I was at a funeral this week. Funerals tend to be large gatherings of families. One consequence of these events is that people get to talking and catching up about one another’s lives. I was the “in-law” at this particular funeral. My wife and I were particular targets for “catching up” because we live so far away (near 1000 miles) and because of my somewhat bizarre Ph.D. in fine arts (specifically theatre). One of these conversations tended towards education and I’d like to share that here. “You can’t do anything anymore.” This was the cry of one family member at … Continue reading →

It is now half-way through the semester where I teach. The students have all taken their midterm exams. They have been issued midterm grades. Some of them are doing well… and some of them are doing poorly. That is why it surprised me to receive an e-mail from a student concerning a required component of the course we spoke about on day one of the class. Today I would like to talk about responsibility. To be clear, this opinion comes from an instructor of a college-level course holding over 400 students. However, the principle applies to all levels of students … Continue reading →

Why is it that students don’t do their homework? What motivates the decision for a student to ignore a task that has been set before them to complete? Why would a student make up reasons for why they were unable to complete their assignments? While I don’t claim to know all of the answers to these questions I certainly see potential clues every day I go to work. If we haven’t met allow me to introduce myself: I’m Kyle and I’m a dad. I’m also a Ph.D. student. I’m also a teacher. I’m also some other things. What’s important, however, … Continue reading →

There is no doubt about it: Education has changed. I’m currently in my 20th year of schooling and the differences between a Ph.D. program and kindergarten are astonishing. Long gone are the days of tactile exploration with toys and lessons about being kind. No one reads stories to me anymore and none of the books have pictures. The most shocking changes of all, of course, are a direct result of my ever increasing age (and hopefully wisdom). I now play the diametrically opposed role of teacher and student at the same time. I’ve observed a great deal about learning and … Continue reading →

I’ll never forget my driver’s ed teacher. My grandma had the patience of a saint. Seriously. My then 72-year-old grandmother is the person I credit with teaching me how to drive a car. Well, her and Mr. Malingus, my high school driver’s ed teacher. He’s the one my parents paid to teach me how to handle our family’s Toyota on the road, but it was my beloved grandma who really helped me pass my road test. In Hawaii (where I was born and raised), you are allowed to obtain a driver’s license at age 15. (Less than a year after … Continue reading →

It’s that time of year again, and in most parts of the world, school is looming before us. It is time for sharpened pencils, creaky textbooks and the smell of the cafeteria. The transition time between summer and back to school is extremely difficult for both children and adults. Here are a few quick trips to help you get back into the swing of things with the smoothest transition possible. Start Early About a week or two before school resumes, start going to bed a bit earlier and waking up closer to the time you would need to get up. … Continue reading →