Life is a series of stories. By definition, a story is a chain of events. In both formal and informal education, storytelling is an excellent teaching strategy. Think about it – teaching English, History, Reading, Science, Social Studies, Art and even Math can be enhanced by the use of stories. We’ve all told them, whether […]
helping students
Posted inFeatured, From the Front Lines, Instruction & Curriculum, Literacy, Middle School
Teaching Through Trickery: A Snapshot of Theory vs. Reality
During my first year of teaching high school, I inherited a remedial reading class that consisted of about eighteen unmotivated juniors. Having just finished a graduate program in educational psychology with emphasis placed specifically on reading and literacy, I saw this as an opportunity to take all of those research-based best practices and make readers […]
Posted inFeatured, From the Front Lines, Opinion
We Believe: An Open Letter on Behalf of Every Teacher
Many Americans live in an era where their jobs present new daily challenges: so many of us are expected to do more with less; others feel underpaid and overworked, while many wish the government would get out of their profession. We take heat when we don’t perform, and we go home soured by the work […]
Posted inFeatured, Instruction & Curriculum, Literacy, School Improvement, Uncategorized
Written Text or Audiotext in the Classroom? We Should Have Both
I am passing out Brave New World to the 10th graders. “Is there an audiobook for this?” a student asks. “Why not just read the book?” I respond. “I can’t read this without help,” explains the student. “I’ll see,” I sigh. I admit that in the past I had been a little frustrated at these requests. I […]
Posted inFeatured, Instruction & Curriculum, Special Education, Uncategorized
5 Easy Ways to Celebrate Exceptional Children’s Week
[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”] It’s that time of year again. All across our nation, including the great state of Georgia, teachers, students and parents alike will be celebrating Exceptional Children’s Week March 6-10, 2017. This […]
Posted inElementary School, Featured, Instruction & Curriculum, Kindergarten, Literacy, Uncategorized
ESL Students in the General Education Classroom
Help! I have a new student in the middle of February who doesn’t speak any English! What should I  do? Sound familiar? This often happens at my school. English Language Learners (ELL), or English as a Second Language (ESL) students, are part of a very transient population. Sometimes students will even leave mid-year for a month […]
Posted inOpinion, Teacher Branding, The Unemployed Teacher
New Directions: An Unemployed Teacher Looks at the Future and Creates a New Personal Brand
I spent most of the first year after my layoff just wanting to go back. Back to the job I had so passionately loved. Back to the routine that was so familiar. Back to the students with whom I felt so at home with. Back to the career that had been moving along at a […]
Posted inClassroom Management, Opinion, Parents
Educating the Uneducated: 10 Things I Wish Every Parent Knew
I’ve been on both sides of the fence: the educator side and the parent side. I’m sure most of you have been there also. We’ve all had the families come through our classroom doors that we cannot wait to develop relationships with. You know the ones: they fill out every line on the volunteer form then add […]