2015 - Page 3 of 10 - STORIES FROM SCHOOL AZ

Self-Doubt

October 21, 2015Daniela A. Robles Uncategorized

In 2007, I achieved National Board Certification. In 2007, a National Board Certificate was valid for ten years. At ten years, I would renew my certificate, or go through renewal. In 2007, the idea of the renewal process seemed far

Just a Word, Please?

October 15, 2015Jess Ledbetter Uncategorized

I really have something on my mind lately: Teachers need time for professional conversations with colleagues. I’m not talking about mandated conversations chosen by administrators for PLCs or Professional Development. I’m talking about giving teachers unstructured time to develop strategies around

An Aggressive Reply to Common Core Advocates

October 14, 2015Sandy Merz Assessment, Education Policy, Parent Involvment

My opinion of the Arizona College and Career Ready Standards has followed a path from cautious support to grudging support to undecided to qualified disapproval to outright opposition. My scorn for their implementation has never varied. I’ve written that teachers who support the standards

The Wait…

October 9, 2015Jen Robinson Assessment, Education, Education Policy

The inevitable is coming later this month. Arizona standardized assessment results will be released. We know the preliminary data is dismal showing most Arizona students are not proficient in reading or math. I have unsettled feelings about the score release

Who is driving the bus?

October 2, 2015Angelia Ebner Education, Life in the Classroom, National Board Certification, Professional Development, Teacher Leadership

Do you get on or do you get left behind? Well, it depends on who is driving the bus? Have you ever sat in a professional development and thought “Why on earth am I here?” or “Could the rest of

Photo Credit:
Sanders Memorial Kindergarten Camp

“Isn’t Kindergarten Supposed to be PUN?!?!”

September 30, 2015Danielle Brown Assessment, Current Affairs, Elementary, Life in the Classroom, Teacher Leadership

“ Isn’t Kindergarten supposed to be PUN?!” Translation: Isn’t Kindergarten is supposed to be FUN?! The most constructive and valuable criticism I have received in my 7 years as an educator. Why? It was honest, genuine, and most importantly, provided

Rookie Moves

September 29, 2015Alaina Adams Education, Education Policy, Life in the Classroom, Mentoring, National Board Certification, Professional Development, Teacher Leadership

Now that I’ve returned to the classroom, people keep asking: “How is it going?” And my answer has been pretty consistent: it’s wonderful, but it’s also kicking my proverbial rear end! It’s not like I forgot how complicated teaching was,

Worth It

September 24, 2015Daniela A. Robles Uncategorized

I pursued National Board Certification ten years ago. I was in my 9th year of teaching the same grade, in the same district, at the same school, and I had lost my purpose. My support system for candidacy consisted of

Should We Save a Slice for Charters?

September 19, 2015Amethyst Hinton Sainz Current Affairs, Education Policy

Donnie Dicus got me thinking about charter schools in Arizona. It disgusts me that corporations with absolutely no fidelity to Arizona’s children or communities can profit from money that is desperately needed in the traditional public schools to implement current

Digressions, Gripes, and My Hypocrisy

September 17, 2015Sandy Merz Books, Life in the Classroom, Teacher Leadership, Uncategorized

I’m going to start with a digression (a pregression?). I get poems stuck in my head, just like music. Two frequent culprits are from Kurt Vonneget’s novel, Cat’s Cradle: Lion gotta hunt, Bird gotta fly, Man gotta sit and wonder, Why?