It’s my favorite lesson to plug into the start of the school year. Before I start I want to say that, in the tradition of great teachers and great teaching, I totally stole this and then adapted it to suit my needs. This writing will deal with the idea itself, how and why I have […]
Posted inSpecial Education
Just Keep Swimming: What Dory Teaches Us About Disabilities
My kids and I loved Finding Nemo, so when I found out that there was going to be a Sensory Friendly viewing of Finding Dory, my husband and I jumped at the opportunity to go see it with our two boys, one of whom has autism. The movie was definitely meant for kids, but what […]
Posted inInstruction & Curriculum
Those Dreaded Words-“I’m Already Done!”
No matter how precisely I plan I always end up with a couple of students who finish some activities early. I used to say what most teachers say, for them to read silently, but I’ve never liked for students to read silently for very long since I don’t really know if they are truly reading […]
Posted inConfessions of a Teacher
More Tales from the Dark Side… Best Parent Conference Ever
You are sitting at your desk after a long Thursday, drinking your cold coffee. No, it’s not iced coffee; it’s just left over from this morning. You open your email and your stomach turns over. The subject line of the email says Parent Conference Scheduled, and it’s from your principal.” The email tells you that you […]
Posted inInstruction & Curriculum
Education Consultation: Passing on Your Expertise
I get emails all the time asking questions about how I started my own school, emails that I gladly answer, but usually end up going no further than an initial contact, for whatever reason. This weekend, however, I had the pleasure of doing my first full on-site consultation, face to face, across state lines, which […]
Posted inParents
Fostering an Independent Three-Year-Old
Children are capable of so much more than society gives them credit for. Helicopter parenting is becoming increasingly common and children are being required to do less and less for themselves. Sure, it’s easier to do for your child rather than wait or risk a tantrum. How much are they learning from it though? Today’s society […]
Posted inInstruction & Curriculum
4 Questions to Celebrate Your School Year
As I write this I’m seven school days away from summer vacation. At this time, I’m filled with the usual mixture of emotions. I’m excited to recharge and relax. I’m sad to be saying goodbye to my students, while wondering if I could have done more. I’m anxious for the next year, wondering how I […]
Posted inCurrent Events in Education
“I Wrote You a Sonnet, Instead” at the Intersection of Hip-Hop and Tragedy
Lin-Manuel Miranda’s gift to high school social studies teachers is Hamilton, his Pulitzer and Tony award winning play. Using musical theatre, he rescued history from the mind-numbing facts listed in textbooks and gave students an alternative narrative, a hip-hop lens to view the tumult of America’s creation. His gift to English teachers came on Sunday, June 12, during the Tony […]