Working in Education through the Language Lens

   So a while ago I asked my PLN and FaceBook community these two very serious (tongue in cheek) research questions. Q1: If you are asked to wear a name badge, what do you write?  Title and last name (Dr. Delahunty) Full name (Geniene P. Delahunty) First name only (Geniene)  or fake name (Sally McWenton - made that up while typing). Q2: what stickers/decals are are on your car? I was quite surprised with the number of people who said fake names (I won't blow your cover here FB friends). The most common response was: it depends on the function. First name with friends/Title and last name with strangers. So why is that? What wall do we think we are putting up by leaving out our first name. Doesn't providing strangers with our last name in fact share more than what we should be comfortable with. Does our first name assume such intimacy that we reserve it only for friends? Late in the summer I remember a conversation as school planning was underway about h...

How about love..........? https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UvyHuse6buY https://40.media.tumblr.com/15076e176eefe1a2a7138caee69fa67f/tumblr_mlfd1gBlnw1qad707o1_500.jpg One of my ALL TIME favorite musicals - RENT! As this year draws to an end I have to reflect back on HOW I chose to measure this year: it's successes - it's failures, it's moments that have brought me to tears or to uncontrollable laughter. I know for sure that the number of cups of coffee have kept a certain (cough cough K cup company in business). For the first time as an ELL specialist I have had the privilege to work with High School students - which have been my highlight of my day (most days). They have inquired about language, life and have invited me into their homes. The family dynamic has never been so important to me as an educator, after meeting these students - and their families. Isn't that ironic - as we usually see 'hands off' attitudes on either side of the partnership at...