An interesting graphic came across my screen this week. The purpose was to call attention to the hours spent testing elementary students by comparing them to the tests for college or graduate school: Standardized testing is not new to schools in the State of Connecticut. Many schools will be using the Smarter Balance Assessment (SBAC) […]
From the Front Lines
Posted inCommon Core, Current Events in Education, From the Front Lines, Instruction & Curriculum, Literacy
Step Up and Teach – Part 1: ELA Reading Standards
The year is 1996. I take a huge shaky breath and walk into the classroom. Smiling a welcome, the experienced teacher directs me to a small table. Ten small pairs of eyes gather around me, anxious and just as unsure as I am. I open up the teacher manual and read from the script. We […]
Posted inFeatured, From the Front Lines, The New Teacher Chronicles
The New Teacher's Survival Guide: Managing the Workload
Welcome to The New Teacher’s Survival Guide!  This is part two of a five-part series. Read the first installment on creating a support network here. It was 6:30 p.m. on a Wednesday – and I was still at school. I was getting better at leaving at a reasonable time—I really was!—but this lesson was […]
Posted inInstruction & Curriculum
Child Development: Seven- and Eight-Year-Olds
This article is part of a continuing series on Child Development.  To see Paula’s other articles, click here. You gotta love the life of seven- and eight-year-olds. Let’s take a look into the child developmental areas of these kiddos. Cognitive development: For the most part, in this child development stage, these kids are fairly well-established […]
Posted inClassroom Management, Featured, From the Front Lines
A Fresh Recipe for Managing Difficult Students
I call them my Whack-A-Mole class. In a group of 26 children, I had eight with an ADHD diagnoses. One of them was on medication for it. I had two more who were undiagnosed with wiggles extraordinaire. Some of these ten children were part of the three students with IEPs or one of the twelve […]
Posted inFeatured
10 Ways To Deal With The Negative Teacher
You know. I know. He knows. She knows. The kids know. Â We all know who the negative teachers are. Every school has at least one of them, and they fit many different molds. Here’s how to “deal” with the Negative Neds and Sour Sallys in your midst First, ask yourself if Mr. / Ms. Negative […]
Posted inClassroom Management, Featured, From the Front Lines, New Teacher Bootcamp, Opinion, Parents
'Grown-Up' Problems in Our Kids' Worlds
[fusion_builder_container hundred_percent=”yes” overflow=”visible”][fusion_builder_row][fusion_builder_column type=”1_1″ background_position=”left top” background_color=”” border_size=”” border_color=”” border_style=”solid” spacing=”yes” background_image=”” background_repeat=”no-repeat” padding=”” margin_top=”0px” margin_bottom=”0px” class=”” id=”” animation_type=”” animation_speed=”0.3″ animation_direction=”left” hide_on_mobile=”no” center_content=”no” min_height=”none”] I absolutely love this beautiful, fall weather! In Oklahoma, it seems like true fall usually lasts about a week, but we are being blessed this year with an actual season of […]
Posted inInstruction & Curriculum
Child Development: Five and Six-Year-Olds
Ahhhh…. The life of a kindergartener. These are, in my opinion, some of the most rewarding years to teach. These kids are full of wonderment about everything around them. Let’s look at the development of a typical five and six-year-old based on our five previously mentioned areas of child development: Cognitive Development for Child Development […]