This school year is already the year of all years. I thought transitioning to online instruction was a challenge. Nope! I would do it again when compared to how this year has started out. To be fair, this year would
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The Dressmaker and the Educator
The young woman felt like royalty! A fitting for a dress that was made especially for her. On the first visit to the dressmaker’s shop, they had spent about an hour just talking. What was the occasion the date what
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That “Q” Word
It is a new school year, and that means we are starting over fresh! New students, new clothes, new friends, new perspective; moving on from the-school-year-that-must-not-be-named. We kissed online learning good-bye, and are fully back to in-person learning. Hallelujah! On
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Why do you keep teaching?
Back in 1998 when I graduated from Arizona State University, (Go Devils) I was often asked, “Why do you want to become a teacher?” The easy answer was always that I wanted to make a difference in the lives of
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When Good Teachers Go
At the end of last school year, we all contemplated our future careers in education. My friends and I joked about all the other jobs our teaching skills could be used for and clicked through the want ads when they
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Letting Things Go
I am a yes girl. “Mrs. Kirchoff, will you take the lead on this?” Yes. “Mrs. Kirchoff, will you write this up for us?” Yes. “Can you be on this committee?” Yes. “We are looking for volunteers to help out
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Ready To Learn
Reopening Schools: 5 Strategies for Learning Loss How Should Schools Address Learning Loss? Coronavirus Learning Loss: How Districts are Responding How to Address Learning Loss Due to COVID-19 Addressing Learning Loss in 2021 These are titles of actual articles about
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Core Proposition 1: Teachers are committed to students and their learning.
Education is a profession that requires nurturing relationships: with students, families, colleagues, and communities. Developing those relationships takes time and intentionality. It is about more than knowing how a student performs academically, what is on an Individual Education Plan
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Kiss That Phrase Goodbye!
“Ok, class we’re going to kiss that phrase goodbye!” said the teacher, as she put a sticky note on a cute bulletin board shaped like lips that include phrases they would never say again. Already on the list is “hanitizer”
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Year 35 or Year 1? The Voyage Has Begun
Some weeks ago, in Year 35 or Year 1?, I pondered how teaching in a high school for the first time since 1987 would go. I wondered what high school students were like, how well I would do, in delivering
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