Congratulations on graduating and being hired! It’s exciting and thrilling to make it through college, find a job, and be looking forward to your very first year as a teacher. When I look back on my first year, I usually think of several things I wish someone else had told me. I’m now blessed with […]
New Teacher Bootcamp
Posted inNew Teacher Bootcamp
Teacher Prep Programs Can Not Be a Dry Land Practice
“Stand up. Now, put out your right arm,” the instructor was encouraging. “OK, pull your arm back past your body.” We all did as we were told. This was the first night of EDR 505, a graduate level course in teaching remedial reading to pre-school and elementary aged schoolchildren. “Now try with the other arm.”We waved […]
Posted inAsk a Teacher, Classroom Management, Current Events in Education, From the Front Lines, How to Fix Education, New Teacher Bootcamp, The New Teacher Chronicles
Reminders for the New Year for Teachers
The excitement of break and holiday fun is over. Snow has come and gone and may come again. But everywhere across the United States, classes are starting back for teachers and students. In elementary classrooms it is generally back to business as usual.  We don’t have class changes or a new group of students.  Here […]
Posted inFrom the Front Lines, New Teacher Bootcamp, Opinion, Parents
Give Them A Hero- Advocating for Students
My family and I spent New Year’s Eve together, which may not sound like much, except that my three kids are 19, 17 and 14. I know they could have gone with friends, but they chose to stay home and ring in 2014 with mom, dad and grandma. I was so excited that they made […]
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, 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 […]
Posted inInstruction & Curriculum
Child Development: Ages Three and Four
Now that we know how important it is to understand the stages of child development, let’s take a look at typical three-year-old and four-year-old child development. The three-year-old is full of wonder and spends a lot of time watching, observing, and imitating. Their days are filled with busily exploring their world. Three-year-olds are interested in […]