In the transition to remote learning, educators are doing more work than ever before. We are re-learning how to do our jobs, pivoting between instructional models, and constantly innovating our practice to provide the best quality instruction to our learners. Many of us are faced with difficult challenges, and at times, we just do not… Continue reading Secondary Stations for Remote Learning
Educators everywhere have embarked on a school year unlike any other. In the spring, we were in survival mode, doing everything we could to stay afloat and be there for our kids. We learned from that experience and started this year feeling a little more sure of what we were doing. If you’re anything like… Continue reading Recalibrating This School Year
This is for all my fellow planners… Those who invest in a beautifully organized system of lessons, who plan weeks (months) ahead of time to create cohesion. 2020 has been an exercise in procrastination. Not real procrastination, but procrastination by my definition. I am one who plans units at a time, adjusting them as necessary… Continue reading #SOL20: To All My Fellow Planners
Like many this week, I reflect on the passing of Ruth Bader Ginsburg. I was sitting on the couch after a long week of virtual teaching, when I opened the News app to catch up. My gasp was so loud that my husband came in from the other room, thinking I had hurt myself. We… Continue reading #SOL20 – Notorious RBG
It’s been awhile. The last post I wrote was published in May. It has been four months since I have written anything. The longest I have ever gone. Because, as many of you know, I am not a quiet person. But lately, I have not been able to find the words. My voice has been… Continue reading Renewal
This time of year, there are a lot of endings. The end of a school year. The end of an elementary, middle, or high school experience. The end of a college career. Usually these endings are met with celebrations and new beginnings. There’s pomp, circumstance, and a lot of love. But, as we all know,… Continue reading Endings
Dear 6th grade class of 2020, I cannot tell you how proud I am of you. This year has not been at all how we expected it to be. Your first year of middle school, abruptly ground to a halt without notice. Leaving our classroom on a Friday, headed in to the weekend that ended… Continue reading Love, Mrs. G
“Grades during this time should be used as feedback instead of instruments of compliance.” The Illinois Governor, J. B. Pritzker, made this statement when announcing that schools across the state would be closed until April 30th. Upon hearing it, I was proud that our state would be prioritizing learning and growth over grading. As I… Continue reading The Fall of Grades
Classroom and school culture are massive components of our jobs as educators. It’s integral that we cultivate an environment where our students and staff feel comfortable and supported. Because then they are able to learn and work most effectively. We’ve each spent a lot of time this school year building these wonderful classroom and school… Continue reading “Classroom” Culture During COVID-19
We are living through a crazy time. That’s an understatement, for sure. But I’m not sure how else to put it. Everything is so uncertain and changing by the minute, that by the time I finish writing this, things will have evolved. In a video I recorded for my students, I told them that we… Continue reading Teachers: Feel your feelings.
