A teacher friend of mine was attending a conference and upon learning that she taught in the state of Kansas, someone asked her the question, “Why would you want to teach in Kansas after all that’s going on in your legislation?” My friend was taken aback by that question, and as she began to form the words to […]
From the Front Lines
Posted inCurrent Events in Education, From the Front Lines, High School, Literacy, Uncategorized
Testing a Thousand Madelyns
My niece is a beautiful little girl. She is a beautiful girl on the outside, the kind of little girl who cannot take a bad picture. She is also beautiful on the inside. She is her mother’s helper, fiercely loyal to her older brothers, and a wonderful example for her younger brother and sisters. She […]
Posted inCurrent Events in Education, From the Front Lines, Instruction & Curriculum, Instructional Strategies, Professional Development, The International Teacher
What Makes a Good Lesson? The Beauty of Absence
Staff Writer: By Melissa Kandido What makes a good lesson? A plan. Yes, of course. But even with the plan, we know there might be issues that arise that keep our plan from being executed ‘just so.’ We have to be open to technology mishaps, schedule hiccups, etc. So the plan is just a base […]
Posted inCurrent Events in Education, From the Front Lines, High School, Instructional Strategies, Literacy
Preparing Career Ready Students? Go Back to Kindergarten
At the beginning of my teaching career, I worked as the 8th grade English Language Arts teacher in a K-8 parochial school. Once a month, my students would pair up with the kindergarten students to complete a creative project: paper maché globes, paper kites, Q & A interviews. On those afternoons, my noisy and awkward adolescents longingly stared at various […]
Posted inClassroom Management, Featured, From the Front Lines, Opinion
Setting Up a Cooperative Learning Classroom
At recess yesterday I began sketching my classroom layout for next year. Crazy, I know. I am the teacher who likes to do trial runs on pretty much everything. Owning my own school gives me the ability to do that. I use the beginning of each quarter to lay out goals and expectations for my […]
Posted inFeatured, From the Front Lines, Instruction & Curriculum, Literacy, Opinion
Creative Writing Strategies For Elementary Students – Outside Of The Classroom
Writing is a huge component in my second and third grade classroom. Next to speaking properly, communicating through the written word is an important life skill that needs to be developed which will follow children throughout their lives. The sooner the basics of writing are introduced and honed, the easier this skill will become as […]
Posted inAsk a Teacher, Current Events in Education, Featured, From the Front Lines, Opinion
What Am I Thankful For? A Damn Good Public Education
When people ask what one another are thankful for, there are a variety of great answers. Family, is notably and rightfully among the top answers. Many people are thankful for their friends who’ve helped give them guidance. Others are thankful for a home and a place to lie their head, or the food that’s on […]
Posted inFeatured, From the Front Lines, Instruction & Curriculum, Opinion
Don't Be THAT Teacher: Make a Positive Impact Instead
[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”] It happened the other day. One of my ‘friends’ on Facebook had a birthday. I was wishing her well, on her page, when I noticed another person she was friends with. […]