Since it’s the end of the school year, I am starting to look back over the year and evaluate what went well and what I would like to change or improve upon for next year. One of the first things I like to do each spring is to take inventory of my social media “follows.” […]
Posted inCurrent Events in Education, Elementary School, Featured, High School, Instructional Strategies
Innovating at the End of the School Year
With only weeks of school left, it’s easy for students and teachers to check out. The weather is nice. The state exams are behind us and with them a certain sense of urgency. This time of year can drive a teacher crazy. In many schools including my own in New York City, students have been cooped […]
Posted inParents
Homework for Summer: Talk!
[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”] I am often asked, “What can we do over the summer with our child?” We know if you quit practicing any skill you will have less success with it when starting […]
Posted inESOL, Featured, How to Fix Education, Instructional Strategies, New Teacher Bootcamp, The New Teacher Chronicles
Advice for New ESOL Teachers: Whose Holiday and Why?
The United States is growing ever more diverse in languages, religions and ethnicity and school districts are working (with varying levels of success) to adjust to their changing communities. ESOL teachers are often in the position of go-between for their students and the larger culture, which can be a little awkward when the holidays come […]
Posted inClassroom Management, Featured
The Reigning Terror of Indoor Recess
Oklahoma has been hammered this spring with thunderstorms, flash flooding and, the song of my people, tornadoes. This type of weather creates what some teachers cringe at-INSIDE RECESS. Giving kids a little too much free time when they are already cooped up is usually a catastrophic combination for those schools that still get recess time. […]
Posted inCurrent Events in Education, Featured
A True Testing Reminder
We are in the middle of testing madness. End of Year tests, AP exams, ACT & SAT results, LEAP, iLEAP, and PARCC, whatever you are going through- know that you are not alone. No one can understand the pressure of a high stakes test unless you are personally involved. The weight that is tied to […]
Posted inEducational Apps, Instruction & Curriculum, Instructional Strategies, Technology
20% Time is a Common Practice
Recently I mashed a world history unit on 19th century industry with student discussions on the history of change in education. A TED Talk illustrating Sir Ken Robinson’s reflections on transforming education away from standardized practice prompted student discussion and agreement on the need for time spent on creativity and artistic expression in all classes. However, the […]
Posted inFeatured, From the Front Lines
Time To Clean The Filter…Surviving the End of the Year
Years ago as part of my pastor’s doctoral thesis I had the opportunity to take part in a ‘Spiritual Gifts’ inventory. This was an in depth group about what spiritual gifts were, which was the primary spiritual gift and how to use the gifts. It was no surprise to me that my primary gift was […]