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.
Tag: education
The Biggest Problem in Education
Recently, I was asked a question on the Planning Period podcast. “What do you think is the biggest problem in education?” I responded quickly and with one word: inequity. I say this because I’ve been studying how education impacts the social mobility of our students. Lately, I’ve been doing a lot of reading in the… Continue reading The Biggest Problem in Education
It is enough.
This year has been hard. Not only have my husband and I been in a holding pattern, but I’ve also been struggling to find my place and my own direction. I’m constantly plagued by questions. Where are we headed? What do I want to do? Where do I want to go? How do I want… Continue reading It is enough.
Turn Off the Scoreboard
I was on the phone with my dad today, which is our Wednesday tradition, and we were having a conversation about education. It’s pretty typical for me to share what I’m up to with teaching and learning, and he usually has some input. He’s an incredibly fiery and vocal guy, clocking in at 5’5”, so… Continue reading Turn Off the Scoreboard
Stop Closing the Door
Close your door, and do what’s best for kids. I hear this sometimes. I’ve said this before. And from what I’ve gathered, the sentiment is not all that uncommon. Amidst all the district initiatives, required testing, and things we have to do, educators know when practices are becoming detrimental to our students. We instinctively know… Continue reading Stop Closing the Door
One Word 2020: Voice
Our voices are powerful things. Whether we express them verbally in person, through our words in writing, or any other mode of communication, they hold weight. They can be used to spread joy and positivity or to breed a negative message. In either case, they have great power. I was reminded recently of a TED… Continue reading One Word 2020: Voice
The Smartest Person in the Room is the Room
Being at NCTE is a surreal experience. I have spent the last few days surrounded by passionate, dedicated professionals, incredibly talented authors, and nearly my entire professional library—live and in the flesh. I’ve sat it sessions with educators from all over the country and learned from their expertise on social justice, LGBTQ rights, literacy development,… Continue reading The Smartest Person in the Room is the Room
Teaching Text Evidence with Movie Trailers
Teachers all have lessons they create that they’re proud of. These lessons typically teach valuable skills in a new, innovative way. Many times, they are popular among students, too. For me, one of the lessons in my repertoire that I am most proud of (and love to teach) is on text evidence. In sixth grade,… Continue reading Teaching Text Evidence with Movie Trailers
The Impact of Teachers Who Care
You hear a lot these days about the importance of building relationships with your students. It seems like a typical education ‘buzzword’, popping up in all the current blogs, Twitter chats, Instagram stories, and even research. While this concept is gaining popularity (or so it seems), I can tell you with 100% certainty that it… Continue reading The Impact of Teachers Who Care
Letting Go of Control in Your Classroom
When I talk to other teachers about personalized learning, I always share how difficult it was for me at the beginning (and sometimes it still is). There are always challenges with anything, especially when it’s new, and personalized learning is no different. This philosophy allows for a lot of student freedom, self-regulation, and choice, which… Continue reading Letting Go of Control in Your Classroom
Curriculum Coffee 