Author Archives: mrbrentg

My morning routine is getting up at 4:30 or so checking Twitter and other social media getting ready to head to the gym and once there get my music on and then likely chat with my friend Maire about things that drive us crazy on said Twitter. I figure it is a healthy time toContinue reading “It only took a pandemic”

We have 2 dogs. Yesterday we spent the day in the yard cleaning up poop. The snow is finally melted or melting and well two big dogs and winter creates a terrible situation. Last year we paid a group of kids to come a clean for a couple of hours and it was great. ThisContinue reading “Faith”

I don’t know where to start. Earlier this week someone said to Julie, “Teachers are just loving this aren’t they?” Julie told them we were all sad. I don’t even know if sad describes how I feel. Yesterday or early this morning my friend Aeriale Johnson posted this blog post talking about the conflicting emotionsContinue reading “Incomplete”

Today as we continue to adjust to the “new normal” of COVID-19 and its impact on or lives I was in my classroom waiting for students to come and pick up their left behind things. Last night I sent out a message to my students, Ok Parents, So I don’t know exactly what this new journey weContinue reading “A Note”

Last year I was asked to join the coaching staff of the Varsity Basketball team. When the head coach mentioned my name as his assistant people laughed, a lot of people. I am not known for my basketball knowledge or skill. I was asked to be there because I am known for something else, sportsmanship,Continue reading “Thank You”

This year I have been working on ways to make writing more engaging. When I talk to my students every year their biggest complaint about Language Arts classes past are having to write “too many” stories, writing stories based off stupid prompts and having to write about things they don’t care about. This year IContinue reading “We are Writing”

This was the question that my new (excellent) student teacher asked me this morning. I think when I first started teaching I had this written out on a portfolio or something. I can’t even remember what it said but I am sure at the time it was some bumpersticker-esque quote about empowering students to realizeContinue reading “What is your educational philosophy?”

This week I had the amazing opportunity to fly across the country and learn from some of the best in the field of literacy. I never take these amazing opportunities for granted. I recognize the privilege that is extended to me to learn how to better serve my students and build a literacy community thatContinue reading “As We Learn”

I have wrestled with this post for a week, probably much longer if I am being really honest. Every year students around the province are asked to complete a survey that intends to inform us about how students, parents, teachers and the community feel about the progress of the school. There are questions that addressContinue reading “School Culture and the unseen”

Today I was working at the school helping in the concession for a tournament. At one point a went to go check out the game that was on and as I walked into the foyer a scene that was unfolding caught my eye. A coach and a player deep in conversation, the player was upsetContinue reading “Have we lost the plot?”