There are few things that I enjoy more than getting students to question, analyze, write about, discuss, and, ultimately, clarify their own views on complicated questions.  It reminds me of my own history teachers in high school and how they communicated their passions to us students.  In one class, we were supposed to study American history […]
The New Teacher Chronicles
Posted inHow to Fix Education
Veteran Teachers Vested in Change, Teach Overseas
For the first time in years, I’m experiencing the excitement that new teachers can relate to. I’m “nerve-cited,” a term my daughter coined for our move to teach in the Dominican Republic after 20 years in one public school in northern Vermont. I had to seize an opportunity to shake my foundations, ignite possibilities for […]
Posted inAsk a Teacher, Back to School, How to Fix Education, New Teacher Bootcamp, Parents, Technology, The New Teacher Chronicles
8 Ways For Teachers To Communicate With Parents in the 21st Century
In the 21st century, there is a multitude of ways to communicate with parents. I know a large part of the education workforce is comprised of ‘digital immigrants’, but with a little time and motivation, all teachers can (and should) utilize technology to increase communication with parents and students. Here are my eight favorite ways […]
Posted inBack to School
Why I’m Quitting After Only Two Weeks of a New School Year
This year would have been my fourteenth year in the secondary classroom, but it won’t be after this week. With a brand new crop of freshly oriented students ready for the year ahead, I will be leaving them for a full-time professorship at the college level. On one hand, it’s a great opportunity – I’ve […]
Posted inAdult Learning, Featured, New Teacher Bootcamp, Principals' Corner, The New Teacher Chronicles
Teachers are Not Martyrs
Three weeks ago I made the difficult decision to leave my school and accept a 4th grade co-teaching position at another public school just blocks away. When I came back to teaching after a year in grad school, one thing that had changed for me was a deeper commitment to build community within and outside my […]
Posted inFormative Assessments
Formative Assessment: A New Lesson Plan
Formative assessment is using purposeful observations and information about students to move their learning forward. It enables teachers and students to understand their learning and have meaningful dialogue. Â This has been applied in classrooms through Kahoot! quizzes, exit tickets and quick thumbs up thumbs down activities. Â Formative assessment, however, has more power when it is […]
Posted inFeatured
Why You Should Feel PUMPED About a New School Year
While parents are clamoring away, eager to get their children back into the whole school routine, many educators don’t feel ready. On the other hand, this teacher feels super pumped about starting a new school year. Is she mad? Has she lost her mind? What’s wrong with this woman? Well, my friends, I am crazy. Crazy excited […]
Posted inInstruction & Curriculum
What Every (New) Principal Needs to Know
For some principals, the 2019-2020 school year will be their first time taking the helm of a school. Yesterday, we asked a question from a new principal to  our 100,000+ subscribers about what a new principal should NEVER do and here are the answers they gave: New principals should NEVER… talk data on the first […]