It’s that time of year when the child within us develops a dreamy, far-off look, and her eyes begin to gleam. Sugar plums? A Red Ryder BB gun? A new laptop? A roof rack and two kayaks? Creating a holiday
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Do Evaluations Improve Teaching?
I spend a lot of time thinking about my district’s evaluation system these days. As a first-year director of personnel, developing something new, meaningful, and usable is on my short list. After years of being evaluated by our current evaluation
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Cats, Pudding, and Apples: Still on the Quest for the Perfect Reading Program
Last month I blogged about my struggles with independent reading asking you, the experts, for feedback, answers, and ideas. Wow! I never expected the feedback you provided to encouraged me to think, reevaluate, and ponder the subject so profoundly. After
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Making the Most of Time Off
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
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Scholastic Synergy
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
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Nothing Routine about Routines and Procedures
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
Read MoreAre Students Being Misdiagnosed?
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
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I am Thankful for…
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
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!”
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