Posted inCommon Core, Educational Apps, Instruction & Curriculum, Languages, Literacy, Middle School

Four Reasons Why I'm In Love With Chromebooks In The Classroom

I cannot deny it any longer – I’m in love with Chromebooks. Chromebooks have transformed my teaching. All those times in the last 25 years when I used to say, “Well, that would be easy if I had a class set of computers” has turned into my reality. Chromebooks have become a wonderful tool for […]

Posted inCommon Core, Current Events in Education, Instruction & Curriculum, Middle School, Uncategorized

Why Data is Important

There were eight of us gathered together early Wednesday morning: 8th grade teachers of History, English, PE, Math, Science, Spanish, a para educator and a counselor. Our task? Analyzing data from last year’s SBAC scores. To three in the group, this was an impossible task. Immediately the environment became toxic. “Maybe you like data, Jennifer, […]

Posted inHigh School, Instruction & Curriculum, Instructional Strategies, Literacy

Information in Google Doodles Build Background Knowledge

That letter “O” morphing on your search engine for Mother’s Day? That spinning Globe for Earth Day? Those jigging leprechauns for St. Patrick’s Day? These are all the Google Doodles from 2015 to celebrate holidays. There are also Google doodle tributes to individuals. Emmy Noether (physicist), Laura Ingalls Wilder (author), and Anna Atkins (botonist), have been featured in doodles […]

Posted inCurrent Events in Education, Featured, High School, Instructional Strategies, Parents

Tips for Parents: How to help your high school ELA student succeed in Common Core

There are major shifts in all curriculum with the new common core standards. Many parents are intimidated by the changes and all doing all they can to help their children succeed. As an ELA teacher, I have a simple and obvious solution to help your high school student read. Seriously. Don’t just hand them a […]

Posted inCommon Core, Current Events in Education, High School, How to Fix Education, Literacy, Uncategorized

"I'm Not an Educator, but I Portray One" Experts in Ed Reform

There are advertising campaigns that successfully employ the technique of “advertised ignorance” or “false authority” where an individual proudly declares that he or she is not an expert  just before rendering an expert opinion. An example for this form of advertising was from a series of promotions for Vicks Formula 44 cough syrup starring actors who portrayed doctors on popular […]

Posted inCommon Core, High School, Instruction & Curriculum, Instructional Strategies, Literacy

Digital Writing Text: "Snow Fall-The Avalanche at Tunnel Creek"

[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”] The blizzard raging outside recalls the looping GIF of drifting snow that opens the 2013 Pulitzer Prize winning New York Times feature story, “Snow Fall: The Avalanche at Tunnel Creek.” As a model […]

Posted inCurrent Events in Education, Featured, Social Studies

A Call for National History Day

All teachers search for that moment when what you do in the classroom raises administrators’ eyebrows, students’ hopes, and the goosebumps on our own skin. These pivotal moments in our interconnected lives show us – emotionally – that our job is more than just worksheets and pencil sharpeners; it’s changing lives. One of the most remarkable […]

Posted inCommon Core, Instruction & Curriculum, Mathematics, Uncategorized

The Difference Between Calculation and Mathematics

This piece originally ran on Bluffcityed.com on July 29, 2014; In mid-July last year, I was ready to try something completely different. I had previously taught Algebra I, but I was moving to a new content; geometry. I’d taught it before under the old Tennessee state standards but had left the course feeling like the kids […]