I read a quote yesterday that said, “What if every time you said that a student was attention seeking, you said instead they were connection seeking. How would that change your perspective?” At first, I could hear the diatribe running
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A Teacher by any Other Name
The day is finally here! Today is the day I am getting married on the beach in beautiful La Jolla, California! This whole quarter has been a whirlwind with adjusting to life as a new mom, starting over in a
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Dare Greatly: You Are A Teacher Leader
I have an assignment for you: Look in the mirror and say, slowly and convincingly, “I am a teacher leader.” Feel weird? It did to me for a LONG time. I didn’t see myself as a leader; I was “just
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Why Do You Stay?
Sniffles, sneezes, and coughs. That’s what I woke up to Tuesday morning when I picked up my nine-month-old son, Brooks. I’ve been dreading this day since he was born. So far, we’ve dodged the cold bug, but I knew this
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The Extra Degree
As a college athlete, coaches constantly challenged our team, especially in the weight room and at practice. Being “good enough” was not an option. They taught us to push through a last repetition or to finish a certain drill, because
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Lessons Learned from Missing the Mark
Parent teacher conferences are right around the corner. It’s the time of year when connecting with our families is the school-wide priority. As we prepare for the busy days and long nights, I’ve been thinking about the home/school connection. One
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There is a Forest in My Acorn
I was listening to a minister speak on the importance of recognizing untapped potential. He used an acorn as the example and expounded on all that it can become when put in its right environment. In fact, each acorn has
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Every Teacher Needs a Champion
Five years ago, I left my familiar junior high school to move to a new district and a new grade level. I was excited for a new challenge after teaching the same thing for 11 years and felt confident because
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Tech Troubles
Have you backed up your work lately? Because I hadn’t. And in the blink of an eye, all of it was gone. Quizzes, reading materials, practice grammar assignments, my final exam from last year, current data I had compiled- all
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Math Placement: A Tale of Two Districts
Math placement involves assigning students to a math class that best aligns with their skills and current knowledge. The default placement is grade level: 8th grade students take 8th grade math. But at every school, some students have advanced beyond
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