Today’s elementary classroom is an active community. This is a great thing as kids are active learners; however, for teachers, this activity can be overwhelming. It is important to think about organizing your activity to make it through the year successfully. Teaching expectations at the beginning of the year will increase engagement all year long. […]
Instruction & Curriculum
Posted inInstruction & Curriculum
Know Your Rights: Colin Kaepernick and the Human and Civil Rights Award
I’ve never been a huge fan of football. It always seemed unnecessarily violent, even barbaric, to me. After a 2017 article in the New York Times revealed that 111 former NFL player’s brains were donated to science after their deaths, and 110 of them were found to have C.T.E., the “degenerative disease linked to repeated […]
Posted inHow to Fix Education
The Importance Of Early Intervention
I am a huge advocate for early intervention. Unfortunately, my district doesn’t always share the same philosophy. In my experience, students who are having difficulty in first and second grade (even some students in kindergarten) can be identified and remediated with the right supports. We are doing a huge disservice to children and families by […]
Posted inSpecial Education
The Importance of Communication For IEP Students and Parents
I realize that I am a little on the eccentric side. I like it there, without the boundaries and regiment of the real world. And since I see things from a different perspective than most I also enjoy some things that many teachers find to be less enjoyable. One of those things is IEP meetings. […]
Posted inInstruction & Curriculum
Why the Most Powerful & Revolutionary Idea in Education Could Happen
“For the growing good of the world is partly dependent on unhistoric acts; and that things are not so ill with you and me as they might have been, is half owing to the number who lived faithfully a hidden life, and rest in unvisited tombs.” – George Elliot No, Educational Fatalism Is NOT Classroom […]
Posted inInstruction & Curriculum
Why I Took My Work Email App Off of My Cell Phone
Three school years ago, I removed the work email app from my phone. It was one of the best actions I have taken. It is hard to balance your professional and personal life when your professional life is taking dominance at home because you can’t stay off of your work email. Here are some reasons […]
Posted inHow to Fix Education
[Opinion] Barack Obama: A Role Model for Teachers and Students
America and the World Today It has been a difficult week for America and the world. American leadership in the world seems to be collapsing as nations considered to be our allies are criticized and nations thought to be adversarial are applauded as friends. The old world order established after World War II where the […]
Posted inInstruction & Curriculum
If You Want to Survive, Find Your Teacher Tribe
When you watch movies about high school, everyone falls into a group or has a label. Me, I was the blerd (black nerd) and the loner. I had a few friends and that was by choice, and most often I preferred to keep to myself and be alone. I maintained this behavior throughout college and […]