Category Archives: Teaching

Last day

Posted on June 10, 2016 by jyourist

Today was the last day in my classroom. I am now retired.

Posted in retirement, school, Teaching | Tagged , , , , | 5 Comments

Misochronism and 8th grade graduation

Posted on June 8, 2016 by jyourist

The end of the school year is enormously busy. And if one is retiring, activities are even further ramped up— including this year being asked by the student body to deliver the faculty address at 8th grade graduation. It is … Continue reading →

Posted in school, students, Teaching | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

Teachers on a four day trip to Washington DC with 130 8th graders

Posted on May 7, 2016 by jyourist

The photo above is what teachers indulge in when they are on a four day trip with 130 high energy and healthy 8th graders in Washington DC and they can’t have a drink. The photos below are some of what … Continue reading →

Posted in school, students, Teaching | Tagged , , , , , , | 1 Comment

Some middle school students’ answers on their World War I test

Posted on April 29, 2016 by jyourist
Posted in school, students, Teaching, World War I | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Wordless three-ring circus

Posted on April 28, 2016 by jyourist

I do a lot of group work in my classroom so instead of desks we have a variety of large tables, four of them to be exact. There are lots of ways we arrange them depending on what we are … Continue reading →

Posted in school, students, Teaching | Tagged , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Divine Guidance

Posted on March 11, 2016 by jyourist

Yesterday in class, the students made presentations to the rest of us in preparation for our Chicago History Fair that evening. After each student shared their research, the rest of us would fill out a sheet which would give responses … Continue reading →

Posted in school, students, Teaching | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Sweet endings

Posted on March 3, 2016 by jyourist

With our Pullman debates yesterday how serendipitous it was to learn that it is George Pullman’s birthday today. The other day I ordered a birthday cake for each class with a Thomas the Tank Engine on top and the words … Continue reading →

Posted in school, students, Teaching | Tagged , , , , , , | 2 Comments

Go back up the stairs!

Posted on March 2, 2016 by jyourist

Today we held our annual Pullman debates. We bring Eugene Debs and the ARU, George Pullman, Jane Addams, Attorney General Olney, the Reverend Carwardine, the Pullman workers, the General Managers Association, Governor Altgeld, and the Federal Troops to the table … Continue reading →

Posted in labor, school, Teaching, union | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

I love writing on the blackboard!

Posted on March 1, 2016 by jyourist

Not a white board. Not a green board. It has to be a black board. And the board has to be super clean. Not erased with a lot of chalk residue and pentimento all over it. There is something so … Continue reading →

Posted in school, Teaching | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | 4 Comments

Many miles before I sleep

Posted on February 27, 2016 by jyourist

I am presently buried beneath piles of research papers. Plugging along. They are taking me about 40 minutes to an hour apiece to grade. (Who were those politicians who complained about how easy a teacher’s life is, leaving school at … Continue reading →

Posted in school, Teaching, writing | Tagged , , , , , , , | 2 Comments