I know what you’re thinking – “this author wants to teach us about a game called ‘Collision’? Oh, this can’t be good.” Relax, take a sip of your coffee, and stop to learn this interactive teaching strategy. Ingredients: A class of students An open area to move around A list thought-provoking questions that can have multiple […]
Posted inElementary School, Instructional Strategies, Special Education
How to Differentiate Instruction
In my last post, I talked about the difference between an accommodation and a modification, two things that many educators have a difficult time differentiating between. Accommodations and modifications generally get utilized by students with 504 plans and Individualized Education Programs (IEPs). Differentiation becomes a sticky topic these days, though, as we educators feel the […]
Posted inCurrent Events in Education, Opinion
It's Not a Rotten Education: Response to TIME Magazine
I have taught in elementary classrooms for 19 years. Every day, every hour, ever minute, every second, decisions are made that impact someone’s future. This job is difficult, strenuous, stressful and the best job in the world. Teachers across the nation give their times, talents, money and whole selves to their students and families. It […]
Posted inFeatured, From the Front Lines, Instruction & Curriculum, Opinion
Simple Scientific Method For Younger Elementary Grades
My class of first and second graders is working through the scientific method. We have been doing several science experiences a week for the past four weeks. I love how they ‘get it’. Several of my teacher friends think I’m crazy for introducing this concept so early. Those are the same friends who also think I’m […]
Posted inElementary School, Featured, How to Fix Education, Instruction & Curriculum, Literacy
Teaching to New Rules:Phonics for Upper Elementary
From the day children are born, the race is on here in America. Boy or girl? Weight? Length? And so it begins; how does your child measure up with “average” child their age? We watch for those important milestones. Rolls over, check! Sits up, check! Babbles, check! Crawls, check! Walks, check! The list goes on […]
Posted inCurrent Events in Education, High School, Professional Development, Teacher Branding
Teacher Branding Advice for School Districts: Make Your Teachers Happy
Once upon a time in a land far, far away, I worked in a district where the majority of teachers were unhappy-unhappy to the point of downright disgust. Almost every employee I saw walk into a school building there was a smirk followed by a frown and immediately followed up with a collective eye roll. Teachers […]
Posted inElementary School, Instructional Strategies
How to Focus Instruction: Two Ways to Easily Increase Rigor
In education today, our goal as teachers is to increase rigor and learning in our classrooms. Rigorous instruction is instruction that is thorough and focused content. As an educator, it sounds awesome! Your lessons are already focused and well thought out. So how exactly do you go about doing this without adding more to your […]
Posted inFeatured, High School, Literacy
The Communication Crisis – Teacher to Teacher Part I
Few people would disagree that communication is essential in sharing concepts and ideas, however, effective communication often seems to elude the masses. Many books and motivational speakers have touched on the subject in one way or another, yet properly passing along information and having it received as intended is not an easy task; miscommunication is. So, how could […]