Articles written by Albert Aunchman

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About me - Albert Aunchman

I retired from teaching elementary school in 1995. I worked for five years in private industry, then took a job teaching at a residential treatment center for troubled, young boys.I decided to retire again at age 62. I have a BA in liberal arts, an M.Ed in

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Education > Homework & Testing Does homework actually improve academic achievement?: 2 of 38

Can homework help improve academic achievement? It's a question that can be answered in the affirmative, or could elicit a resounding no. To intelligently answer the question, you would have to know what the homework consists of. Homework that is assigned as busy work and gets glossed over the next day in class is of little ...
Creative Writing > Poetry Poetry: Betrayal: 25 of 382

It all shows in the mirror The drooping lids, the spider lines, it couldn't be any clearer. The tired eyes have lost their twinkle. Oh my! Oh my! I want to cry, is that another wrinkle? A back that throbs in constant pain, knees that buckle under the strain. The telltale tremble, the painful hand. I try and try to understand...
Entertainment > Music Genres, Trends & Scenes The different types of jazz music: 1 of 8

Jazz is the most significant form of musical expression of American black culture, and quite possibly America's greatest contribution to the art of music. Jazz has universal elements; it's the music of sorrow,happiness,and passion. Its fast paced melodies and improvisation provide enough variation for followers to barely kee...
Education > Education (Other) Math in schools: 1 of 7

One of the biggest problems I encountered in teaching math to 5th and 6th grade students was that they did not know their basic number facts. They could not add two single digit numbers together without using some aid, be it counting on their fingers or making marks on a piece of paper. The other thing they lacked was knowle...
Education > Educational Philosophy How to be a good teacher: 11 of 52

Our mothers were our first teachers. Good mothers and good teachers share a lot of the same qualities. A good teacher loves what he is doing and tries to reach each and every student in his class. He establishes a rapport with his students. He lets the students know that they are special and that he can be counted on to alwa...
Arts & Humanities > Photography Tips for avoiding blurred photographs: 3 of 12

Professional photographers use a combination of things to get those sharp photos that we've seen in magazines or at photo exhibits. The fact that they are using some of the best and most expensive cameras certainly makes their job easier, but even the best equipment in the world can't always guarantee the ultimate level of s...
Creative Writing > Memoirs Memoirs: Winter: 6 of 18

Winter Candy I stretched and kicked off the blankets as I rubbed the sleepys out of the corner of my eyes. I shivered as my bare feet hit the icy cold linoleum floor. A mad dash to open the bedroom door and I was there. I smiled and shook my body as I dance around the blazing potbelly stove, that had been stoked by my father...
Hobbies & Games > Antiques & Collecting (Other) Appraising vintage guitars: 1 of 3

Your guitar is more than just a piece of wood, its and investment. Over the last 25 years, top-of the-line vintage guitars have outperformed the stock market, precious metals and other collectibles. A written appraisal of your instrument protects your investment by establishing the current value for insurance purposes and pe...
Education > Education (Other) Should public school teachers get merit pay?: 6 of 16

Merit Pay: Who Gets It? Merit pay for teachers is an idea that has been around for some time. Many states have adopted some form of merit pay to encourage teachers to raise the level of achievement of their students on standardized test scores. Some merit pay proposals rely on subjective evaluations of teachers by administra...
Education > Education (Other) Should tenure for teachers be abolished?: 3 of 8

Tenure for teachers is an attempt to remove politics and injustice from capricious school boards in the discipline or dismissal of teachers. It wasn't so long ago that a teaching job depended on what political party you were affiliated with, or who you were related to. Teachers could be summarily dismissed in order to create...