5:00 am BEEP! BEEP! BEEP! There goes the alarm clock, I haven’t heard it in two weeks. Christmas break is over, the new year has begun, and it’s time to get back in the routine of school. 5:15-6:15 am I’m
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What Makes a School Great?
I drove by my school at 6:30 pm Sunday. Teachers and staff weren’t due back until Monday morning, but my school buzzed with the enthusiasm of a Friday night football game. Pop up tents, propane firepits, camping chairs and tents,
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13 Things I’m Happy About at My New School
Some months ago, in The Last Walk to the Parking Lot, I described how a long tenure at my previous school ended and what working there had meant to me. Now, in this season of thanksgiving and hope, it seems
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Want, Need, Wear, Read
I walked into the classroom of one of my beginning teachers and noticed a ‘teacher wishlist’ on her board. Some additions were obvious; it was December and supplies of tissues, dry erase markers, and hand sanitizer were running dangerously low
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No Goodbyes
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
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An Interview with Jamie Valderrama on Compassion Fatigue
Jamie Valderrama works as the Undergraduate Coordinator for the Integrative Health Initiative and as a lecturer for ASU. She has developed curriculum, taught stress management courses, and now oversees 40 sections of stress management courses at ASU each semester. Prior
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What Makes a Good Teacher?
“So, a belief you hold is that you cannot be both a good teacher and a good mom.” If my life were a television show or a movie, there would be a dramatic sound effect like glass breaking or a
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Picky Eaters: What Happens When Kids Don’t Gobble Up Our Passion
As I write this blog, I’m munching on delicious homemade mac and cheese. I made quick white cheddar sauce and tossed in peppers, mushrooms, and peas. It’s topped off with more cheese and a few pieces of crunchy dried jalapenos.
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How I Keep Kindergartners Engaged
Keeping kindergartners engaged is a tough task for any teacher. A friend of mine, a great kindergarten teacher, just told me a story about a class of his. As he was giving extended instructions, one of his students blurted out, “Boooorrrriiiinnggg!”
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