“How can we ask ourselves to go observe other teachers in other buildings, when we don’t even observe the teachers in our own building?” This question was recently thrown out by me at a PLC meeting where we were discussing teacher actions that we can take as part of our goal for our Professional Learning Community. When the […]
students
Posted inEducational Apps, Uncategorized
Teacher-Saving Web Tools, Part I: Differentiate reading news with Newsela and Readability
Reading skills are critical to teach our students – but it’s such a stressor to find relevant, newsworthy materials that ALSO hit a variety of reading levels and ALSO are free of all the advertisements, sidebars, and distractions. I’ve spent (wasted) so much time adapting articles myself and copy-and-pasting them into Word docs so that […]
Posted inCurrent Events in Education, Instructional Strategies
Teaching Writing to Struggling Students
The first year that I was in the classroom I was surprised when I assigned a writing task on the play, “The Crucible” that many of the kids were excited to express their feelings about the antagonist, Abigail and protagonist, John. For an entire class period we walked through the writing assignment and discussed possible ways […]
Posted inNew Teacher Bootcamp
September Madness: 5 Thoughts For Young Teachers
Every March I fill out my bracket with hopes that the beloved Tom Izzo will take my Alma Mater’s Spartan hoop-squad to the final four for a shot at the NCAA Championship. Some part of me is hoping for the reincarnation of Mateen Cleaves to appear on the floor and usher the Spartans to the […]
Posted inLiteracy, Opinion
A Reading Affair to Remember
My love affair with reading began underneath the dining room table. It was something I passionately desired to do, and my first glimmer of this new realm was in Kindergarten. There was some kind of power behind the flashcards Ms. Crowning was holding up and I had to have it. I attended Kindergarten in 1985 […]
Posted inCurrent Events in Education, Featured, From the Front Lines, Opinion, Parents, Principals' Corner
Dealing With Death
My husband has been a high school teacher for twelve years. During his fifth year, several of his students from the soccer team were killed in a car accident. The driver lost control of his car, went through a barrier, flipped the jeep and landed in a ravine full of water. A few years later, […]
Posted inCurrent Events in Education, From the Front Lines, High School, Uncategorized
Meet the Parents: A Young Teacher’s Back to School Night
When people find out I teach high school, they often reply with some surprise, “but you look like a high school student yourself!” I sigh, they tell me I’ll be thankful for my youthful appearance as I get older, and we move on – but through these interactions, I am constantly reminded of the additional […]
Posted inCurrent Events in Education, From the Front Lines
Going Back to School Renewed and Empowered, Not Burnt Out
By Guest Writer: Arpine Ovsepyan Back-to-school season is officially here. Thousands of students, parents, teachers, and administrators say good-bye to the carefree summer days and hello to the structure and routine of school. As you prepare for this transition, it is vital to take some time and reflect on how to make this a season […]