Yes, you read the title correctly. April Fools’ Day can actually be educational! Typically, around this time, articles and ideas circulate providing teachers with ideas on how to prank their students and colleagues. You’ll see posts and videos of teachers trying their best to outwit their students on this day. While it is great to […]
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Posted inInstruction & Curriculum
Teachers Pay Teachers-The Fast Food of Education
At first glance, Teachers Pay Teachers, a monetized lesson plan site, appears to be a win-win offering. There are lesson plans and educational materials marketed by vendors (teachers) who make a small profit on the sale. The first win is for the teachers selling the plans. Many teachers could use the extra income from selling […]
Posted inInstruction & Curriculum
Reading and Writing Volume Counts
Volume is its own goal. The more we read and write, the better we read and write. That doesn’t mean volume alone leads to excellence. It doesn’t. But progress without volume is almost impossible. Last winter, I was privileged to attend the regional ELA teacher’s conference in Missouri called Write to Learn. Two of the […]
Posted inInstruction & Curriculum
I Love Teaching Summer School or Am I a Glutton for Punishment?
I tell myself that I love teaching, in theory, I get summers “off”! But I realized recently that I have not taken a summer off in over 12 years! Some may ask why have I consistently worked during the summer? To be honest, the money is pretty good, since it’s my hourly wage without being […]
Posted inInstruction & Curriculum
The Dirty Secret of Implementing Independent Reading: Fund What You Believe
“Students need to read like writers and they need to write like readers.” ― Kelly Gallagher The current craze in education is around giving students choice in what they read in an attempt to get them excited about reading again. This idea as basic as it has “lit” a fire in teachers in demanding that students have […]
Posted inConfessions of a Teacher
Are Elementary Teachers Jacks of All Trades or Masters of None?
Recently, I was facilitating a discussion with high school teachers about Kylene Beers book When Kids Can’t Read What Teachers Can Do – A Guide for Teachers 6-12. In chapter four, Beers explained that one of her students did not understand how to find the main idea and that she did not do a good […]
Posted inInstructional Strategies
The New Teacher Chronicles: The Benefits of Cross-Curricular Education
With the school year beginning to wind down, I’ve been thinking of new ways to improve and update my curriculum for next year. What are some things that worked really well, and what are some things that I want to update? This got me thinking of ways to make my lessons even more hands-on and […]
Posted inOpinion
Are the Kids Alright? Student Reflections on School Shootings
If an event is taking place out in the world, I want my students to know my classroom is a safe space for them to discuss those situations inside our classroom. As a literacy coach and teacher, it is important I give my students the time to process and reflect before we have discussions. To […]