Over the years, many of my second grade students have had a “Good Book.” These are behavior contracts written with a positive slant. It can be adapted to nearly any level. Each page had a space for the student and I to complete at the end of each day. It included three or four goals […]
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Posted inCurrent Events in Education, Featured, From the Front Lines, High School
Life After High School: Reaching Beyond Poverty
This article is part of a new series based on interviews with former high school students about their experience of school and teachers in high school. Meg grew up in intense poverty. She had little parental support throughout her childhood and teen years and had to navigate her own way through her educational experience without guidance from […]
Posted inFeatured, From the Front Lines
Stressed Out! Helping the Child With Selective Mutism Cope With Anxiety
Symptoms of anxiety can range from physical symptoms such as a stomach ache to hoarding items and objects to moodiness and sleep disturbances. For the child with Selective Mutism, anxiety manifests in different ways and in varying degrees, but the hallmark symptom is an inability to talk in certain social situations, usually at school and […]
Posted inFeatured, School Improvement, Special Education
October Is Learning Disabilities Awareness Month
[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”] On October 11, 1985, our then President Ronald Reagan signed Proclamation 5385 making the month National Learning Disabilities Month. We have come a long way, yet we still have so far […]
Posted inFrom the Front Lines, Instruction & Curriculum, New Teacher Bootcamp
How to Avoid Plagiarism in the Era of Common Core
[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”] While I love my profession and why I am doing it, sometimes being a new teacher can suck. But what’s important is that you learn from your mistakes. Take the unit […]
Posted inFeatured
Beyond the Jitters: Selective Mutism and Social Phobia
Let’s face it: many, if not most, children would rather stay home than go to school. Most children are ecstatic to have a snow day, a long weekend, and winter and summer vacations. However, once they are at school, they become happily distracted by interacting with their friends, the day’s lessons, lunchtime, and recess. Sadly, […]
Posted inFeatured, Instruction & Curriculum, Literacy
Just the Facts: Tackling Nonfiction
I show my class a book about whales. We are beginning a science unit on these fascinating creatures and I am using language arts to support it. I selected the book to start the unit carefully. It had to have compelling pictures with captions and text that would be challenging for them yet intriguing enough […]
Posted inClassroom Management, Featured, From the Front Lines
Classroom Rules: It's About Trust
Each September we begin the process of writing the rules. I ask, “What rules do you think we need for our class?” (While my class is full of second graders this process works for any primary grade.) The hands are popcorn. Everyone is bouncing up and down with an idea. The blurters start shouting out […]