The Tampon Drawer (for middle and high school teachers)
Tampons--never discussed, but central to middle and high school life. Tampons are no joke, unless you're a middle school boy. Then, they're hilarious. I've seen boys take girls' purses and backpacks, wave them around, "You've got your period!" Many of high school...
Be Your Own Barista Series: Introduction to Good Coffee
Schools don't have baristas. I made this abundantly clear in Don't Sniff the Glue, A Teacher's Misadventures in Education Reform. Since the writing of that book, we got things like Postmates, Uber Eats, and other companies that'll specifically bring you coffee. They...
Be Your Own Barista Series: The French Press
Need a simple, fast, high-quality cup of coffee or tea? Get a French Press. The French press is easy. Unlike its regional cousins the Vietnamese coffee and the Japanese-style pour over coffee you can get a great cup of coffee in six minutes or less. [recipe...
Be Your Own Barista Series: Pour Over Coffee
Working on enlightenment? Try pour-over style coffee. If you want to reach enlightenment and drink coffee at the same time, Japanese pour over coffee is the way get there. You could spend a lifetime trying to master the perfect cup of coffee and it'd bring you here....
Be Your Own Barista Series: Vietnamese Coffee
Ready for a new go-to coffee drink? Try this... Vietnamese coffee is an amazing, strong and sweet drink with a healthy dose of cinnamon. Vietnam is a major coffee exporter today. It was brought by the French in 1857 during colonization. Coffee became a major product...
Paying Off Student Loans Could Tank Your Credit Score
"Should I pay off my student loans?" Little known fact: When you pay off student loans, your credit score drops. A lot. I know. I finally paid mine off after 27 years. I’ve never taken a forbearance or deferred them. I overpaid when I could. This was a major...
Why You Need a Fish Tank In Your Class
"You need a fish." Tim the freshman plopped a Nalgene bottle with a goldfish on my desk. I did not need a fish. I thought they were stupid. If you want to give me something, give me a dog, a cat, a snake, or some coffee. But the creature was alive and looking at...
Don’t Be an Egghead! (Set Up Your Social Media for Success)
We are in the digital age. While we still haven't left the resume behind, we have entered an age of transparency where your social media tells a lot abouy you. Set it up for success. Done properly, this gives you an edge. Do it halfway, and it could come back to haunt...
So You Want to Be a Teacher Now? (Nine Things Career Switchers Need to Know)
"I want to be a teacher." "Good news," I told my boss. "I got into grad school... I'm going to need you to change my schedule." That's how I broke the news to my best boss ever, that I was going to teach. I was 7 or 8 years into an insurance career. The company paid...