[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”] Those tiny, multi-colored plastic building bits called Legos have a dedicated, even obsessive, fan base. Such fanaticism is the reason why I thought the following story I recently heard on National Public Radio […]
Elementary School
An elementary school is a primary school for children between the ages of 5-11 and between the grades prekindergarten and secondary education.
Posted inElementary School, Featured, From the Front Lines, Interviews, Stellar Educator of the Week, Technology
Inspirational Educator – Garrett Lim, All-Star Teacher
Every teacher wants to be called an all-star, but not many get the trophy to match. Garrett Lim is one of those honored few teachers to be recognized by Major League Baseball as an All-Star, as he was the Chicago White Sox’s selection to the 2014 All-Star contest. We sat down with Garrett to watch […]
Posted inClassroom Management, Elementary School
In This Classroom We Do…
As you think about setting up your elementary classroom this year, start with your theme. What interests or passions do you have? How can you share these with students to demonstrate life skills of persistence, listening with understanding, thinking flexibly, questioning, creating, imagining, learning from failure? Our school-wide theme this year is CHAMPS and I am using […]
Posted inCommon Core, Elementary School, Instruction & Curriculum
Science Inquiry: Take the Plunge
This summer the Kansas State Department of Education hosted three academies led by teachers for teachers. I attended a session on science curriculum to learn about the next generation science standards that will be implemented in my classroom next year. I have been teaching inquiry based science for five years (or more) and enjoy the learning […]
Posted inCommon Core, Elementary School, Instruction & Curriculum
Integration: Bringing it Together For Kids
Dictionary.com defines integration as: “an act or instance of combining into an integral whole.” Schools across the nation are using this idea to purposefully combine curriculum and standards in meaningful ways for student learning. Just like making a recipe or putting together a puzzle, you must combine different pieces of your curriculum, disciplines, concepts and skills under an essential question, theme, or unit. There […]
Posted inCurrent Events in Education, Educational Apps, Elementary School, Featured, From the Front Lines, Instruction & Curriculum, Middle School
Recalling ISTE 2014 : Sarah’s Report
From June 28 through July 1 (Saturday-Tuesday), thousands and thousands of ed tech enthusiasts braved the heat and humidity of Atlanta, GA to attend the 2014 International Society for Technology in Education Conference and Expo at the Georgia World Congress Center. Since I am a local, I was one of those thousands. This is the […]
Posted inCurrent Events in Education, Elementary School, Featured
Three Reasons I am excited for ISTE 2014 in Atlanta: A Newbie’s Perspective
From June 28 through July 1, I will be attending the International Society for Technology in Education’s annual conference near my hometown in Atlanta. (We will just call it ISTE2014 for short.) It will be my first ISTE conference so I have a mixture of feelings. I am in the home stretch of planning and am […]
Posted inCurrent Events in Education, Elementary School, Featured, From the Front Lines, High School, Principals' Corner
Working for My Public School Is Just Like Working for the Mob
I am a mob movie fanatic. I’ve watched all of the classics (to my husband’s dismay), from Godfather, American Gangster to my all-time favorite, Goodfellas. Even though I know how the movies will end, I still get a rush right before the villain is outed and the mob boss brings the harsh retribution. Long after […]