Authors: Leigh Reagan Alley, Ed.D., University of Maine at Augusta Chief (ret.) Noel C. March, M.A., University of Maine at Augusta A Morning That Could Go Either Way . . . It’s first period. A freshman slams a locker and stalks down the hall, hood up, eyes on the floor. He’s late again, and a […]
Child Development
Posted inChild Development
New Mexico the first state to offer universal child care
New Mexico will be the first state in the nation to offer universal child care. One Monday, New Mexico Governor Michelle Lujan Grisham and the New Mexico Early Childhood Education and Care Department made the historic announcement that will start on November 1. This groundbreaking new initiative will make childcare available to all New Mexicans, […]
Posted inChild Development
Stop the Summer Slide: Simple ways to keep elementary aged kids learning all summer
You can see it as a teacher when students walk back into the classroom in the fall. The confident rhythm they had in May is gone. Kids forget how to decode simple words, form letters, and add and subtract with ease. It’s most evident in kindergarten through third grade when foundational reading, writing, and math […]
Posted inChild Development
Exploring New Horizons: How open-ended play-based learning enhances high quality learning and teaching
“But I can express myself only through writing. I don’t know any other way,” said my 10-year-old student. “Now, how do I respond to this?” I wondered. Still figuring out within myself, I was in for a surprise when the teacher within me immediately agreed with the student. “Yes, I agree. I have seen you […]
Posted inChild Development
California joins growing movement by states to protect children from Social Media Addiction with New Law
California made a significant move to protect children from the harms of social media with Governor Gavin Newsom’s approval of a bill aimed at limiting “addictive feeds” for minors. On Friday, Newsom signed Senate Bill 976, known as the Protecting Our Kids From Social Media Addiction Act, introduced by Sen. Nancy Skinner (D-Berkeley). Supported by […]
Posted inChild Development
Behavior is Communication
This may sound silly, but I can’t stop thinking about my T-shirt. Earlier this school year, I was talking to the speech therapist who works with my students when I noticed her fantastic shirt. It said, “Behavior is Communication.” Immediately, I asked her to send me the link to the shirt, and by the end […]
Posted inAsk a Teacher
Post Pandemic Teaching: Teachers take home trauma
Teachers can be traumatized, too. And, I’m not talking about dealing with students who “misbehave” or give them a hard time, although those times can be tough. I’m talking about the teachers who are in the trenches, educating the kids who carry heavy (and sometimes invisible) trauma on their shoulders on a daily basis. Our […]
Posted inBack to School
Transforming the Classroom with Morning Meeting
An inopportune time to learn something new does not exist. You are not too deep (or new!) into your teaching career to implement a fresh technique or strategy. Each wake-up boasts an untouched beginning that you can transform with one small change in your classroom. Let me suggest starting with this: Morning Meeting. I have […]