Sitting around the table at a small Bistro Saturday night I enjoyed much-needed girl time with friends. Three of us are teachers, all of us are mothers, and nothing is off-limits in the conversation. We drifted among topics of kids and relationships. Someone shared a story they had read about marriage. The idea of the […]
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Posted inCharter Schools, Current Events in Education, From the Front Lines, Instruction & Curriculum, Literacy, Middle School
Step Up and Teach – Part 2: ELA Writing Standards
Read Part 1 of this series about Reading Standards here. [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”] Princess, my first grader, writes all of the time. One day in kindergarten, after getting into trouble at home, I […]
Posted inElementary School, Interviews, Kindergarten
A 41 Year Classroom Veteran Shares her Secrets
While the same can’t be said for all professions, everyone I know remembers a teacher who positively changed their world. As a teacher myself, I was re-inspired to love learning and to believe that I could become even more as an educator by my daughter’s kindergarten teacher. I had been questioning my own educational practices […]
Posted inFeatured, Opinion
Leaving the Classroom? You Can Still Make a Difference!
This article is a follow-up to last week’s post titled Why I Resigned from My Teaching Job: It’s Not What You Think Have you ever thought of leaving your profession to pursue another career or to stay home with your family? If you have, you are not alone. The National Commission on Teaching and America’s […]
Posted inCommon Core, Current Events in Education, From the Front Lines, Instruction & Curriculum, Literacy
Step Up and Teach – Part 1: ELA Reading Standards
The year is 1996. I take a huge shaky breath and walk into the classroom. Smiling a welcome, the experienced teacher directs me to a small table. Ten small pairs of eyes gather around me, anxious and just as unsure as I am. I open up the teacher manual and read from the script. We […]
Posted inCurrent Events in Education, Featured
"Reform" Is Not a Dirty Word; Neither is "Union"
Last week I attended the 2013 National Summit on Education Reform. This is the nationwide conference put on by Jeb Bush’s Foundation for Excellence in Education. It was a rather last minute, unexpected opportunity, as I wouldn’t normally find myself amongst 850 state legislators, corporate curriculum companies, and all manner of other “reformers.” So it […]
Posted inFeatured, Middle School, Opinion
Why I Resigned From My Teaching Job: It's Not What You Think
Some, if not many of you are tired. Exhausted beyond all measure. Brand new to the field of education or a veteran teacher, you are frustrated, overwhelmed, spread so dangerously thin, perhaps full of doubts and wondering just how effective you are. I get it. I really do. Let me tell you my story. Last […]
Posted inFeatured, Opinion
Dying To Be Taught: No end to our Culture of Violence
[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”] December 14, 2012 is a date most teachers will never forget. This is the date of the shootings at Sandy Hook Elementary where 20 students and 6 teachers were shot in […]