It began innocently enough. I read a headline…just a headline…about Texas governor Greg Abbott appointing Republican State Board of Education member Donna Bahorich as President of the Board. Bahorich is a Christian extremist who home-schooled her children, and despite the fact that 94% of Texas children go to public school, apparently Abbott feels that this […]
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Posted inFeatured, Formative Assessments, Instruction & Curriculum
Formative Assessments: Success Criteria
This series is about using formative assessment in your classroom. Many teachers use this practice daily to know where students are and move them forward in learning. There are tools, however, that can strengthen the formative assessment you are doing in your classroom to meet the needs of all students you teach. The first tool, discussed […]
Posted inChild Development, Elementary School, Featured, From the Front Lines, Instruction & Curriculum, Instructional Strategies, Kindergarten, Mathematics
Making Time and Money Concepts Stick
One of the most challenging concepts to teach younger children is time and money. Think about how confusing it is to their little minds: we spend all this time teaching them the worth of pennies, dimes, nickels and quarters, then switch to a clock that is split into quarters that do not equal the 25 […]
Posted inCurrent Events in Education, Featured, How to Fix Education, Professional Development
It is Not Easy to be a Change Agent in Education
“The world as we have created it is a process of our thinking. It cannot be changed without changing our thinking.” Albert Einstein [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 will say it: it is difficult to be […]
Posted inElementary School, Featured, Instruction & Curriculum, Instructional Strategies, Kindergarten, Literacy, Parents
Engaging Students In Spelling List Studying
[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 proud to announce that Stewart the Spelling Minion will join our classroom this year. I’ve already introduced Gilligan in a previous piece, who helps with social studies retention. Gus […]
Posted inClassroom Management, Current Events in Education, Featured, High School, Middle School
The Adventures of Teaching Middle School
[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”] Whether you are teaching middle school for the first time, or have taught middle school for a few years and still aren’t quite comfortable with the assignment, this article is for […]
Posted inCurrent Events in Education, Featured, High School, Social Justice
White Educators: Do You Recognize State Trooper Encinia?
[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 watched the Sandra Bland dash cam video last night. I knew the grim ending to the story before I even clicked play on my iPhone, but the video hit me […]
Posted inClassroom Management, Featured, From the Front Lines, Middle School
Classroom Community and Rock-Paper-Scisssors
“When it is time to walk the dog, my kids do rock-paper-scissors.” This was a Facebook message posted by the mom of three of my former students. Several of her friends commented on how nice it was that they knew how to negotiate and not fight. I just laughed. It is a treat to see […]