Happy New Year - 2010 Rubber Fun

2009 was a fun year for me in the classroom and out promoting the book - here's a podcast from December, a newly published article, and a sneak preview to some upcoming Rubbery events:

Thursday, January 21, 2010 - 3:00pm-4:00pm - Dare to Be Remarkable (880AM - Miami, FL)

Saturday, January 30, 2010 - Georgia Association of Educators Annual Conference - Lessons to Transform Your Classroom

Wednesday, February 10, 2010 - Noon - GSU Law School - Topic TBA

Friday, February 12, 2010 - 17th Georgia Conference on College & University Teaching

Tuesday, March 9, 2010 - Kiwanis, Peachtree City, GA, Book Discussion: Follow Your Dreams - At Any Age!

Podcast: Perry's Interview on A Closer Look Radio, Coast-to-Coast
http://www.achieveradio.com/archplayer.php?showname=A%20Closer%20Look%20with%20Pam%20Atherton&ShowURL=http://audio.achieveradio.com/closer-look/Dec-17-2009-at-01-00PM---A_Closer_Look.mp3

Just Published by Teacher.net Gazette (Cover Story)

Transform Your Classroom by Unlocking Your Rubber Room

Perry Binder

Rub•ber Room (noun) A confining mindset where thoughts and possibilities bounce around but never turn into action

At whatever level you teach, K-12 or college, the continual cliché to “Have a positive attitude” is intended to keep you inspired and refreshed in the classroom. Drawing from hilarious or serious lessons as a teacher and former student, this article digs down below that cliché with examples of what makes us tick as people, so we can in turn be better teachers. It is an exploration and celebration of our childhood motivations, passion to teach, and the special quality that fires us up to walk into a classroom each day.

Continue reading: http://teachers.net/gazette/wordpress/perrybinder/transform-your-classroom/

New teachers reflect on their first semester

I enjoyed this article about new teachers, the mistakes they've made, and the motivation they have to succeed in the 2010 spring term.

Enthusiasm is contagious (excerpt):

When I was in college, I had several friends studying to be teachers. Every time they would talk about student teaching or creating lesson plans, I would think 'No way. Not me.' " At that time in my life, the idea of holding the education of 20-some students in my hands was enough to strike terror in my heart. Now the idea of putting up with 20-some children who are not mine is enough to do the same. So my hat is off to those who decide to pursue that career. The best teachers are the ones who hold that calling on their life, who have that special gift of inspiring students to do their best and to explain the concepts they need to know in a way that each child can understand.

Read the article:

http://mywebtimes.com/archives/ottawa/display.php?id=394586

Did you know The Fonz co-authored 9 children's books about Dyslexia?

To his great surprise, veteran actor Henry Winkler has carved out a new career for himself as a children's author. Having struggled - and suffered - throughout his school years with unidentified dyslexia, it's still hard for him to imagine his name even appearing in the same sentence with the words "author" or "book." But, Winkler and his co-author, Lin Oliver, have completed nine novels in their series, Hank Zipzer: The World's Greatest Underachiever, which recounts the hilarious adventures of a resourceful, wisecracking fourth-grader - who also happens to have dyslexia.

Winkler, who recently turned 60, graduated from the Yale University School of Drama and has achieved a successful 30-year career as an actor, director, and producer. Although he's received many honors for his work, he's probably still best known and loved for his role as the definitively cool Arthur "The Fonz" Fonzarelli in the 1974-84 television comedy series Happy Days, co-starring well-known director Ron Howard.

Continue reading: http://www.greatschools.org/LD/managing/henry-winklers-dyslexic-hero.gs?content=977&print=true&fromPage=1

On Happy Days, The Fonz played an auto mechanic teacher. Here's an actual car mechanic with dyslexia who became a teacher...

“TEACHING has changed so much over the years,” are the opening words from Paul Reid, a 39 year old from Perry Barr, when you ask him what he thinks of his new career. “I really struggled when I was at school. It was differrent (sic) back then and admitting you had a problem understanding something wasn’t easy.’”

Paul was a car mechanic for 15 years before suffering from arthiritis and decided to change career.“I loved mechanics so much that I decided that I wanted to teach others how to do it,” he explained.

Continue reading: http://bristol.indymedia.org/article/691242

Radio Interview, Dec. 17, 4pm-5pm EST

Looking forward to this interview with longtime radio host Pam Atherton. I recently listened to her interview with Bill Kurtis, Journalist/documentary host (and recovering lawyer!) and learned some very interesting things about his life.

But what I really like is the cool promo photo for the show, pictured here.

A Closer Look with Pam Atherton

Dec. 17, 4pm-5pm EST

Listen hear: http://www.acloserlookradio.com/binder.php

NYC Teachers Sue for a Pass Out of Rubber Rooms

Pictured left: Cell phone photo from a Queens, NY Rubber Room

While this blog is dedicated to inspiring teacher stories, I'd be remiss if I didn't post this story about K-12 teachers who believe they are being unjustly treated:

BROOKLYN (CN) -Some 2000 schoolteachers say New York City is discriminating against them by confining them on trumped-up charges in infamous "rubber rooms" until they retire. Rubber rooms are study hall-like places where teachers are paid full wages to do nothing -- sometime for years. Continue reading - http://www.courthousenews.com/2009/12/01/Class_of_Teachers_Sues_NYC_For_a_Pass_Out_of_Rubber_Rooms.htm

I stumbled across the rubber room issue when selecting the title of my book.
In my book Intro:
Rub·ber Room (noun)
A confining mind-set where thoughts and possibilities bounce aimlessly

In my book Epilogue:
Rub·ber Room (noun)
An isolated place where schools send unruly teachers awaiting disciplinary proceedings

After the fact, I dug deeper into the NYC Rubber Room problem, and discovered some reasons (justly and possibly unjustly) that teachers get sent there. One of the biggest issues is how long teachers must wait until given a due process hearing to get reinstated (they are suspended with pay until a resolution). Though my book has nothing to do with the NYC Rubber Room issue, a couple of months ago I wrote this letter to provide moments of levity for Rubber Room occupants awaiting a hearing:

September 28, 2009

Michael Mulgrew
President, United Federation of Teachers
52 BroadwayNew York, NY 10004

Re: The Rubber Room New Yorker article – Your Letter to the Editor

Dear Mr. Mulgrew:

I am a Queens, New York native (PS 184, JHS 194, Bayside HS) and a Legal Studies professor at Georgia State University, who read your Letter to the Editor in The New Yorker with great interest. One of the most telling quotes in Mr. Brill’s piece concerned the city official’s statement: “Our standard is tighter than ‘beyond a reasonable doubt’.”

I had never heard the term “Rubber Room” used in the school system context, until I started researching the title of my enclosed book, Unlocking Your Rubber Room (2009). The reason I am writing is because I am interested in supplying each borough’s “Rubber Room” with a copy of my book (at no cost). www.YourRubberRoom.com

Unlocking Your Rubber Room is a humorous look at law and life (Sections I & II), with my bent perspective on the justice system (Section III). I believe that the book would help Rubber Room occupants maintain or regain perspective as they await their hearings. If anything, the book’s title and content would offer some needed levity.

Please let me know if you have any thoughts on how to accomplish the above task. Thank you for your time and consideration.

Sincerely,

Perry Binder

Mr. Mulgrew's Letter to the Editor of The New Yorker
Brill captures the Kafkaesque quality of Rubber Rooms, in which teachers linger while the Department of Education ponders accusations against them. Read more:
http://www.newyorker.com/magazine/letters/2009/09/28/090928mama_mail2

Postscript: To date, I have not heard back from Mr. Mulgrew, but a couple of people are attempting to assist me and get free copies of my book into the five NYC Rubber Rooms.

Photo from B&N Signing / Upcoming Radio Interviews

In a stark contrast to my NYC rubber room story above...

Thank you to Sharon and Shoppers - a great day at B&N!

On the life of an author: "When the bookstore gave me Reindeer ears, I knew I was in trouble."

In this photo, the Lawyer-turned-Teacher is flanked by two readers - a lawyer and a teacher.

Upcoming: Thursday, December 17, 4:00pm-5:00pm EST - A Closer Look Radio with Pam Atherton (Clovis, NM)http://www.achieveradio.com/closer-look

Thursday, January 21, 2010, 3:00pm-4:00pm EST - Dare to Be Remarkable with Kandee G (Miami, FL) - 880AM http://www.880thebiz.com/

TBA - Tell Me Your Story (Santa Barbara, CA) - 1290AM

After 60 years of teaching, substitute is still at the head of the class

Substitute teacher Martin Carole has seen just about everything a room full of students has to offer.

By Joshua Garner The Gazette

Continue reading:

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/12/02/AR2009120202117.html?wprss=rss_education

The 10 Best Teachers in Movie History

I found this list from filmcritic.com - http://www.filmcritic.com/misc/emporium.nsf/reviews/The-10-Best-Teachers-in-Movie-History

Clearly missing from the list is Alex Jurel (Nick Nolte) in Teachers (1984), dealing with the ultra cool Eddie Pilikian (Ralph Macchio) http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0088242/ . Also, how can you leave off Professor Terguson (Sam Kinison) in Back to School (1986) http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0090685/ The list was compiled in 2006, so we need to add Erin Gruwell (Hillary Swank) in Freedom Writers (2007) http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0463998/ Hey, what about Dewey Finn (Jack Black) in The School of Rock (2003) http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0332379/

If we can sneak in some principals, I'd vote for Crazy Joe Clark (Morgan Freeman) in Lean on Me (1989) http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0097722/ and The Principal (1987) with Rick Latimer (Jim Belushi) http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0093780/

The 10 Best Teachers in Movie History - filmcritic.com
10. Terry Corrigan (Class of 1984)
9. Mr. Chips (Goodbye, Mr. Chips)
8. Miss Shields (A Christmas Story)
7. Dave Jennings (Animal House) - Dean Wormer was more interesting
6. Glenn Holland (Mr. Holland's Opus) - tear jerker movie
5. Mr. Hand (Fast Times at Ridgemont High) - that's my pizza, dude!
4. Mark Thackeray (To Sir, With Love)
3. John Keating (Dead Poets Society) -all star performance
2. Jaime Escalante (Stand and Deliver) -all star performance
1. Georges Lopez (To Be and To Have)