Bernard Walter

Tag: Teaching

  • I’m Working on a Podcast

    I’m Working on a Podcast

    Generally speaking, I don’t like to share what I’m working on because it messes up my mojo when I do. I end up not finishing whatever I said that I would do because I’ve already told you about it so what’s the point in seeing it through now? I mean, if I told you I’d…

  • A Silent Summer

    A few weeks ago, I started making a list of things that I want to do this summer. The list reads like every other incomplete list from every previous summer: go to the museum; read; write; work on Letters’ Lounge; go fishing; go to the gym. Everything I want to do this summer is something…

  • Earned this….

    It’s the holidays.

  • I remember how to do this

    I remember how to do this

    5 am. My alarm goes off at 5 am. By 7:00, I had better be no more than ten minutes away from leaving for work. If I get to work by 7:45, I’m pushing it. Officially, I have to be at work by 8:30 and in class by 8:50. 45-65 minutes isn’t enough to get…

  • Rick’s Rant – The Kids are Still Alright

    Rick’s Rant – The Kids are Still Alright

  • 32.5 Hours a Week

    It gives you a certain pause, when the most engaging conversations you have happen with people who are between an eighth and a quarter of your age, or younger.

  • I’m Too Scared to Answer the Questions Writing Asks of Me

    Instead of recording a “hand dance” tonight, I decided that I would work on a blog post. For about two hours, I was planning out a post (sometimes, I actually do make a plan for these things). The more I worked on the plan, the more disjointed my ideas became. Then, my mind wandered onto…

  • Stained

    I’ve washed my hands at least a dozen times in the six hours since this happened. I sincerely hope that the tie-dye t-shirts turn out. There are still four more to finish tomorrow. This happened a couple of weeks ago while planting seeds. I wish I could explain myself.

  • March Break?

    I feel out of touch with the world. I spend my time worrying about how I’m going to live my life instead of experiencing it. I don’t understand, or share, most of the concerns of the people who I spend most of my time interacting with. My notion of reality – the “real world” –…

  • Every(body) Student Just Wants to be Seen

    Every(body) Student Just Wants to be Seen

    One thing that really gets me right pissed is insolence. When teaching, students who willfully ignore me drive me up the fucking wall. They love it; I can only imagine how amusing I look when I get angry. Another thing that really gets me is when students start to believe that they are stupid. It…

  • Thoughts About My Teaching Career, So Far

    I’ve been thinking about what it means for me to pursue a teaching career. I’m one of the lucky ones. I’m not one of the luckiest ones, but I’m one of the lucky ones. I’ve been very fortunate to have other teachers and school administrators enjoy working with me and having me in their schools.…

  • A rose by any other name would smell as sweet, except, in this case, if that name is “Al”

    A rose by any other name would smell as sweet, except, in this case, if that name is “Al”

    I’ve never really had a nickname that’s stuck. In elementary school, there was a kid named Gurtej who kept calling me “Al”. I hate being called “Al”. Isn’t the name somewhat anachronistic? I have nothing against the name, in fact, I attach a certain affection to it, but it’s not my bloody name. My name…