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  • AHA! Moments That Make Teaching Fulfilling

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    by

    Justin Lauderdale
    in

    There are little moments that you notice in teaching that can make the job either really fun or make you feel like you are actually making some sort of difference to a student. For example, there was a moment when my students realized that I was, in fact, bald. For a little bit of background,…

  • The First Year of Fatherhood

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    Justin Lauderdale
    in

    In a surprise to no one, fatherhood in the first year is tough. A lot of it is learning about you, your wife, and your new child (obviously). Even better, a lot of the things that you learn about your child will almost immediately change. My daughters first birthday is fast approaching, which is shocking…

  • The Chaotic World of Teaching Middle School

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    Justin Lauderdale
    in

    Around a year ago today, I completed my student teaching program and obtained my degree in English for Secondary Education. No, this is not a degree for teaching people how to speak English (that’s English as a second language), but rather a degree for teaching 6th-12th grade English. To complete this program, I had to…

  • Milo the Insane Tuxedo Cat

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    Justin Lauderdale
    in ,

    I have heard the phrase “your pet inherits your personality” a lot over the years, but I never really took it seriously. I had had a few pets, but I never noticed them change their identity to match my family. That was until My wife and I got Milo, Our lovely Tuxedo cat. For my…

  • We Have Lost the Plot on Car Infotainment Systems

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    Justin Lauderdale
    in

    I’m pretty sure everyone has a memory of driving down a calm road on a sunny day with their windows down and radio cranked up. Heck, Cruising with the windows down on a summer afternoon is almost therapeutic to me. A good radio in a running car can be a nice break from the daily…

  • Patience

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    Justin Lauderdale
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    Have you ever just sat at a counter and wondered to yourself what is going on inside this persons mind? I ask myself this a lot at my current retail job in a vape shop. The other day, I was working with a customer who was looking for a specific brand of disposable vapes. When…

  • The Wonders of Unsolicited Digital Parenting Advice

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    Justin Lauderdale
    in ,

    My wife and I had our lovely daughter august of 2024. This, as any father knows, has been a significant transition. Heck, my wife and I used to watch Kitchen Nightmares, Dan da Dan, and Top Gear. Now we have favorite shows like Bluey, Mickey Mouse Club House, and Ms. Rachel (Fantastic Children’s YouTube channel…