Yesterday, I shared my picks for The Best “The Best…” lists of the year. Now, it’s time for me to share my choices for my best posts that weren’t “The Best…” lists during the past twelve months.

Remember that I write a “Top Ten” list each month sharing the non-“The Best….” posts that I think would be most useful to teachers. You can find all of them under Websites Of The Month. Of course, you can find all my “The Best…” lists under…“The Best Lists.”

Here are picks for My Best Posts In 2009 (That Weren’t “The Best…” Lists). They are not in any order of preference:

A Few Simple Ways To Introduce Reluctant Colleagues To Technology


When You Have A Sub…

Improvisation In The ESL/EFL Classroom — At Least In Mine

Student Goal-Setting Lesson I’m Trying Out On Monday and Report On How Goal-Setting Lesson Went.

Answers To “What Do You Do On The First Day Of School?”

What Do You Do When You Have A Few Minutes Left In Class? — Part Two

What Do You Do On The Last Day Of Class? (Part Two)

What Do You Do To Keep Students (& You!) Focused Near The End Of The School Year?

Student Goal-Setting Lesson I’m Trying Out On Monday

What Do Pit Bulls & Cockroaches Have To Do With Learning & Teaching?

Results From Student Evaluation Of My Class And Me

Results From Student Evaluation Of My Class And Me (Part Two)

Have You Ever Taught A Class That Got “Out Of Control”?

“I’ll Work If You Give Me Candy”

Writing Letters To Students

Do Teachers REALLY Come From The Bottom Third Of Colleges? Or Is That Statistic A Bunch Of Baloney?

Evaluating Teachers In Order To Fire Them?


Reading Logs — Part Two (or “How Students Can Grow Their Brains”
) shares some lessons I was planning to use with students to help them see that they could literally make their brains “stronger.” “Now I Know My Brain Is Growing When I Read Every Night” describes what happened when I tried them in the classroom. “This Is Your Brain On Learning” shares a follow-up lesson I did. “I Know My Brain Is Growing…” Slideshow Of Student Work displays work that came out of the lesson.

The Importance Of Saying “I’m Sorry” To Students

Helping Students Develop Self-Control

“I Like This Lesson Because It Make Me Have a Longer Temper” (Part One)

“I Was Disappointed With What Happened Yesterday…”

“I Made My Agreement With Mr. Ferlazzo And Kept It…” talks about about the importance of making individual “deals” with students.

Getting Our Students & Their Families Thinking About College

Helping Students Visualize Success

“I just thought it would end differently this time.”

Compasses Or Road Maps?