Teaching was my dream job until the new principal/sheriff came to town. As I sit here typing this submission, I am at home because I need a mental health day. I have only been at work 30 days since 12 weeks of FMLA and approximately $15,000 in lost wages due to anxiety and depression. But […]
Ask a Teacher
Learn about how to ask a teacher about what really happens in a classroom.
A Lesson in Block Building Left Me Asking: How Might We Support a Paraprofessional Today?
Transitioning majors in college led me to embrace a role as a floater paraprofessional, eager to explore and support in the realm of education. “Rutledge, room 32”- Walking down the hallway you see art on the walls and shiny floors glimpses into other classrooms and you arrive at room 32. Open the door and you […]
Shifting the misperception of American educators
If social media can be counted on for anything, it is reliable in the ability to tick me off and throw me into a spiral of rage-induced overthinking. The most recent spark came from a simple meme stating, ” I read today that in Denmark, empathy is taught as a school subject. We really should […]
My relationship with AI…It’s complicated!
It has been over 2 years since ChatGPT launched, arguably bringing artificial intelligence (AI) into the mainstream. AI has rapidly evolved into a large collection of tools that address almost every aspect of teaching and learning. They can grade papers or provide individualized feedback, correct grammar, generate ideas for lessons, write standards-based assessments at every […]
Abbott Elementary S3E5: Breakups are inevitable
Whoever thinks about keying a “church lady’s car” but if you watched this week’s episode of Abbott Elementary you know that Ava said this- but for just cause. Every week I watch Abbott Elementary, I’m reminded of how schools are a microcosm of the world, and no matter how hard we try to ignore this […]
Teach with humility; Achieve the impossible in teaching expectations
It seems to me that being a modern-day teacher is more challenging than ever before. On average, 15% of students nationwide receive IDEA services for individualized education plans (NCES, 2023). In addition, national movements to improve outcomes for struggling learners (eg. multi-tiered systems of support) have vastly shifted the roles and responsibilities of the traditional […]
Teaching 102: How to detect and categorize educational rhetoric
In this series of posts, veteran teacher, guide teacher and induction mentor Thomas Courtney bridges the other gap that we don’t talk enough about. That gap, the difference between what we are trained to do in our credential program, what we are asked to do by our employer, what the families and students we serve […]
Using the Depth and Complexity Framework to deepen student learning in primary grades
Using the Depth and Complexity Icons to design more meaningful learning experiences.