Last summer, I attended an educators’ conference focused on building a positive climate and culture in schools. The conference offered a variety of break-out sessions addressing topics such as engagement, retention, cultural competency, and relationship-building. What are home visits? I quickly noticed “home visits” as a commonly discussed practice at the conference: educators visiting the […]
building community
Save the Turtles: A Lesson in Teacher Excitement!
By Guest Writer: Rebecca Linam “Don’t step on the turtles!” Mrs. Hays’ voice rang out across the crowded hallway. A dozen students screeched to a halt with another dozen crashing into them from behind. “What? Where?!” one of them asked, panicked. Mrs. Hays pointed to an empty spot on the tiled floor between her […]
Have You Used Play-Doh In Your Middle School Classroom?
One of the huge challenges of teaching middle school is creating an environment where students know that their teachers care about them first. My teaching mantra over the last 26 years has always been “Kids first, curriculum second.” Middle school kids need to know that they are being listened to, they are important, and that […]