Bread and Butter and Sharp Knives and ISTEP

Mamacita says: I used to cook and make butter with my students.  I am reminded of those days whenever I run into former students from that class. A while back, I ran into one of those former middle school student … Continue reading

Kids Who Read, Succeed. In Spite of School.

Mamacita says:  I hated elementary school, and by “hated” what I really mean is, well, HATED. I learned to read when I was really little, but I have never read as most other people do.  When I read, I look … Continue reading

Standardization, Administration, & Other Bollocky Things

Mamacita says:  Beethoven and Rodin would never make it in an American public school these days. Neither would Lincoln, or Clara Barton, or Thomas Jefferson. Nor Einstein. Or Edison. Administrators have forgotten that ultimately, our culture will be judged on … Continue reading

Mamacita Says: Cursing Over Cursive, Or, Rather, The Lack of It

Mamacita says:  It really bothers me; it bothers me way out of proportion; it bothers me TERRIBLY, that so many elementary teachers refuse to teach cursive handwriting now. There are many reasons for this, the three biggest being lack of … Continue reading