When I told my students that we would have a word wall in our class, they looked puzzled. “A word wall?” “I never heard of having a word wall in math class before.” “Huh?” I pointed their attention to the words we had already gone over and said that the wall would grow throughout the […]
Teresa
Teresa Cooper is a 30-something divorced mom and teacher from North Carolina. She has a Masters of Science in Education for Curriculum, Instruction, and Assessment from Walden University and a BA in Psychology with a minor in Creative from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. Having struggled with anxiety and depression most of her life and later having birthed a child with autism, she is passionate about spreading awareness and acceptance of mental illness and autism. After 13 years in education, she has a wealth of knowledge to share on education and bonding with children.
Classroom Thief: How to Find Peace When Things Go Missing
So you have a “classroom thief.” Things come up missing–both classroom items and those belonging to other students. You believe you’ve found the culprit, but he or she will not admit to stealing anything. Before you pull your hair out, try out these strategies for finding peace when things go missing in your classroom. Create […]
As Education Resources Dwindle, So Do Quality Teachers
More and more quality teachers and administrators are resigning from positions they’ve held for years in the state of North Carolina. I suspect the same holds true for schools in many locations around the United States as education funding fails to meet the needs of children and those who teach them. Continuing to work for […]
Teaching: Why It's Not Just a J-O-B to Me
I often bring my work home with me–if not physically, then mentally. I’m a reflective person by nature, and I carry around the weight of my decisions, good or bad, everywhere I go. When I cannot right what’s wrong, fix every problem, or make the unjust just again, my passion for what I do makes […]
Why I Fled Special Ed (and How to Fix It)
At the end of last year, I had had enough of my job. After eight years as an expert Special Education teacher, I felt that I could no longer do my job and stay sane. I wanted out! I knew from previous experiences that, despite my certifications and work history, I would not easily get […]
Stolen Pens and Broken Tape: How to Create Boundaries in Classrooms
One day, I walked into my classroom to discover I had less pencils than the day before. I hadn’t given any out, so this made no sense. Then I found a broken white-out tape dispenser hidden among my things. I sighed and put things in my desk that I didn’t want taken. A few days […]
7 Awesome Math Bulletin Board Ideas
Before the school year starts, you want your classroom decorated and neatly put together in preparation for orientations, open houses, and parent meet-and-greets. You may have your go-to ideas that you use from year-to-year or you may want some different ideas. If you’re a first-year teacher or just started teaching a new subject, coming with […]
Make Leading Productive Math Discussions a Cinch!
Can you remember a time when you asked a question during math class, intending to start a productive math discussion on a topic you went over as a class, and noticed that you only saw the hands of your frequent contributors? What do you do when only 15% of your class actually contributes to the […]