Without change, we exist in a stagnant environment. Â Learning is about persistence, failure, and change. Each summer there are buzz words that emerge and ideas for teachers to think about. Â However, not everything fits into a neat little package. Â There is not one boxed program, method, or idea that will work in every classroom. Â Teaching […]
classroom management
Top 5 Things Every Teacher Should Do Before School Starts
Have the teacher dreams started? Does your heart pound when you see the school supply section at Target? While you’re relaxing on the beach, have you defaulted to lesson planning over novels? To help calm your nerves, I’ve compiled notes about five top things every teacher should do before school starts – and guarantee you’ll […]
Managing the Oppositional-Defiant Child in the Classroom
Some of the most challenging students I’ve had to teach have been those with Oppositional-Defiant Disorder. These students challenge the behavioral norms in the classroom, often show low academic achievement, and lack motivation. Thankfully, there is plenty of research behind teaching these tough nuts to crack and lots of resources to help you figure out interventions […]
Confession of a Self-Conscious Teacher: I’m Afraid to Turn Around in Class
I am a middle school teacher and have taught for almost nine years now, but I have a confession to make. Turning my back on my students terrifies that crap out of me. I manage to keep my cool when I go up to the board to work out problems, but the minute I turn […]
Differentiation Isn't Dead
Differentiation is the one word in education that make the most subdued educators scream out in pain. Principals use it in evaluations like it’s going out of style, and content specialists talk about it like it’s the best thing since sliced bread. Meanwhile, educators maintain intense fear when the word “differentiation” is uttered in conversation because […]
Differentiation Isn’t Dead
Differentiation is the one word in education that make the most subdued educators scream out in pain. Principals use it in evaluations like it’s going out of style, and content specialists talk about it like it’s the best thing since sliced bread. Meanwhile, educators maintain intense fear when the word “differentiation” is uttered in conversation because […]
The Conundrums of Teaching
Conundrum is defined as a puzzle, challenge, or enigma, and I cannot think of a better word for teaching. Teaching is a paradox, and every decision we make has an immediate impact and more often than not we wonder if we made the right decision. The Puzzle of Content. It is so unfortunate that teachers […]
Boundary Markers: An Alternative to Classroom Management
Our principal read to the staff an impressive, anonymous letter from a student that had been in one of our teacher’s psychology classes. It spouted the general liking for what the student could finally understand, not as class rules, but as what they called “Boundary Markers”. To create a classroom of trust with clear boundaries […]