney/archives/2006/10/feeling_better.html http://blogs.edweek.org/teachers/hdenney/archives/2006/10/feeling_better.html Sun, 29 Oct 2006 20:01:13 -0500 I’ve been waiting to write an entry, because my brain feels kind of cloudy. I’m slow, and a little achy, and my head feels tight. It would be easy to tell you I must be getting sick, but I don’t... http://blogs.edweek.org/teachers/hdenney/archives/2006/10/thirdyear_syndr.html http://blogs.edweek.org/teachers/hdenney/archives/2006/10/thirdyear_syndr.html Mon, 16 Oct 2006 19:54:23 -0500 Time to grow up. I’ve been telling my students that this week. We’re into our fourth week of school and they have yet to really engage in the learning process. I am struggling with methods of motivation. I’m trying to... http://blogs.edweek.org/teachers/hdenney/archives/2006/09/start_to_finish.html http://blogs.edweek.org/teachers/hdenney/archives/2006/09/start_to_finish.html Sun, 24 Sep 2006 18:48:47 -0500 I’ve had two full weeks with my students and I am beginning to know them. Of the six classes I teach, five are ninth grade English. I’m working with two co-teachers, and I have two self-contained classes. Ninth graders are... http://blogs.edweek.org/teachers/hdenney/archives/2006/09/bookends_1.html http://blogs.edweek.org/teachers/hdenney/archives/2006/09/bookends_1.html Sat, 09 Sep 2006 06:11:38 -0500 Aren’t you excited? I’m excited. Like all teachers everywhere, I’m getting my mind and heart ready for back-to-school. I’m not ready, but I’m excited. I’m thinking about my core values – Discovery, Sharing, and Joy. Summer’s nearly over, and here’s... http://blogs.edweek.org/teachers/hdenney/archives/2006/08/core_values.html http://blogs.edweek.org/teachers/hdenney/archives/2006/08/core_values.html Wed, 16 Aug 2006 11:38:54 -0500 Community Development When I was a kid, I spent summer exploring my suburban neighborhood. My friends and I migrated as a herd from house to house, yard to yard, woods to river to library to pool. No matter where we... http://blogs.edweek.org/teachers/hdenney/archives/2006/07/community_devel.html http://blogs.edweek.org/teachers/hdenney/archives/2006/07/community_devel.html Mon, 24 Jul 2006 15:03:16 -0500