Tips for March #13

If there is more than one 13th ranked team in the field that has a cool nickname like the Vikings and comes from an obscure conference...you have to pick at least one of them to pull the upset. I'm glad I picked the right one. Lucky 13!

Tips for March #6 through 11

Even if you teach children all about numbers, some of them grow up not knowing how to tell the difference between a 6 and an 11. This may not seem like such a difficult concept, but when you see names like UCLA attached to the number 6, it then becomes difficult to see clearly. Especially when the number 11 is so close to A-10 or you like the sound of Utah State Aggies (it goes without saying...but I missed every 6/11 pick in the first round...please refer to Tip #12: do not pick teams based on emotion).

If anyone has free time available...I may need some tutoring on the difference between 8 and 9

Tips for March #21

Hearing Bill Raftery say, "send it in big fella" can be both envigorating and detrimental to your bracket. But he does add in a few nicknames that make things exciting or innocuous.

Tips for March #16

Always cheer for the 16 vs. 1 upset....even if it ruins your bracket!

Tips for March #288

If need be, push students out of the way to get home for the official start of Spring Break (even if you really started your Spring Break last night and faked it through classes today!) Make phone calls home for students who get in your way, so that mom hides their XBox for the whole week off.

Tips for March #172

Always rely on someone with a cool name. Thank you Orlando Mendez-Valdez & A.J. Slaughter!

Its funny, because its not

When you have one of the top 5 worst days of teaching ever (yes...there was blood drawn), you just have to find something funny. Unfortunately, for me, I couldn't find anything at school that was funny. So, I looked to my nonsensical inspiration...Snuggies...I mean, Tracy Morgan. Feel free to laugh yourself, and if you don't watch 30 Rock yet...this is your warning.

My students would be so proud

Confused, more likely, if they knew their teachers did anything social on the weekends. Let alone go to a ruckus concert like Ozomatli, starring the greatest MC since The Hammer (don't hurt me!) I may have developed an obsession with Chali 2na (his name not mine)...I mean come on...he's The Fish! The concert was like a ghetto quinceañera, without the 15-year-olds.

Regardless of my students' opinions on social interaction for their teachers, it is a blessing that I didn't see anyone do the Stanky Leg that night...and you should rethink your life path if you now what that means.