Back in April, before COVID put the breaks on all things normal, I had the opportunity to interview the dynamic bundle of intellect and inspiration that is 14-year old Xharia W. Xharia, an 8th grader at Shaw Montessori in Phoenix,
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Montessori Reflections of Online Teaching
Today, Governor Ducey and Superintendent Hoffman officially announced that Arizona schools will remain closed for the rest of the school year. I do not think anyone was surprised based on the push for a systemic approach for online instruction that
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The Power of Error
We are all in the thick of it now. Preparing for….AZMerit and end of year testing (oh no!) I am in it just as much as anyone else, I am sure, and my students and parents are in here with
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“When I grow up…”
“When I grow up, I want to be a __________”. This is one of the earliest conversations I have with my students and the one I hear them talk about with the most ease. It would feel negligent to
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‘Twas the Week Before Christmas
‘Twas the week before Christmas and we are ready for break No one was working how much more can we take? The students looked busy but I knew it was fake. How can they stay focused when the year is
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Christmas in Phoenix 2019
I do not know how it happened, but somehow the Christmas Season has arrived! There are many that hold that the season has not started until after Thanksgiving. Yet, there is enough evidence in the stores, on streaming providers, and
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Bilingualism is a Two Way Road
‘English Only’ Laws in Education on Verge of Extinction was the title that immediately caught my eye during my recent review of Education Weekly. The article, written by Corey Mitchell gave a brief overview of the history of bilingual education
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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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A Rainbow Inside the Cloud
During a small group outing to Burton Barr Library, one of my students directed me to “Look up at that, Mrs. Wheelington!” I did, and I saw something I never saw before…a rainbow inside a cloud. I posted a picture
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Teacher, a Modern Day Abolitionist
This has been a significant year for me. I am now a NBCT, the majority of my students have met academic growths and measures, and my youngest child got her Learner’s Permit. I have been blessed with the opportunity to
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