The month of April in general shines the spotlight on Autism, but what about the other 335 days of the year? Will teachers, parents, principals, doctors, politicians, and organizations continue to spread awareness about Autism? I sure hope so and this article is my way of keeping the blue light shining bright so that we […]
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Posted inCurrent Events in Education, Featured, Instruction & Curriculum, Principals' Corner, Uncategorized
Fight! Fight! Illinois Teachers Refuse to Administer ISAT State Test
There is another battle this week between parents and teachers against Chicago Public Schools and it centers on testing. Threats from the board include disciplinary action against teachers including the revocation of teacher certification. Next week, the Illinois Standards Achievement Test (ISAT) is administered to grade school students across the city and state. The test takes […]
Posted inCommon Core, Current Events in Education, Featured, From the Front Lines, Uncategorized
The Tyranny of the Datum
Data is a big deal. A great deal of innovation is happening right now in the field of data collection, storage, and management in the field of education. There are some well-documented fears among parents and teachers regarding these trends. Who will control the data? How will the data be used? Will my child’s data […]
Posted inAsk a Teacher, Featured, Opinion, Parents, Principals' Corner
20 Simple and Free Gifts for Any Teacher
What do I give to my child’s teacher? As people of all walks of life traipse the store aisles this December looking for the perfect holiday gift, the teachers that give so much to your children occasionally enter your mind. Should you feel obligated to give a gift? By no means, no. But if you […]
Posted inFeatured
The Child Development of ‘Tweens’
If only we could get into the heads of our eleven-, twelve- and thirteen-year-olds and their child development. These kids are experiencing so many different emotions in rapid secession, it is difficult to understand them, let alone help them. Let’s check out child development for these ages kids from our five main areas: Cognitive Development: […]
Posted inClassroom Management, Featured, Instruction & Curriculum, Opinion
Let's Talk About Sex, Baby
So, let’s talk about the unmentionable, which should be mentioned before kids start giggling and sneaking around experimenting: SEX. We teach all other three-letter-words when kids are young, so why is this one neglected? Sure, it’s the parents’ responsibility to cover this subject.  But the fact of the matter is: most parents aren’t doing this, […]
Posted inInstruction & Curriculum
Child Development: Seven- and Eight-Year-Olds
This article is part of a continuing series on Child Development.  To see Paula’s other articles, click here. You gotta love the life of seven- and eight-year-olds. Let’s take a look into the child developmental areas of these kiddos. Cognitive development: For the most part, in this child development stage, these kids are fairly well-established […]
Posted inClassroom Management, Parents, Technology
Communication: It’s Not Just Newsletters Anymore
[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”] The first newspaper was published in America in 1690.* This changed the way information was shared: from tales and gossip to written word. Beginning in 1885, newspapers were delivered daily by train. […]