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?: 1 of 48
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 us... More..
Creative Writing > Poetry Poetry: Betrayal: 25 of 431
It all shows in the mirrorThe 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.Betraye... More..
Arts & Humanities > Photography Tips for avoiding blurred photographs: 1 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 sh... More..
Entertainment > Music Genres, Trends & Scenes The different types of jazz music: 1 of 9
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 keep... More..
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 knowled... More..
Creative Writing > Memoirs Memoirs: Dancing: 1 of 6
The First, Last Dance. My palms were sweaty, weight shifting from one leg to the other. My mouth was so dry I could barely swallow. I was thinking someone would have to pry the half dollar from my hand if I gripped it any tighter. One more person ahead of me. Finally, I'm in.It was darker than I had imagined. Great! Maybe no ... More..
Home & Garden > Annuals Growing marigold: 1 of 5
Marigolds (Tagetes) have been grown in gardens all over the world for hundreds of years. They are native to Mexico. I became acquainted with this wonderful little flower as a result of having a not so "green" thumb. My many failed attempts at growing flowers were legend in my neighborhood. One of my neighbors finally took pit... More..
Education > Educational Philosophy Should schools be allowed to teach creationism alongside evolution as part of their science curriculum?: 16 of 78
Which Creation Story?Long ago when heaven and earth were one, the entire universe was contained in an egg-shaped cloud. A huge giant, Pan Gu, grew in the chaos. He slept in the egg for 18,000 years. One day he stretched and broke the shell releasing matter into the universe. (Chinese creation story)In the Hopi version, the Su... More..
Education > Educational Philosophy How to be a good teacher: 11 of 51
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 alway... More..
Pets & Animals > Dogs (Other) Should restaurants allow dogs in with their owners?: 7 of 25
Absolutely! Dogs should be allowed in restaurants. It's children under the age of ten that should be banned. Allow me to explain.Who is more likely to run around your table, grabbing utensils and acting as if the sun rises and sets on them, as mommy and daddy non-challantly sip wine and pick at their appetizer, all while disc... More..