By: Melanie Taylor Am I required to attend IEP meetings if I am not a Special Education teacher? I’ve been asked that more than once as the Special Education teacher, and especially as a Resource Specialist, also known as Special Academic Instructor.The answer in our state is that at least one general education teacher who has […]
Posted inFrom the Front Lines, Stellar Educator of the Week
Kathy B. – Our Stellar Educator of the Week!
Name: Kathy B. School: Baltimore County Public Schools (MD) Years Teaching: 9-10 years Specialty: English/ Language Arts Congratulations to Kathy B., our Stellar Educator of the Week! Kathy was nominated by one of her students, who could not seem to find enough wonderful things to say about her! We agree that Kathy is a […]
Posted inFeatured, From the Front Lines, Middle School, Opinion
In Education I Matter (And So Do You)
Second semester, I believe, is the worst semester for teachers. Second semester is the time when we reflect upon first semester and what we did and did not accomplish. We look at what we taught and have left to teach. Second semester is the time for high absenteeism due to illness and all high stakes […]
Posted inFeatured, Instruction & Curriculum, Special Education, Uncategorized
5 Ways to Boost Communication in a Co-Teaching Classroom
Recently I read somewhere that said, “Communication is easy.” I would love to know the world they lived in because communication isn’t easy- at all. Talking is easy; however, communication-which means an exchange or communion with another- requires greater skill. Communication requires us to listen and to speak skillfully, not just talk mindlessly. Communication among co-teachers is […]
Posted inFrom the Front Lines, Literacy, Uncategorized
Whit's Tips on Mentoring to Provide Individual Learning Opportunities
How should schools provide individual learning opportunities and motivation to accelerate learning while following standardized curricula goals aligned with the Common Core? One on one mentoring might be an answer. Whether schools can put together teams of five or a hundred mentors, giving students a half hour of undivided attention makes all the difference in […]
Posted inParents, Uncategorized
{Parent's Corner} Preconceived Notions about Virtual Education
Preconceived notions about virtual education annoy me. When it comes to preconceived ideas about a public virtual school, it truly runs the gamut. Comparing a virtual education to a traditional home school is relatively fair, but even then it is not the same concept. Looking at it from a brick and mortar school standpoint is […]
Posted inNew Teacher Bootcamp, Parents, School Improvement
Scripting A Parent Phone Call- A Skill All Teachers Need
Today many of our communications with parents are through email, blogs and classroom websites. Interactive conversation is a tool we use less and less often. Sometimes there are sensitive, personal, individual or important topics that should be discussed in person over the phone. A good practice is to send positive notes or emails throughout the […]
Posted inInstruction & Curriculum
High School in 2013 – These are Changing Times
About a month ago, Kelsey Sheehy wrote in US News & World Report that she expects three major changes for high school students in 2013: “Blended Learning,” “Flipped Classrooms,” and “Standards.” I think there may be some other, more stark realities for high school students in 2013, but I’ll comment briefly on her three predictions first. […]