My son, Brooks, discovered Buzz and Woody during the quarantine. I introduced him to the dynamic duo from the Toy Story movies. Since he found these two former enemies and now best friends, we have watched the movies on a
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Simply Put: This is Hard
For the last three years, I have had the honor of blogging for the AZK12 Center’s Stories from Schools AZ. Each month I love having an outlet to pour my thoughts and ideas into. Each month it was easy to
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The Letter of Resignation I Wanted to Write
It’s hard for me to believe, but after twenty years of teaching, this is my last week as a teacher. I wrote my letter of resignation a few months ago. It was a short, simple statement beginning with my intention
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Virtual Classroom Community. Can It Be Done?
You know the feeling. The one when you walk into a classroom where the students and teachers are working together towards a common goal. The room feels warm and inviting. The kids are participating because they trust their teacher and
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Seeing the Bright Side
My mom is a textbook definition of the eternal optimist. She sees the bright side of every situation through her rose-colored glasses. Her self proclaimed nickname is Pollyanna. I did not inherit this trait from her. I, on the other
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What Happens When We Get to College, Mrs. Clark?
One of my favorite aspects of being a teacher is talking with the kids. Just talking. Asking them questions about themselves, their friends and families, hobbies, other classes, after school activities, and future plans. I sit back listening as they
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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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Raising Digital Citizens
The layers of irony in the 1998 film You’ve Got Mail are numerous, but most overt is that the hit-you-over-the-head motif in the film is that the characters all use technology yet smite it. Technology will end society as we
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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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Raising Student Voice through Inclusion
P-A-R-T-Y! Party! Party! Party! Where is the party? The party’s over here! Does this chant ring a bell? It does for me. It’s a popular chant at every Student Council event. The kids chant it back and forth across the
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