Tag Archives: esl

Cuando Leí Harry Potter y La Piedra Filosofál

Posted on April 6, 2017 by Barb Knowles

Soy casi-bilingüe.  Es la verdad.  Si necesito completar una aplicación, siempre escribo “bilingüe.”  Pero, no soy bilingüe.  Soy ingléshablante.  El español es mi segundo idioma. For those of you who read this blog consistently and are staring at this page … Continue reading →

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BICS is okay, but CALP? Forget it.

Posted on February 10, 2016 by Barb Knowles

Wait, what?  I uttered this in our office the other day and everyone laughed. To help you understand why this could remotely be funny while not putting you to sleep instantly, here’s a quick, so-don’t-stop-reading, crash course on learning a … Continue reading →

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What’s Up With That?

Posted on January 10, 2016 by Barb Knowles

About 10 years ago, I was walking down the hall towards my office to drop my stuff off before first period.  As always, a bunch of kids were standing talking at their lockers, sitting on the floor madly copying someone’s … Continue reading →

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When did education become torture?

Posted on May 23, 2015 by Barb Knowles

For the first time in my teaching career, I saw high school students cry during the NYSESLAT exam.  Unprecedented. If you are a student in New York State in 2015, you are subjected to a ridiculous number of assessments.  I’m … Continue reading →

Posted in education, Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | 20 Comments

Primary colors?

Posted on April 12, 2015 by Barb Knowles

Someone, somewhere, blogged something, and I can’t remember who or what it was.  I would give credit where credit is due, but I just can’t remember.   Anywho, it made me think of primary colors.  Don’t think that I’m an … Continue reading →

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The motivated high school student…huh?

Posted on March 7, 2015 by Barb Knowles

There is a special place in heaven for elementary teachers. And a REALLY special place in heaven for middle school teachers. But I can’t imagine teaching anyone other than high school kids. Definitely my niche. Not that they don’t frustrate … Continue reading →

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Assessments are Stupid

Posted on February 9, 2015 by Barb Knowles

There. I’ve said it. I’ve always thought it, but now I’ve said it. File this under posts-I-hope-my-supervisor-doesn’t-see. And because I think that assessments are stupid, I don’t give tests very often. Now it’s time to post my grades.  Oops. It … Continue reading →

Posted in education, humor, students, teachers | Tagged , , , | 14 Comments

Yes or No?

Posted on October 27, 2014 by Barb Knowles

I had, and still have, absolutely no problem saying no to my children.  None whatsoever. But there are variations, as we all know. 1. Not now. 2. Maybe later. 3. We’ll see (a personal favorite) 4. Maybe someday (and, no … Continue reading →

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Invictus….NOT

Posted on October 2, 2014 by Barb Knowles

“I am the master of my fate, I am the captain of my soul.” So lovely. But if I’m the captain of my soul then someone else is definitely steering that ship. I am a child of the 60s. But … Continue reading →

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Because I Said So

Posted on September 27, 2014 by Barb Knowles

Ok, ok….I admit it. My default answer is the #1 old standby, “Because I said so.” Why, you ask? Because I said so. If that isn’t enough to make me rethink a lesson, just listen to this. For native Spanish-speakers … Continue reading →

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