Ishtar BlackUniforms: A Biased Dress CodeI love uniforms. I am a strong proponent of them in schools, provided they are not gender specific or too expensive for the students…Oct 27, 2023Oct 27, 2023
Ishtar BlackFrayedMy sanity is fraying. No, that’s not exactly true. It started to fray last year. This year it is ripping, shredding. Holes have formed and…Oct 24, 2023Oct 24, 2023
Ishtar BlackPublic SpeakingI didn’t want to teach public speaking, but I wasn’t given a choice. It was assumed that since I have a certification to teach English that…Oct 17, 2023Oct 17, 2023
Ishtar BlackSGOs: Begging for Help and Being IgnoredSGO’s (Student Growth Objectives) are the bane of every teacher’s existence in New Jersey. The State tells us we need to assess our…Oct 9, 2023Oct 9, 2023
Ishtar BlackCafeteria DutyI have cafeteria duty. Last year, it was relatively painless. I sat in the cafeteria for one period and drafted lesson plans while I made…Oct 5, 2023Oct 5, 2023
Ishtar BlackBack-To-School Night: As a TeacherWednesday night was Back-to-School night. I appreciate the fact that I need to stay late far more now that I am a parent. I always look…Oct 3, 20231Oct 3, 20231
Ishtar BlackGOP Debate: My Thoughts on the Education IssuesLast night, after back-to-school night, I went home, scooped out a big bowl of chocolate peanut butter ice cream, and plopped down on the…Sep 29, 2023Sep 29, 2023
Ishtar BlackPledge of Allegiance in SchoolLast year, every morning, the Pledge of Allegiance was a battle. During homeroom, whomever was doing morning announcements would ask the…Sep 26, 2023Sep 26, 2023
Ishtar BlackBack-To-School Night: As a ParentOur monthly faculty meetings were changed this year from Monday afternoons to Thursday. As teachers, we are supposed to be mindful of our…Sep 19, 2023Sep 19, 2023
Ishtar BlackELA FundamentalsAfter a year in this district, nothing surprises me. On day one, I knew very well that my students would be operating on an extremely low…Sep 14, 2023Sep 14, 2023