Aly Gulamhusein

Category: Teaching Stories

  • December 7, 2025

    I got the chance to tuck away a little today and work on a small project. On Friday, I had an idea at school: 3D print templates for students to use to make cardboard bridges. While at work on Friday, to help distract me, I worked on a sample build. Over this weekend, I designed and 3D printed some stencils to use. Today, I built a sample.

    This is the arch template.
    The cardboard bridge after it’s been put together.

    I think it worked out pretty well, but I’ve already got some ideas for improvements, which I’ll wait on. Now, I’m going to try using them with my students. Having these side-foci helps me get through the days.

  • December 2, 2025

    I thought I’d feel differently about school and teaching now that I have a child of my own. Maybe that’s a sentiment that grows, instead of one that spontaneously springs forth when a child of your own is born. The building still felt sterile, most of my colleagues remained at a distance, and the students continued on, as they always have, appearing to be increasingly apathetic about learning.

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  • November 18, 2025

    Back when I was making a podcast, I made an episode about making teaching work for you. I imagine I said something about…you know, I don’t have a clue what I would’ve said on the topic. Today, however, I’ve been reminded about the notion because I’d like to test out a few ideas in my classroom.

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  • September 9, 2025

    ChatGPT is now my writing coach. I threw a couple of blog posts at it to see what it would send back. The feedback, not unsurprisingly, is helpful, well-articulated, and actionable. It’s great descriptive feedback, something I find difficult to offer my students.

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  • September 4, 2025

    Turning my mind away from thinking about school is difficult. The place – the energy of the place – is pervasive. It’s not particular to the school I’m currently at. Indeed, it seems to be at every school I’ve been to. There seems to be no effective way to just leave it behind.

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  • September 3, 2025

    I’m feeling pretty lazy tonight so writing this post feels like a bit of a chore. I don’t want to make a habit out of writing these stupid posts just to keep my daily-posting streak going, but there are going to be a good few more of these.

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  • September 2, 2025

    I stood there dumbfounded, unable to think on my feet and with nowhere to sit. My eyes wandered, looking for a solution. Finally, I heard her voice, calling the students back to the carpet, same as I had been doing, and proposing to sing a song, which I avoided doing. That early childhood educator helped me through that first period back.

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  • October 3, 2023

    I gave my students “toilet tokens” today. Last night, I printed off some miniature toilets on my 3D printer and each of my students in one of my classes one. I’ve had enough of them leaving class every single day.

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  • September 22, 2023

    One of my students asked me how I’m doing this afternoon. I told him, and the rest of the class, that I’ve been in a terrible mood for the last couple of weeks and can’t figure out why. We joked about how it was probably because of school and them, the class. Truthfully, I don’t know why I’ve been so sour lately.

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  • September 13, 2023

    I think today was the sixth day of school. Already, I’m muttering under my breath, swearing out loud when I think no one is around, and annoyed with students’ behaviour. I will say that I do really enjoy wearing the tongueless shoes I got in the summer. They’re rather comfortable.

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  • September 12, 2023

    Just outside the school, there are two bus stops. It’s really annoying to have to stop at the south end of the school yard and then again at the north end when following a city bus that’s dropping off students. The staff parking lot is a right turn after the bus stop to the north. How come students can’t walk those 150 metres? I’m probably getting late for work…to teach them.

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  • September 7, 2023

    I’ve been grumpy about work. This isn’t my usual curmudgeon self coming through, this is a real response to returning to work after the summer. This morning, I was thinking about why.

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