Posted inBook Review, Common Core, Featured, Opinion

“Common Core Literacy Lesson Plans: Ready-to-Use Resources, 6-8”: A Book Review

[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”] With the implementation of the new Common Core Standards teachers everywhere are trying to wrap their brains around how these standards will look in their own classrooms.  Being a busy mother […]

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 […]

Posted inParents

Getting Started Home Schooling Your Child

by: Sam Wilkerson At some point in time I think many parents wonder or at least give fleeting consideration to the notion of homeschooling their children. However only an exceptional few have the direction and confidence to move forward along the path with clear goals and a plan of action for enriching their children’s education. […]

Posted inCharter Schools, Current Events in Education, High School

Charter School Diaries No. 2 – Paying Attention to Our Work

This was pre-midterm week at school. Anxiety was indeed high among the students and also among the administrators within my building. This week, I took the opportunity to recap everything I possibly could with my students – stuff that we had learned in September all the way up to last week. I handed out study guides that my students […]

Posted inFrom the Front Lines, Opinion, Uncategorized

Adopting a State Legislator for a Day: Teachers Get Political

[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”] Teachers don’t often consider themselves to be in a political profession.  If they are active in their union, they may take interest when their contract is bargained with their district.  Teachers […]

Posted inInstruction & Curriculum, Social Studies

Learning With Our Inner-Gamer: Using Board Games in the Social Studies Classroom

The idea of using games in the classroom has been a popular practice for teachers across varying disciplines for years. Board games have offered meaningful ways for teachers to easily captive students in learning experiences; scenario based games have offered teachers means to encourage students to think more deeply about topics; card games have offered […]