Amethyst Hinton Sainz, Author at STORIES FROM SCHOOL AZ

Students take a brain break during testing.

Let’s Play! Maybe Older Students Need Recess, Too!

February 14, 2020Amethyst Hinton Sainz Education, Education Policy, Games, Life in the Classroom, Literacy, Love, Social Issues, Sports, Uncategorized

Today was the first day of AZELLA testing for my 7th grade introduction level English Language Development class. They were very nervous during the first subtest (Listening), and then we had quite a bit of time to relax. It wasn’t

Learning Environment (Emphasis on “Learning”)

January 15, 2020Amethyst Hinton Sainz Assessment, Education, Life in the Classroom, Literacy, Professional Development

Today, after a short PD session introducing an upcoming focus for our faculty, I was once again bothered. Rather, I was nagged by a small portion of that self-doubt that engulfs me every January before AZELLA testing happens. Our principal

No Goodbyes

December 15, 2019Amethyst Hinton Sainz Uncategorized

Last Monday, Diana did not show up to school. After I take attendance, I habitually ask the class for confirmation of who is missing, just to keep me on my toes. “So, Diana’s absent?” “Yes.” “Se fue a Mexico.” “She

Saving Seeds

November 12, 2019Amethyst Hinton Sainz Education, Life in the Classroom, Uncategorized

The weather was gorgeous over the long holiday weekend, mid-80’s, and clear with a light breeze. I finished painting our chicken enclosure, disentangled armfuls of the overgrown bermuda grass from the asparagus patch, and peered at the hopeful sprouts of

Story from the School Garden

October 15, 2019Amethyst Hinton Sainz Education, Education Policy, Life in the Classroom, Love, Parent Involvment, Professional Development, Teacher Leadership

In 2008, Lisa Moberg, now an NBCT and once a blogger for Stories from School Arizona, was teaching on a third grade team in a West Valley Title I school. The team had heard about the Western Growers Foundation grants

“ELL” Doesn’t Say it All

September 16, 2019Amethyst Hinton Sainz Education, Education Policy, Literacy

Did you know that the majority of English learners in U.S. K-12 schools are not immigrants? From outside of the ELD classroom, it’s easy to see the group as rather monolithic in their needs, despite their cultural and linguistic diversity.

#FirstDays Beyond the Four-Hour Block

August 21, 2019Amethyst Hinton Sainz Education, Education Policy, Literacy, Professional Development, Teacher Leadership

We were asked to introduce ourselves in our blogs this week, and that feels funny, since this is the sixth (or seventh?) year I have had the opportunity to contribute to Stories from School Arizona. This will be my 25th

Planning Blind: The Limitations of Test Scores

May 7, 2019Amethyst Hinton Sainz Assessment, Current Affairs, Education, Education Policy

Warning: Grumpy face. You’ve run the race, and you need to start strategizing how you will train for the next one. But you won’t know the results of the race for months. Innovation can be exhilarating… as well as exhausting,

Loving Intentions and Liking Our Students

April 30, 2019Amethyst Hinton Sainz Uncategorized

There is a sign on the door of my classroom that says “I <3 My Students” (with an actual heart). It is cut out in the shape of a heart and made on sunset colored poster board. I made it

Arizona SB1318 and Dyslexia Policy

March 7, 2019Amethyst Hinton Sainz Assessment, Current Affairs, Education Policy, Elementary, Literacy, Professional Development

SB 1318, a bill which expands requirements for identifying students with dyslexia and training teachers to help them, has been passed in the Arizona Senate and assigned to committee in the House of Representatives. It was developed by a group