Posted inTeacher Preparation

Why Teacher Prep Programs MUST tap into the MAGIC that is Abbott Elementary

Abbott Elementary is the gift that keeps on giving to teacher prep programs because it highlights and emphasizes the intangibles that far transcend coursework around content, pedagogy, or lesson planning. Instead, the television series introduces the challenges, the cultivation, the productive struggle, and, most importantly, the JOY found on ‘Abbott Elementary campuses across the country. […]

Posted inAsk a Teacher

My relationship with AI…It’s complicated!

It has been over 2 years since ChatGPT launched, arguably bringing artificial intelligence (AI) into the mainstream.  AI has rapidly evolved into a large collection of tools that address almost every aspect of teaching and learning. They can grade papers or provide individualized feedback, correct grammar, generate ideas for lessons, write standards-based assessments at every […]

Posted inConfessions of a Teacher

Teaching and Basketball:  Five key takeaways from the Women’s SEC Basketball Tournament that teachers must understand to cultivate successful students

If you watched the Women’s SEC Basketball Tournament this past weekend, you saw some of the league’s best female players engage in amazingly electrifying basketball in pursuit of the coveted SEC Championship title. Each team, regardless of seeding, showed up prepared to achieve one of the goals that have been on their vision boards since […]

Posted inInstruction & Curriculum

Home Visits: Building a classroom family in Room 18

Last summer, I attended an educators’ conference focused on building a positive climate and culture in schools. The conference offered a variety of break-out sessions addressing topics such as engagement, retention, cultural competency, and relationship-building. What are home visits? I quickly noticed “home visits” as a commonly discussed practice at the conference: educators visiting the […]