The dust is settling (due to the continual storms and rain) from the F5 tornado that once again ripped through South Oklahoma City and Moore. We have been devastated many times in Oklahoma due to tornadoes, but this was by far the worst. Over 13,000 homes are lost, thousands are damaged, 24 people lost their […]
Instruction & Curriculum
Posted inFrom the Front Lines, Instruction & Curriculum
Do You Want to Write a Book? Contribute to Our Next Group Book by The Educator's Room
In March of 2012, The Educator’s Room published its first group book entitled, “Keep the Fire Burning: Avoiding Teacher Burnout”. The book tackled the topic of teacher burnout through the eyes of actual teachers who gave real strategies to help empower their fellow teachers. The book was met with great success and acclaim from […]
Posted inFeatured, From the Front Lines, Instruction & Curriculum, Middle School
Ability Grouping in Physical Education?
An article in the Chicago Tribune caught my attention this week regarding “Fat P.E.” At least that is what the kids at a suburban Illinois high school call it. Basically, the students are ability grouped according to results obtained in fitness testing. Those testing out at a high enough level are allowed to participate in […]
Posted inInstruction & Curriculum
Throwing Each Other Under The Bus: Where has Mutual Teacher Support Gone?
School bus (noun) – (1) A bus that transports students from home to school, school to home, or school-sponsored events; (2) a typically yellow-colored vehicle designed to deliver students on their school-related travels; (3) a place under which teachers can throw one another. I’m often amazed at how frequently teachers commit to definition 3. Why? […]
Posted inCurrent Events in Education, Featured, Instruction & Curriculum, Middle School
The Final Countdown! Activities for the Last Days of School
May always comes in with a gust and flies by. I scramble to reflect on the year, cram in last-minute curriculum, organize parents and lunches for field trips & play day, wrap my head around the data that must be collected, input data into spreadsheets, finalize grades & collect back work to finalize grades, make thank […]
Posted inFeatured, Instruction & Curriculum
Great Teachers Are Content Area Experts WITH Skills
Tuesday nights are #edchat nights on Twitter, and educators across the country, even across the globe, discuss topics of general interest for an hour. On May 7, the topic posted was: What is BIG Shift in ed that everyone is looking for? Is there 1 idea that can positively affect education? While I was surfing the column […]
Posted inInstruction & Curriculum, Teacher Branding
Teacher Branding 101: Present On Your Area of Expertise
As teachers, how many times have we sat in professional development and listened to an educational consultant tell us what would work with our students? They bring all kinds of pretty data, display boards and all sorts of testimonials, but for some reason their presentations usually do not move me, or other teachers. Many of my […]
Posted inInstruction & Curriculum, Literacy
Part IV: Reading to Learn: Comprehension
The purpose of reading is to learn. A text has the ability to transport us to other times and places, it can expand our knowledge and experience base and it is everywhere in our worlds. Understanding words, texts, passages, poetry, and books is an important part of reading. It is the end goal. To teach […]