#195. Predicting The Future

#195. Predicting The Future

Yogi Berra, in his inimitable way, said, “It’s tough to make predictions, especially about the future.” And I guess that’s really very true for almost every aspect of life. But as teachers, isn’t that what we do pretty much every day? We...
#194. “Success”

#194. “Success”

Decades ago, while reading the newspaper I came across a poem by Martin Buxbaum, entitled “Success.” It astounded me with its simple, yet remarkably profound sentiment. It made me think. It made me reflect. It was so powerful that it has never left my mind. In fact,...
#193. Find It Or Make It

#193. Find It Or Make It

“Aut inveniam viam aut faciam,” which in Latin translates to, “I shall either find a way or make one.” I read those words the other day and immediately thought it was a beautiful expression of an incredibly important facet of what is at the core of being a teacher....
#192. A Recipe For Success

#192. A Recipe For Success

We teachers are an impatient lot. We want the moon for our students, and we want it now. But our students are even more impatient. They want it yesterday. What’s the “it” they want? Progress and success. They often seem to think that playing should come fast and...
#191. Apples

#191. Apples

Last evening, I received an email from a student who is in a course I am teaching. The student explained that he was telling his mother about his new classes and professors. When he got to my class and mentioned my name, his mother interrupted and said, “I think your...