With two children currently attending a virtual charter school, the days can run together very easily. The basic schedule of the day tends to run something like this: Wake up Get Breakfast Start school work Get lunch Complete school work Rest of day’s activities (scouts, karate, etc) Generally, there is no set schedule unless the […]
Middle School
Posted inFeatured, From the Front Lines, Instruction & Curriculum, Literacy, Middle School
Teaching Through Trickery: A Snapshot of Theory vs. Reality
During my first year of teaching high school, I inherited a remedial reading class that consisted of about eighteen unmotivated juniors. Having just finished a graduate program in educational psychology with emphasis placed specifically on reading and literacy, I saw this as an opportunity to take all of those research-based best practices and make readers […]
Posted inInstruction & Curriculum
The Joke That Keeps On Giving: Social Promotion Holds No One Accountable!
Social promotion is the gift that keeps on giving. Let’s have a conversation about what’s next. “How did I fail? I did all of my work! You must not like me… I came to class every day. ” These were the protests from my current ninth graders as I handled the arduous task of doing […]
Posted inFeatured, From the Front Lines, Middle School, New Teacher Bootcamp, Opinion, Technology
Classroom Technology: When you Can't Beat Them, Join Them
I am not a technically savvy person. At. All. I’d rather use a dry erase board than my smartboard. I’d rather hand write notes than type them. How a land line phone works fascinates me. My smart phone freaks me out. I have two iPads and several laptops available to my class to use on […]
Posted inFeatured, From the Front Lines, Instruction & Curriculum, Middle School, Opinion, Parents
Pay It Backwards: Reach Out to Your Former Teachers
Growing up, I remember learning about Benjamin Franklin explaining life’s assurances: “…in this world nothing can be said to be certain, except death and taxes.” He was explaining to a French pen pal that the American experiment was as raw as it was unpredictable. The Constitution and our fledgling country were trees in the desert, […]
Posted inMiddle School, Principals' Corner, Teacher Branding, Uncategorized
A Teacher Who Took a Leap of Faith: Megan Mottley, Publisher of DIVINE Magazine
As the culmination of our month long articles about teacher branding, we want to highlight educators who decided to use their skills in the classroom to literally build their own brands. Today we are highlighting Ms. Megan Mottley, Publisher of DIVINE Magazine. 1. Give us some backgrounds of your experiences in education. I’m a former 8th Grade […]
Posted inFeatured, Middle School, Special Education, Uncategorized
Full Inclusion- an Individual Approach
As someone who has lived with the stigma of being labeled a student with a learning disability and the unique experience of having the honor to teach students with learning disabilities, I think I can share with you why inclusion is extremely important and why it’s not always about academic ability. Inclusion, according to […]
Posted inFeatured, Middle School, Special Education, Uncategorized
Do I Have To Go To The IEP Meeting? I’m Not a Special Education Teacher
By: Melanie Taylor Am I required to attend IEP meetings if I am not a Special Education teacher? I’ve been asked that more than once as the Special Education teacher, and especially as a Resource Specialist, also known as Special Academic Instructor.The answer in our state is that at least one general education teacher who has […]