Articles written by Holle Abee in Education

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What is Helium

About me - Holle Abee

I am a retired teacher of British Literature, World Literature, and Creative Writing. I also taught grammar and writing skills and adult education at a local technical college and tutored for the English Department at Abraham Baldwin College. I served as

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Education > Teachers & Administrators Teacher tips: How to deal with meddlesome parents: 1 of 20
Throughout my years of teaching at our local high school, I have encountered a few meddlesome parents. Actually, I prefer the meddlesome parents to the parents who never seem to care at all about their children's education - you know, the ones you REALLY want to talk to but will never come to the school or return your calls ... More..
Education > Teachers & Administrators Senioritis: Tips for motivating bored students in their last year of high school: 2 of 25
I've been teaching senior English classes for seventeen years, in the form of British Literature. My students are usually wonderful for the first semester. They know they have to pass my class in order to graduate, so most are focused and diligent. Somehow, however, over Christmas break, these young people go through some st... More..
Education > Education (Other) Should public school children wear uniforms?: 10 of 100
I'm a laid-back type who believes in self expression and individual freedoms, so for years I was totally against kids' being forced to wear mandated uniforms to school. After years of teaching at a local high school, however, I changed my mind! In schools, clothing can be the great equalizer. It often separates the "haves" f... More..
Education > Teachers & Administrators How to motivate and keep teachers happy: 2 of 18
I'm a veteran teacher and have been through a lot of administrators. the most effective ones knew how to keep the majority of their teachers happy, leading to a more conducive learning climate for everyone involved. Some of our least effective administrators were the micro-managers who felt like they had to tell us teachers ... More..
Education > Education (Other) How to organize a successful school fundraiser: 1 of 9
As a retired teacher, I've been involved with many school fundraisers. From my experience, I've learned that success often depends not only on the product being offered, but also on the timing of the event. Getting the students actively involved, along with the support of the administration, are also crucial. Our 5 best scho... More..
Education > Education (Other) Should children have cell phones at school?: 14 of 95
I'm a teacher at a large high school, and the cell phone debate has been raging for years. Most parants and teens believe the cell phones should be allowed, while administrators disagree. Our school had strict rules against the possession of cell phones on campus. Most of the teachers did not agree with the rule, however, an... More..
Education > Secondary School (Other) Should school districts provide cash rewards for high grades and test scores?: 3 of 18
I'm a classroom teacher at a large high school. Like any teacher, I've had my share of unmotivated students and have tried all kinds of incentives to reward achievements. I've found the best thing to motivate some students is cold, hard cash. This doesn't work for every single student, but I was amazed at the results. I star... More..
Education > High School Humanities Teaching Shakespeare to students: Nontraditional approaches: 1 of 6
I taught senior English at my local high school for years. The course was British literature, and Macbeth was part of the curriculum. Sometimes it's difficult to get teenagers excited about Shakespeare, but I came up with some innovative methods to help my students enjoy the words of the bard. I had my students teach Macbeth... More..
Education > Teachers & Administrators Why a sense of humor is key to surviving as a teacher: 4 of 18
With all the pressures today's teachers are under, from raising test scores to decreasing the dropout rate, is there really time for humor in the classroom? Absolutely! I don't think I would have survived teaching British Literature for the past seventeen years without a good sense of humor, and it makes class a lot more enj... More..
Education > High School Humanities The making of an English teacher: 4 of 16
I always wanted to be a teacher. When I was a child, I used to bribe my friends to play school, and of course, I was always the teacher. Both of my parents loved books, so I grew up loving them, too. I remember sitting in my dad's lap as he read poetry to me. Add these components together, and throw in a genunine thirst for ... More..