From the outbox of Meyer’s inbox

Take a moment today and think about the great teachers you’ve had in your life. Yes, parents count but I’m talking about the classroom here. As you graduated, many moons ago, you probably had a chance to thank your favorite teach on the way out the door and on the way to your new life. But what about lately? What about those lessons you learn that you use every day? Ever thank a teacher for those? Turns out a lot of folks are using the power of the Internet to do just that. What teacher would you like to thank?

ON FACEBOOK, TELLING TEACHERS HOW MUCH THEY MEANT by Susan Feinstein writing for the New York Times

Darci Hemleb Thompson had been on the lookout for Alice D’Addario for many years. From her home in Hampton, Va., Ms. Thompson, 49, who is married and has a 12-year-old daughter, was determined to find Ms. D’Addario on the Internet. She tried every search engine and networking site she could find. About 18 months ago she hit the jackpot.

“Nice to see one of the greatest teachers of all time on Facebook!” Ms. Thompson wrote on Ms. D’Addario’s wall. “I love to go to your page just to see your smiling face. Even your eyes still smile. You are an amazing person!”

Ms. D’Addario was Ms. Thompson’s Advanced Placement history teacher at Walt Whitman High School in Huntington Station, on Long Island, in 1977.

“She had such a huge impact on my life as a young adult,” Ms. Thompson said, describing her tumultuous teenage years living with two alcoholic parents and experiencing early symptoms of multiple sclerosis.

“I was depressed and so sad and so isolated, and she reached out and saved me,” Ms. Thompson added. “Facebook gave me the chance to tell her, ‘You’re the one who pulled me through.’ ”

At a time when public school teachers are being blamed for everything from poor test scores to budget crises, Facebook is one place where they are receiving adulation, albeit delayed. Read More...

It’s summer time and that means a collective sigh has gone up around the nation. No, not from the students who are done with school but from the teachers who are done with the students… at least until the fall. Here then are some helpful handy suggestions for what to do on your summer vacation. That is after the first week when you’re just a coach potato catching up on your Tivo.

1. Head for the Hills or Some Other Place
You need to get away from anything that reminds you of school, classes, papers and students. Even if it’s just a weekend surrounded by nature at least it qualifies as a complete break from the same four walls you stared at for the last six months.
2. Expand Your Horizons
Take a class. Wait! Don’t throw out your keyboard! Take a class that’s just for you. Maybe you always wanted to spin some pottery or finally figure out how to use that digital camera. This is can be new hobby time.
3. Pamper Thyself
When was the last time you have a really good massage? How about a spa day? And this isn’t just for the ladies. I seem to remember a witty host taking a plunge in a mud bath and finding it to be quite refreshing. Bottom line is to treat yourself to something special.
4. Give Yourself A Grade
After you’ve chilled out for a bit, take a couple of hours and look back on the school year and while you’re at it give yourself a grade. How did you do? Where did you shine? Where is the room for improvement? Go ahead and make a list. Why not?
5. Catch Up
While you’ve been down in the trenches feeding young minds, things have been happening all around the country with regard to education. You might be aware of some of it but now you can get caught up on all the No Child Left Behind changes, the new textbooks from Texas and where your school and state ranks among the others across the nation. This isn’t so much a homework assignment as it’s dedicating a couple of hours to online surfing. Read More...