Jeff Baxter was separated from his mother at birth for what was considered standard practice of the day when women with tuberculosis gave birth.  Raised by his grandmother, a retired English teacher, she would never give him a direct answer to any of the questions a curious child would ask.  Instead, she would recite a poem or short story and talk about it with him.

Jeffrey Baxter would become Kansas Teacher of the Year at age 64, only after postponing his retirement due to a personal struggle that was taking over his life…

 

Email: Jbaxter@bluevalley.k12.org  

 

Poem: Rabbi Ben Ezra (Grow Old With Me) by Robert Browning

Jeff Baxter and Homer Hickam

 

 

Video:  Soda Bottle Rockets

 

Internet Resource Website:  Web English Teacher

 

Recommended Book:   How Children Succeed by Paul Tough

 

Educational Quote:  “One can do anything, anything at all,  if provided with a passionate and gifted teacher.” – Pat Conroy, (Beach Music Novel)

 

FINAL PERIOD BEFORE THE FINAL BELL:

Morning Person or Night Owl:

• Morning

 

Mac or PC:

• PC

 

Favorite Childhood Book:

• The Little Engine that Could by Watty Piper

 

First Paying Job:

• Packing Hides at a Beef Packing Plant

 

Favorite Television Show:

• Big Bang Theory

 

Latest Musical Download:

• Fire & Rain by James Taylor

 

Who would you invite for dinner:

• Author Herman Melville (Moby Dick)

 

What would you do during an unexpected snow day? 

• Personal Reading and Working on my book

Next Item on Bucket List:

• Return back to Machu Picchu with my wife

 

The New Teacher Podcast is excited to introduce You Can Do The Rubik’s Cube as our very first sponsor

Since its launch in 1980, the Rubik’s® Cube has twisted and turned its way into over 400 million hands worldwide and has continued to fascinate, bewilder and challenge millions of people.

 

You Can Do The Rubik’s Cube  is a U.S. educational outreach program in 10,000+ schools teaching youth how to solve the Rubik’s Cube so they can experience the many benefits of this accomplishment.  Math, STEM and Art lessons have been designed using the Rubik’s Cube to help teachers engage students with an interactive and tangible way to learn critical math concepts as well as 21st Century Skills.

For a limited time, listeners can take advantage of the FREE 6 week lending library program where teachers can borrow sets of 12, 24, or 36 cubes for your classroom or after school club.  Loaner sets include an Instructional DVD, curriculum guide, over 20 related activities, sign out sheets, posters, and a certificate template.  Simply click here and use the checkout code PODCAST to receive a pre-paid return postage label.

Please be sure to subscribe and leave a review of The New Teacher Podcast on iTunes right here to win a Rubik’s Cube Prize Pack.  Or, you could leave an audio message directly from your computer using the Speakpipe tab on the right side of your screen.  If the tab is available on your computer, it should read Send Voicemail.