December is here! The children are high energy and excited. Families are busy. School schedules are tight. This is the time that I give in to the pull and switch gears so that we can all get through health and
Read MoreIt’s the Most Wonderful Time of the Year
Holiday themed outfits – check. Holiday read alouds – check. Holiday door decorations – double check. Antsy students – there are not enough checks in the world for this one. Teachers everywhere are beginning to prepare for the holidays in
Read MoreLet me tell you bout’ my best friend
During math period one morning, my third graders were working on solving a division problem with repeated subtraction. After spending time discussing the strategy and how to work through a problem, I let them know they would have a chance
Read MoreGrief and Gratitude
Three weeks ago, a student experienced a health crisis incident and died on our campus. It happened in our busy central courtyard a few minutes before classes started for the day. I didn’t know him myself, but the teacher next
Read MoreYou Can Say No
“You can say no.” This is the advice that I give to all new teachers. It’s okay to not take on every “opportunity”. It’s okay to say that you don’t have the time to give that “project” 100%. IT’S OKAY.
Read MoreClassroom Support
“Can you come in and show me what it is supposed to look like?” (new ELA curriculum) – 4th-grade teacher “Sure thing, let’s set up some time together so I can come into your room and go through that with
Read MoreDashboard Warning System?
Teachers should have warning lights similar to those found on a car’s dashboard system. I drove my husband’s car out of town this past weekend; at one point it flashed a light in the dashboard and a message popped up
Read MoreReasons To Be Thankful
I spend a lot of time critiquing issues in my profession. The criticism is born out of love for my profession, passion for the work, and a deeply held belief that public education is the bedrock of a functional society.
Read MoreThe Cape: Option 3
In my previous post, The Cape: Deny or Accept, I discussed the conflicting emotions I had after reading the EducationWeek articles High Teacher Expectations Boost Long-Term Student Outcomes (Madeline Will, 2022) and Why One Principal Is Asking Her Staff to
Read MoreThe Breakfast Club
What does your breakfast routine consist of? I asked my educator friends and heard the following: “I never eat breakfast” “I make a run for Dunkin; the employees know me by name and have my order memorized!”
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