The quickest way to send any teacher into a frenzy is to make us sit in an ineffective PLC (professional learning community) meeting. We’d rather grade a million essays, meet with an irate parent or even hear nails scratched on our chalkboard–anything but another meeting that tells us how to use graphic organizers. After […]
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Posted inBook Review, Uncategorized
Book Review: Neurodiversity in the Classroom
In Neurodiversity in the Classroom, best-selling author Thomas Armstrong continues to present concepts that stand to revolutionize the way students with learning disabilities are taught and thought of by educators. I am no stranger to Armstrong’s work and became a proponent of his as a young teacher when I read his work on multiple intelligences. […]
Posted inInstruction & Curriculum
Kill Your Idols: A Case for Contemporary Literature
When I go out to eat, I often eavesdrop on the conversations of my fellow diners. Not long ago, I overheard a particularly interesting discussion between two teachers. They were discussing a familiar quandary among English teachers: What are the virtues of teaching classical literature to a generation who just doesn’t get it? It’s a […]
Posted inAsk a Teacher, Uncategorized
{Ask a Teacher} The Kids Are Out of Control!
[fusion_builder_container hundred_percent=”yes” overflow=”visible”][fusion_builder_row][fusion_builder_column type=”1_1″ background_position=”left top” background_color=”” border_size=”” border_color=”” border_style=”solid” spacing=”yes” background_image=”” background_repeat=”no-repeat” padding=”” margin_top=”0px” margin_bottom=”0px” class=”” id=”” animation_type=”” animation_speed=”0.3″ animation_direction=”left” hide_on_mobile=”no” center_content=”no” min_height=”none”] Question: I am in a 3rd week of student teaching a group of 5th graders. These are all great kids; however, they have been very disrespectful (i.e. getting up in the […]
Posted inFeatured, Uncategorized
Navigating Your Administration: Five Tips From a Teacher's Perspective
To the frustrated, tired, spread-too-thin public (and private) school teacher, communicating with and understanding the dynamics of your administrative team–or your single administrator–can be one of the most difficult parts of the job, even in a best-case scenario. I have worked for excellent administrators and those that… weren’t as easy to work with. I will not seek […]
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, From the Front Lines, How to Fix Education, Instruction & Curriculum, Literacy, Uncategorized
The Emperor’s New Clothes: There’s No Magic Answer in Reading
Let us face it- in education many of us are waiting for some fairy reading tales to come true. For instance, we may be hoping to meet Prince Charming and live in his magnificent castle. However, nobody wants to walk down the street without clothes, even in our nightmares. I contend that most commercial reading […]
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E Literacy Changes Everything
Who would’ve thought that a simple homemade toy, promoted through collaborative effort online, would lead to…. The Imagination Foundation? Or that simple, impossible design could be immediately useful. This following blog inspired me to have my own students create housing based on our world studies of architecture.