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 […]
Posted inClassroom Management, Featured
Taming Those Treasure Collections
I love teaching first and second grade. I love everything about it. I love the giggles, and the wide-eyed wonderment, and the sweet voices, and the constant questions. And one of my favorite things is when kids come in from recess, and they’ve found special treasures out on the playground. Treasures like rocks, and feathers, […]
Posted inElementary School, Featured
Red, White and Back-to-School
[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”] Every year right after the Fourth of July something magical happens. Shelves, which were previously filled with bright summer cookout and beach essentials, now become filled with #2 pencils, binders, and […]
Posted inElementary School, Featured
Making a Good First Impression on the First Day of School
The excitement, and exhaustion, of the first day of school cannot be matched by anything else. It’s the first opportunity to meet your students and set the tone for your year. When my students walk through my door I want them to know they are loved. This is a space for learning which is messy […]
Posted inFeatured, From the Front Lines, High School, Instruction & Curriculum, Literacy, Uncategorized
The Quietly Rebellious Teacher
I’m a teacher. I believe in rules, structure, and consistency. To a point. I am not the end-all, be-all authority on education. I feel confident in my classroom and I know my students just like you know yours. But I am tired of people in positions other than in a classroom making decisions for my […]
Posted inClassroom Management, Featured, High School, Literacy
Creating Safe Spaces Within Our Classrooms
This year I will begin my “lucky” thirteenth year in the classroom in my current district, and my second year teaching junior high. One of my strengths as a teacher is my classroom management. It’s been something that has come naturally to me ever since my days of student teaching and I credit it all to […]
Posted inFeatured, High School, Instruction & Curriculum, Instructional Strategies, Mathematics, Middle School
Helping With Middle School Math Homework
This article is for both parents and teachers who deal with middle school students. In recent years there has been a great amount of change in how math is taught in school. My 30 years of teaching middle school math has shown me that these years are very important for students to have and feel successful in […]
Posted inFeatured, Middle School
Teachers: Lift Yourself Up Instead Of Beating Yourself Down
I’m moving into my 20th year of teaching. Two decades. I feel effective. I feel like I can pinpoint character traits, learning styles, academic issues and self-esteem challenges within minutes of meeting a child. I feel like my students love school, demonstrate learning and retain material within a high margin, and if you go off […]