Category Archives: teaching

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Posted on October 2, 2011 by Meg

A crisis of some sort is not uncommon for successful people at midlife, but the age of this midlife meltdown has started coming earlier and earlier. People have started talking about a “thrisis” in the thirties and a “quarter-life crisis” … Continue reading →

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By Any Other Name

Posted on April 5, 2010 by Meg

I have a great class at Chinese school this year. Some of it is just luck. I’ve been incredibly fortunate this year not to have a single parent corner me before or after class to tell me how I should … Continue reading →

Posted in Raleigh, teaching, teaching teenagers | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

Full of Win

Posted on March 20, 2010 by Meg

My high-school students had the word fiasco on their vocab list today.  I asked if anyone already knew the meaning, and they defined it as epic fail. Tweet this!

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This Is Just How Caesar’s Legions Got Started

Posted on January 28, 2010 by Meg

My morning before class started with sleeping through the alarm, and as always, rushing set off a series of other minor catastrophes. When I saw the No Left Turn – Train sign by Chapel Hill Road, I realized I’d have to teleport … Continue reading →

Posted in Raleigh, teaching, teaching teenagers | Tagged , , , , , | 3 Comments

Kids Today!

Posted on March 9, 2009 by Meg

On Saturday, I gave my students at Chinese school a writing assignment. They were asked to imagine that ten years have passed and they’ve become hugely successful in their chosen field. They’re so successful, in fact, that they’ve been invited … Continue reading →

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Be Prepared

Posted on November 10, 2008 by Meg

I don’t mean to sound like a bitter old schoolmarm, but when did it become the teacher’s job to stop lessons to provide supplies?  I remember forgetting my pen or pencil and asking to borrow one in whispers, hoping my … Continue reading →

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American Mei You

Posted on September 13, 2008 by Meg

I planned to write a post about starting a job today, teaching SAT prep. Towards the end of the job interview, when we were talking about where to park and what time to arrive, the main teacher (I’m the assistant) … Continue reading →

Posted in Beijing, North Carolina, Raleigh, teaching, teaching teenagers | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 5 Comments

Reasons To Work In China

Posted on April 2, 2008 by Meg

In the belief that such things are very Western, my school encourages me to wear jeans, sneakers and t-shirts to work. Subscribe to Violet Eclipse by Email Tweet this!

Posted in ESL, teaching, teaching teenagers | Tagged , , , , , | 8 Comments

Smarter Than A Fifth-Grader

Posted on March 4, 2008 by Meg

I was on World Have Your Say again last night (if you’re my mom, you can download the show). The discussion was about Susan Jacoby’s new book The Age of American Unreason, which claims that Americans are getting dumber and … Continue reading →

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75 Is The New 50

Posted on January 20, 2008 by Meg

Fantastic post from Mister Teacher on school regulations, third-graders and grade inflation called “Is a 50 good?” Dead on, and funny at the same time. I want to quote it here, but I can’t bring myself to chop up such … Continue reading →

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