Our principal read to the staff an impressive, anonymous letter from a student that had been in one of our teacher’s psychology classes. It spouted the general liking for what the student could finally understand, not as class rules, but as what they called “Boundary Markers”. To create a classroom of trust with clear boundaries […]
Mindy Thierolf
I teach English in Kansas.
Posted inEnglish Language Learners, ESOL, Languages, Literacy, The International Teacher, Uncategorized
International Mother Language Day-February 21st
By the time you read this article, International Mother Language Day may have or may not have already come and gone, but in case you didn’t even realize it was a day to celebrate, let me enlighten you! Mother languages in a multilingual approach are essential components of quality education, which is itself the foundation for empowering women […]
Posted inUncategorized
"Dear Future Me…"A Great Reflection Assignment for Students
If you are one to focus on the future or the past very much, you may want to know that there’s a website out there called, “Futureme.org.” With this website, you are able to write an e-mail to yourself and send it at a future date in which you wish to receive it. I wrote an e-mail […]
Posted inFeatured, Instructional Strategies
Thank You In Advance: The Power of Expectation
One of our counselors recently came in to speak to each of my block classes about an upcoming mentoring program in which they were about to be involved. As she spoke, she kept saying things like, “I know this may be new, but I thank you in advance for cooperating and giving it a chance. Thank you […]
Posted inClassroom Management, Featured, Special Education
Under the Guise of Inclusion
I remember the days in the 1960’s and 70’s when Special Education was not even a word, and anyone that had disabilities was rarely seen or heard. I’m so thankful today that we have so many programs that help students with disabilities, but as state budgets get tighter, the push for more special support staff reduction […]
Posted inClassroom Management, Featured
Therapy Dogs and Schools
Remember the days of the old Charlie Brown comic strips, when Charlie Brown’s dog, Snoopy, was not allowed in public places? “NO DOGS ALLOWED!” were the signs Snoopy would read. Even though the comic strip was fictional, the sentiment was true. Dogs simply were not allowed in public places except in very rare instances. Since […]
Posted inClassroom Management, Featured, Opinion
SUPERPOWER Schools
It happened. One day on a teacher in-service-workday, I was having a total meltdown, so on my lunch hour I went to see a 4th grade teacher-friend of mine in another school. As I walked through her building, I quickly noticed everyone was at lunch, and she was to nowhere to be found, so I decided to […]
Posted inCurrent Events in Education, Featured, From the Front Lines, Opinion
When Life Happens While You Teach
We’ve all been there as educators; trying to teach, coach, supervise, or sponsor school events while life inside and outside of the school comes at you full force. Recently my daughter got married. She decided to get married in September, of all times. She is also a teacher, so I really had a hard time […]