Dear Students, You have – or will soon learn about – the First Amendment of the Constitution of the United States of America. Adopted just prior to Christmas 1791 as the first part of the Bill of Rights, it reads: “Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; […]
Instruction & Curriculum
Posted inInstruction & Curriculum
Colin Kaepernick: Education vs Indoctrination
I am surprised at the attention Colin Kaepernick sitting for the National Anthem is getting, but it prompted some reflection: How should I react if a student refuses to say the pledge, stand for the anthem, place his /her hand-over-heart…or participate in any one of the rituals that are supposed to indicate unwavering patriotism and love of […]
Posted inInstruction & Curriculum
36 Weeks of Technology: GoNoodle
In this series, #36weeksoftech, I will review tech tools in my classroom. I will give you my honest opinion and some pros and cons through the eyes of an experienced teacher. This is my 21st year in the classroom, and I teach all subject areas. Using technology can be a way to increase engagement and […]
Posted inInstruction & Curriculum
Why I Like to Start the Year with a Poetry Unit
Figuring out how to begin the school year can be intimidating. You’ll be setting the tone for the rest of the year, and you will never quite get the same amount of energy or hard work from your students as you do while the year is still fresh. (Ever notice that every single kid does […]
Posted inInstruction & Curriculum
ThatQuiz: A Great, Easy to Use Resource
ThatQuiz is a great resource for teachers and students! Here’s a quick breakdown of what it can do for a classroom teacher: Create quizzes of various types. Maintain a class/student list to track progress. Students are able to use independently and access outside of school. Grades and averages for the quizzes are kept for you. You […]
Posted inInstruction & Curriculum
A Veteran Teacher’s Regrets: Student Choice
In my classroom, I integrated student choice whenever I could. We did reading workshop every Friday, when students read an independent reading book of their choice. Whenever we did a personal essay or literary analysis paper, I let students choose their own topics and ideas. I started doing I-Search papers, where students chose their own […]
Posted inFeatured
Letting Students Have a Say In What They Learn
We started our school year this week, and I have a small class of very eager kids. They love to learn, want to participate in everything and have some great ideas of their own. As I stood in class moving from one activity to another, I was preparing to ask my students what THEY hoped […]
Posted inBack to School
First, We Must Educate The Heart
“Educating the mind without educating the heart is no education at all” – Aristotle Teachers, have you thought about this challenge? How will you educate the heart this year? Childhood – especially the middle school years – can seem like a crazy-making manic time for kids. One minute they’re sweet young and innocent, most interested […]