• Archives

  • Meta

  • art Cochran education film food funny LAUSD Los Angeles love music sports tech TFA

    WP Cumulus Flash tag cloud by Roy Tanck and Luke Morton requires Flash Player 9 or better.

  • Now Watching

    Planned movies:

    None

    Current movies:

    None

    Recent movies:

    None

    View full Library

The end of Social Promotion?!?!

The Rolling Stones – In Another Land

I follow a number of education bloggers, who are quick to point out the good, the bad, the ugly, the ridiculous, the hilarious, and the downright unjust within education today.
What caught my eye was a reference by Joanne Jacobs to some Denver schools that have changed their promotion policies [...]

Hollywood Ending

My Chemical Romance – Famous Last Words

Hollywood endings are rarely as gleaming and bright as they seem. 20 years after the inspiring film Stand and Deliver appeared, inspiring countless students and educators in the power of hard work and perseverance to overcome the most difficult obstacles, the real-life high school of math teacher Jaime [...]

New Appetites

The Soundtrack of Our Lives – Flipside

Oh yeah. That was my lunch today. A sumptuous meal of “Turkey Tacos”, which consist of sliced turkey, onions, green peppers, mushrooms, warmed up in the microwave, topped off with a bit of iceberg lettuce and some hot sauce.
And some grapes….
And some strawberry-banana juice.
I’ve got to say that since [...]

Multitasking

Bon Iver – Babys

Just like Bon Iver can multitask haunting vocal indie melodies within a post-modern minimalist Riley-esque (one of the most AMAZING and jaw-dropping pieces I’ve heard in a while…..take a listen), I’ve been learning to multitask at work with 2 MAJOR side projects aside from teaching.
The first is the implementation of our 6th [...]

You know you’re staying at work too long when this happens…

George Harrison – Beware of Darkness

Darn it!! This is the second time this has happened since school started. The first time, I actually had to go back and get a custodian to unlock the gate!
Anyway, school has started wonderfully, and the students seem ready to get into the swing of things. I’ve got to say [...]

The Beginning

Spoon – My Mathematical Mind

The madness has officially and finally begun. Wednesday was the first day of school, followed conveniently by Day 2, and Day 3, respectively.
This is my 6th year teaching at Johnnie Cochran Middle School and with it, my 3rd time I’m starting an 8th grade year with the same kids as [...]

Man In Motion

John Parr – St. Elmo’s Fire

Moving to a new apartment while simultaneously beginning for the first days of school is a real headache. Perhaps the most frustrating part of the whole process is the fact that I’ve realized how maddeningly dependant upon internet technology I’ve become. My internet will not be hooked up until approximately [...]

The World Has FINALLY Gone Mad. I Have Proof.

Brad Mehldau – Paranoid Android

I walked into Orchard Supply Hardware yesterday innocuously enough. I was on a mission to purchase some furniture gliders and as I stood in the entryway, I gawked, utterly shocked, although I knew this day had to come.
Yes, that’s right. Solar lights. You heard me “SOLAR LIGHTS”!!!!!!!!!
 
I’m not sure what’s [...]

A World Speed Record

Queen – Flash

After five wonderful years of living on beautiful Rimpau Blvd. in Mid-City Los Angeles, I’m moving. Or, to say it more accurately, I’ve moved. My new abode is still close enough to work (1.7 miles, as opposed to the previous 1.4) to earn the scorn of friends and family who suggest that [...]