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Elisa Waingort

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A Teacher Musing Out Loud

  • My Contribution

    At a September back to school session on school culture, our director asked each of us to reflect on the following question:  What will be your most important contribution to the culture of our school this year?I found this question so intriguing at the time that I decided to write a public response on my… Read more

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  • Some Ruminations (not about teaching)

    Feb. 12, 2013 It’s 11:10 a.m.I’m sitting on a pool deck in Miami Beach.Two of my children     cavort in the water.The weather report says 27 degrees Celsiusbut there’s a late morning breezeand scattered cloudsthat occasionallyblock the sun. I’m starting the middle of the second week ofour February vacation. The weather app on my phone… Read more

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  • I feel a poem coming on…

    I am trying to stick to all of my New Year resolutions.It hasn’t been easy. I read every day.For school.For work.For fun. I write every day.Something importantAnd, sometimes, not so important. I try to remember to stay in the moment. I have finished two books.98 to go. I am not eating as healthy as I… Read more

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  • Daily 5 Online Course

    I am currently enrolled in the Daily 5 Online Course at the Upper Iowa Universtiy.  It is the only course approved by the Two Sisters, creators of the Daily 5 literacy block management system, so it comes with a special stamp of approval. I have been implementing the Daily 5 in my classroom for the… Read more

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  • New Year’s Resolutions Redux

    I know.  I know.  A lot of bloggers have been writing about their New Year’s Resolutions.  Some even did it right before the new year and some right on the first of January.  This post might be a bit late in the stream.  A Johnny come lately, of sorts. Nevertheless, by posting my resolutions and… Read more

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  • Writer’s Block

    O.K. Deep breath. I have a confession to make: I don’t know what to write about.“Write that down!” I tell myself.“Something will eventually come to you if you do.” Instead, I stare out the window. I try to recall the story that just a few days ago was screaming to be told. What was the… Read more

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  • Parent Partnerships

    When a child is misbehaving, not learning (at the rate and manner determined by the adults), or appears sullen and unhappy, what do you do?  Do you blame the child? “It’s because he’s lazy, spoiled, insolent?” Or, do you blame the parents? “They’re spoiling her.” “They don’t set limits.” “They let him do whatever he… Read more

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  • Are we listening?

    A child sits alone with a ripped worksheet packet on his desk.He appears to be singing or subvocalizing something though no one hears him. Or, perhaps they’re ignoring him.The teacher stands at the front of the room teaching on the SmartBoard.The children follow along in their worksheets.Except the child sitting alone.He is in his own world.No… Read more

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  • @NCTE12 Saturday

    O.K., so maybe I was crazy to think that I would be able to publish a blog post every day of the NCTE conference starting Thursday.  Although I did publish something quick on Thursday I wrote nothing yesterday.  Not only is the wifi connection unpredictable in the convention center, but yesterday I left my hotel… Read more

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  • Natalie Merchant at NCTE

    Natalie Merchant’s new book, hot off the press, with music CD included  Those of us present at Thursday night’s opening session at NCTE were entertained by singer-composer, Natalie Merchant.  It was a spellbinding performance, reminiscent of the bluesy, folksy voice of Janis Ian. Merchant has taken the poetry of British and American poets of the 19th and… Read more

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