As a middle school teacher, the battle to gain and then hold the attention of students in the classroom is hard won. According to Christensen, Fulmer, Kackar-Cam, Trucano, and Turner (2014), middle school is when lack of engagement increases for many students. As a consequence for this disengagement, students will begin to exhibit disruptive behaviors, […]
Posted inClassroom Management, Featured, Instructional Strategies
The Difference between Character Education and Indoctrination
Since the beginning of the educational system begun by Plato’s Academy, the importance of instilling virtue was an understood and mandatory task of the teacher. In the past century, however, with the rise of technology and the ever increasing amount of knowledge at the resource of education the role of Character Education has lost its important […]
Posted inCommon Core, Current Events in Education, Instruction & Curriculum, Middle School, Uncategorized
Why Data is Important
There were eight of us gathered together early Wednesday morning: 8th grade teachers of History, English, PE, Math, Science, Spanish, a para educator and a counselor. Our task? Analyzing data from last year’s SBAC scores. To three in the group, this was an impossible task. Immediately the environment became toxic. “Maybe you like data, Jennifer, […]
Posted inClassroom Management, Elementary School, Featured
Creating Appropriate Early Childhood Classrooms For Little To No Cost
Kids spend approximately three quarters of their day in a classroom, so of course this space needs to be comfortable, warm and inviting. It also needs to be set up according to child development needs. These needs play a huge roll in deciding where everything is going to be placed and what the classroom will […]
Posted inClassroom Management, Featured, Instruction & Curriculum, Instructional Strategies
Carpet Time For Young Learners
In my multi-level, elementary classroom carpet time is one of the most important times of our day. Carpet time allows me to see my kids demonstrate whatever concepts we are working on and allows positive learning interaction between my students. I design my carpet time around language arts and math. My language arts concentration is […]
Posted inCurrent Events in Education, Instructional Coach Files, Principals' Corner, Uncategorized
Instructional Coaching: Finding Your Purpose
You clear your throat. “Today we’re going to learn how to monitor data in our classrooms..” You look around the room and 20 pairs of eyes are looking at you waiting for you to finish your sentence. “..and how to increase student achievement at our school.” As you turn around to grab your handouts you […]
Posted inFeatured, Opinion, Uncategorized
Lack of Substitutes Is Canary in the Mine
As our local association’s president, I traveled to all 10 schools in our district for a 10-minute meeting at each one. At these meetings, I asked the members there what single topic they wanted to discuss, and at 4 of the 10, the teachers wanted to address the dearth of substitute teachers available. “]Not only […]
Posted inCurrent Events in Education, From the Front Lines, Opinion
The Myth of Teacher Salaries
I work in a fairly affluent district. The majority of my students come from parents with college degrees and are homeowners in our community. The town has passed school bonds based on property taxes to fund the ‘extras’ in our districts, such as art programs, sports and an additional period for kids to take electives. […]