I recently read an article in Education Week entitled Improving Special Education in Tough Times. With budgets being cut, especially to special education, the title sparked my interest. As I read, I found myself applauding many of the suggestions presented. But, there was one theme I found myself in total disagreement about, at least on […]
Instruction & Curriculum
Posted inFeatured, Instruction & Curriculum, Mathematics, Middle School, School Improvement
Procedures versus Concepts: A Mathematical Dilemma
There have been a lot of articles lately debating procedural teaching and concepts-based teaching in the classroom. As an elementary school teacher, this topic is of particular interest as mathematical reform models are sweeping through our curriculum. Whether you are a Common Core Standards state or, as in Virginia, simply “aligned” with Common Core, mathematical […]
Posted inInstruction & Curriculum, Literacy, Uncategorized
The Importance of Teacher-Student Conferences
By: Adrienne Lanier Recently, I had to take my son to the pediatrician for what I only knew as a stubborn, uncooperative ringworm. I had been treating the infection with what I knew best. Well, actually I started with my grandmother’s “tried and true” home remedy of bleach! Once I realized it wasn’t working, I […]
Posted inFine Arts, Instruction & Curriculum, Uncategorized
If You Build It, They Will Come: How to Build a Successful Choir Program
By Anne Guess Part 1: Educate the Children Building a choir program from nothing is a daunting task. I am always amazed at the number of directors that leave floundering choir programs and play the blame game. Directors will blame everyone from the “untalented” student body, their administration that has it “out to get them”, […]
Posted inFeatured, Instruction & Curriculum, Mathematics, Uncategorized
The Mathematical Workshop Model: How Data, Differentiation, and Classroom Management Combine in an Elementary Classroom
We have all heard of various writing workshop models. Students working diligently on various stages of the writing process: pre-writing, drafting, revising, proofreading and publishing. But how can we incorporate similar structures in the math classroom? To some, this may not be new. Various levels of the math workshop model do exist and so I am […]
Posted inInstruction & Curriculum, Literacy
Gathering Data in a Standards-Based Literacy Classroom
When was the United States founded? What elements are combined to make Nitrous Oxide? What is the slope of 6x + 7? Which word is spelled correctly in this sentence? These questions may seem awfully familiar as these are the type of base level questions we experienced in our formative years in education. Some may […]
Posted inInstruction & Curriculum, Middle School, Social Studies
Social Studies Facts American Students Should Know: The American Government and Geography Edition
As a 6th-12th grade social studies teacher for the past 6 years, I have seen my fair share of students. I taught high school during a time of many standards changes were taking place here in Georgia. I would get a group of high school students who always claimed that they didn’t remember (or they weren’t taught the […]
Posted inInstruction & Curriculum
Teaching Young Innovators
By Allison Bemiss From national media reports to political stump speeches, innovation is the new buzzword in education. Everyone who is anyone is talking about innovation. Curriculum is marketed as innovative. Blogs for educators and top universities are discussing the need for more innovation. Education professionals everywhere are charged with the task of INNOVATION- that’s […]