We started school a few weeks ago and I am still getting to know my students. I teach at a small school, around 400 students, so I know faces and names before they come into my classroom. The students know me as well, even before they enter my classroom. You develop a reputation outside of […]
classroom
Posted inClassroom Management, Featured
Supporting Students Can be More than Academic
Supporting students has always meant letting my students know that I understood how stressful their lives can be. While we can’t control their home lives we can be aware that our schools are not necessarily very student friendly. Between earlier and earlier starting times, dress codes/uniforms, poorly scheduled rosters, and crazy standardized testing, students do […]
Posted inElementary School, Featured, The New Teacher Chronicles
First Day Jitters
It is hard to put into words the feeling I felt when that school bell rang at 7:55 signaling the start of the first day of school. Parents had left with their cameras full of “first day” pictures and no one was in the back observing my teaching and making sure my lesson plans were […]
Posted inFeatured, Series, Teacher Leaders
How to Own the Leadership of Your Classroom: Investing Others
This post is the second in a series on classroom-centered teacher leadership. The first part on crafting a vision is here. It’s estimated that teachers are responsible from 1,500 to 3,000 nontrivial decisions every day. And yet, many of us don’t feel in control of our classrooms. Depending on the school we may have some […]
Posted inCurrent Events in Education, From the Front Lines, Literacy, Principals' Corner, Uncategorized
Instructional Coaching 101: You’ve Just Been Hired, Now What?
As I sat at my desk and fumed all I could say to myself was, “I did not sign up for this. This is not how you treat others!” The longer I repeated those words the angrier I became and before long I was hurriedly typing away an email to my principal about my interaction with that […]
Posted inFrom the Front Lines, High School, Middle School, Opinion
What I Wish My Students Knew…
Last year, a teacher asked her students what they wished their teacher knew and it opened the eyes of teachers are around the United States. We all keep things inside and the only way for people to understand us is to let them out and share because only then can we begin to see each […]
Posted inAdult Learning, Current Events in Education, Featured, High School, Opinion
What to Consider when Tragedy Occurs during the School Year
Here in south Louisiana, we are recovering. The Cajuns are a strong, passionate people, and I assure you, we will come back stronger than ever. Thank you all for your thoughts and prayers. In the midst of tragedy, we discover who we are and what we believe, and we choose to believe in humanity and […]
Posted inFeatured
Making Department Meetings Productive
Our prep periods are precious. They are the few moments of the day when we can enjoy adult interaction, possibly eat, grade papers, and lesson plan. If you are an elementary school teacher, I know you do not have any time to yourself. This is why department meetings need to be quick and efficient. I […]