The traditional model of classroom learning usually revolves around whole-class pacing. Asynchronous learning means students learn at their own individual pace – often in a learning for mastery model. In traditional classrooms, assignments are all due on the same day for all students, units are planned to last a set amount of days or weeks, […]
Posted inFeatured, Opinion
Flexibility- How Much is Too Much?
One of the most important lessons, one learns as a teacher is the importance of flexibility. Many things occur in a school setting that are beyond our control. Picture days, fire alarms, safety drills, and computer issues are a few of the events that happen in our schools so as a teacher, and one has […]
Posted inFeatured, From the Front Lines
When Teachers Get Sick
I am not a very good sick person. I don’t like stuffing my pockets full of Kleenex, dosing up on Sudafed, and trying to make it through my day. But I don’t like the alternative, either. Hunkering down in the house with a stack of unread newspapers, that novel I’ve been meaning to finish since […]
Posted inCurrent Events in Education, Opinion, Teacher Burnout, Uncategorized
Teacher Burnout: A Series of Fresh Starts
I hate finals. There. I said it. I really and truly hate finals. I’m pretty sure it’s my least favorite time as a teacher. Two weeks before the end of each semester, all real teaching stops, and students move into review, prep and panic mode. They stress over facts not mentioned since September and scramble […]
Posted inFeatured, Instruction & Curriculum, Instructional Strategies, Mathematics
Decomposing Fractions: An Alternative for Converting Improper Fractions to Mixed Numbers
I, like many elementary teachers across the nation, have found myself teaching math concepts to 4th and 5th-grade students that were once taught to middle school students. Truth be told, when I first began teaching these skills I must admit I was very skeptical about teaching multiplying fractions and whole numbers to 4th and 5th […]
Posted inCurrent Events in Education, Featured, Instructional Strategies, Literacy
30 Picture Books for Black History Month
First, let’s get something obvious out of the way. Black history is American history. It shouldn’t be relegated to one month out of the year. It should be taught every day. That said, that’s just not happening in K-12 classrooms today. So until that happens, I feel Black History Month is not only worth celebrating, […]
Posted inFeatured, Instruction & Curriculum, Literacy
Using Reader’s Notebooks in Middle School
I’ve been approached by many teachers who ask me, if you don’t use reading logs to monitor how much your students are reading, what do you use? [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”][bctt tweet=”I’ve been approached by […]
Posted inClassroom Management, Current Events in Education, Elementary School
But What if They Reflect?
I have never been a traditional teacher. This year I removed most of the desks from my classroom and have added a standing table, coffee tables and areas for students to work away from a desk. This has been an amazing transformation with many benefits. Last week the custodian was in my room and she […]