The ULOT National League Division Series Preview

“Baseball, it is said, is only a game. True. And the Grand Canyon is only a hole in Arizona. Not all holes, or games, are created equal.”—George Will
It’s October, which means fall and playoff baseball is in the air. And while many of our favorite teams will be watching the games from their respective couches [...]

Day 20 AIM: How can I thank the Jews for the next two days off?

Do Now: Follow the directions for this Rosh Hashanah assignment closely and ask your teacher any questions you might have.
(1) Memorize the following Hebrew phrase: Shana Tova Umetukah. A good and sweet year.
(2) Repeat this over and over to yourself as you head home; after all, wishful thinking in another language is still wishful thinking. [...]

To Your Health

Presently, 45 million people lack health care coverage, including 17 million children. In a nation that prides itself on its opportunities and values, nearly one out of every six people lack the basic safety net needed to provide for them in case of illness or disease. Imagine the struggling sixth of our country who must [...]

Sometimes Teaching is like Getting Hit by an Outside Linebacker

My non-teacher friends often ask me how it feels after a week of quizzes, group-projects, and grading. Well, it’s a little something like this.

Strangely appropriate that the video goes silent for the last 10 seconds. You’ll know why when you see it.

Say What?

Nancy Sarah Palin has had a significant amount of intrigue following her since John McCain plucked her from her Alaskan home to be his running mate. Initially, this resulted in a boost in McCain’s ratings. However, a string of interviews has exposed what she lacks. I think Jack Cafferty sums it up best in this [...]

Conference Call

Well, it’s that time.  Conference rankings, based solely on inter-conference games.  As usual, the best college football right now is being played in the Deep South.  Arkansas, Tennessee, and Mississippi State have some embarrassing results, but no one else does.  Save Mississippi’s last-second defeat to ACC #1 Wake Forest and the top 9 SEC teams [...]

Day 19 AIM: How can I adequately stay hydrated through the day?

Do Now: Find a dependable and plentiful supply of water. Yes, I know you teach in the South Bronx, and yes, I know the faucets—even in the faculty bathroom—are best described as mad grimy. But you don’t have a choice. Dehydration is one of the leading causes of fatigue among school-teachers. Considering that 60% of [...]

Celine Dion does AC/DC

Kidz Bop is one thing, but this is just downright shameful.

Day 18 AIM: How do I avoid negative “teacher talk” at home?

Do Now: Develop a very short memory for negative incidents in your classroom. We here at the ULOT promote the strategy of essentially forgetting your entire day the moment you walk out of the classroom. Take with you the lessons that you learned in class today to apply to tomorrow and the hilarious things that [...]

The Buddy Guy Chronicles 3: Jewish Appreciation Night

Aim: What is Jewish Appreciation Night?
Do Now: What will you be doing on Monday, September 29th?
Mini-Lesson: Thanks to the wonderful Jews of New York City, teachers have Tuesday and Wednesday off to celebrate Rosh Hashanah (Happy New Year!) and Yom Kippur. Since teachers are the only people off from work, it would only make sense [...]