November 2018 - STORIES FROM SCHOOL AZ

Making the Most of Time Off

November 30, 2018Rachel Perugini Life in the Classroom, Uncategorized

I always go into breaks from school planning to be really productive, but not getting a lot done. I usually spend two days catching up on sleep, television, and cleaning before realizing I’ve accomplished nothing and binge working the day

Scholastic Synergy

November 29, 2018James King Current Affairs, Education, Games

For about 7 years I worked for Walt Disney World in Orlando, Florida. Working in guest-facing as well as “backstage” roles for the company, I learned countless lessons. While those lessons ranged from frivolous to profound, most of those tales

Nothing Routine about Routines and Procedures

November 27, 2018Jen Hudson Life in the Classroom, Professional Development

I recently led a professional development where I asked my participants to think about a classroom that they considered to be the ‘exemplar’ classroom. Many smiled and shared at their tables examples of teachers and classrooms where significant learning took

Are Students Being Misdiagnosed?

November 26, 2018Dr. Austine Etcheverry Education

Providing an education to students with trauma is a delicate balancing act, and I often find myself wondering if I am on the winning or loosing side of supporting this group of students. When I first heard the words trauma

Waiting

November 24, 2018Jen Robinson Current Affairs, Education, Professional Development, Teacher Leadership

National Board score release is a week away… I remember this time being filled with anxiety and self-doubt, wondering how I would respond when I opened my score report. I had heard somewhere that scores would be released according to

I am Thankful for…

November 21, 2018Caitlin Gawlowski Education, Elementary, Uncategorized

Is it just me, or is this one of the craziest parts of the school year? I just got back from a field trip with over 100 students, have to get progress reports put together, organize the 2nd grade Thanksgiving

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Building Relationships: The struggle of an Elementary Specialist

November 20, 2018Susan Collins Education, Elementary, Life in the Classroom

I dread the comment, even though I know it is meant as encouragement. It just rubs me the wrong way. “You’re so lucky you DON’T have to sit through data meetings” or “Wow! I bet you have so much fun!”

MOWR…Is 2nd Grade the New 3rd Grade?

November 18, 2018Yolanda Wheelington Assessment, Education, Education Policy, Elementary, Life in the Classroom, Professional Development

Move On When Reading (MOWR) is a policy currently in effect with the intention of preparing students to be proficient readers by 3rd grade so they are properly prepared to enter 4th. This leads to the questions: What is so

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Discipline and Grades Matter in Sports

November 15, 2018Mike Vargas Sports

This past week I was asked to coach basketball again at my old romping grounds at Scottsdale Community College. The alumni game is a new tradition that takes place every year prior to the regular season and I was

Why Not Have Norms for Email, Too?

November 13, 2018Sandy Merz Life in the Classroom, Professional Development

Pretty much every staff meeting, PLC meeting, and professional training in education starts by listing the norms by which participants should abide. The idea is keep the meeting focused and efficient. A typical list includes things like equity of voice, responsible