Dear Lydia

Students struggle with the second semester just as badly as us teachers do. Between the excessive tardiness, lack of engagement, and “senioritis” (that, let’s be clear, affects all students, not just the seniors), I feel like it is pulling teeth to get anything done. How can I get everyone back on track with expectations, myself included?

Dear Lydia

I have recently been exposed to techniques for a more student-centered education and the concepts instantly clicked. PBL, experiential, simulations ― the stories all warm my heart and reinvigorate me about this career. The problem is, most of that stuff doesn’t work when you’re responsible for teaching sentence structure, or reading classic texts, or writing essays. It feels like I finally found my calling, but I’m trapped just inches away from it. 

Dear Lydia

I’m a 25-year-old female history teacher, and I feel like I sound like a Boomer for what I’m about to say… but it’s true! Many kids these days (see how it starts?) face very few obstacles from the moment they’re born until they get to my 10th-grade history class. Parents seem fixated on removing barriers, knocking down hurdles, and coddling kids when they run into discomfort.

Dear Lydia

I’m entering my third year of teaching ELA in a public high school here in Maine. I’ve tried every strategy I learned in college, but there are always four or five kids who just aren’t motivated by grades. They’ve probably spent their whole school career discounting themselves, or they just don’t see how grades meaningfully impact their lives.