Posted inCurrent Events in Education, Elementary School, Instruction & Curriculum, Literacy

Bringing Kids Together

Each teacher has a favorite. Favorite subject, favorite activity, favorite lesson.  Three years ago I started one of my favorites.  Each year we start January with “Where I’m From”.  The students reflect on where they are from and what makes them who they are.  While reflecting on themselves and where they are from, students can focus […]

Posted inElementary School, Featured, How to Fix Education, Instruction & Curriculum, Technology

Skype Connections to Learning

One of our fourth grade standards in Kansas is US states.  Students learn about the regions including their geography, climate, economy and cultures.  We spend time researching and learning about the various states while comparing them to Kansas.  Students become travel agents to different places.  While it would be wonderful to have the funds to fly […]

Posted inCurrent Events in Education, Featured, From the Front Lines, Opinion

Teacher Expertise: You Have the Time & You Have a Say Outside the Classroom

I don’t know how your state is treating educators these days, but in my state, coming from my state legislature, education is constantly under attack.  Education is the current hot  button and there are bills discussed and passed daily to undermine all I do.  Common Core, AP classes,  character education, teacher tenure, and teacher due process are […]