2020 has pushed all educators to the limit. It boggles the mind that any administrator would even think that this is the year for PD, but here are a few things to consider if you or your admin “have to” do professional development during a pandemic. Mental Health and PD Teachers and students should beRead more
A few weeks ago I was out to dinner to an old teacher friend. We hadn’t seen each other in a while and I was curious to know how her daughter, Lily, enjoyed second grade. Unfortunately, Lily had a terrible year and went from a kid who loved learning, to a kid who dreaded goingRead more
Why Should You Care About Other Grade Levels? There are a lot of resources and blogs out there that focus on a specific grade level. If you teach Kindergarten, of course you spend your time reading about all things kinder, and speaking with other K teachers others who “get it.” They understand and can sympathizeRead more
There is a lot of information out there about working with kids with different learning styles and personalities. We learn about auditory, visual, and kinesthetic learners. We read about multiple intelligences and emotional IQ. We even learn about extroverted and introverted students. But what about teachers? What if a teacher falls outside of the typicalRead more
When I was in fourth grade, I had a nice enough teacher, Mrs. Adams. Every day after lunch, she would crack open an icy cold soda and place it on her desk. I would stare at it longingly. I was instantly parched. She would sip on it between sentences and throw it away at theRead more
Ask any teacher what they think about their regular staff development meetings and you’ll likely hear a course of groans. It’s not that teachers are opposed to professional development. In fact, most teachers would classify themselves as “life-long learners.” But those weekly face-to-face staff meetings are dreaded by many and loathed by the rest. WhyRead more
Matching Kids to Curriculum Oftentimes schools and districts will purchase a set of curriculum and teachers are asked to use it, regardless of whether or not it meets the needs of their students. Homeschool parents, and teachers with more flexible administrators, may have the ability to make purchasing decisions and/or supplement their prescribed curricula. HereRead more
Growth Mindset for Kids By now, most teachers have incorporated some aspects of “Growth Mindset” into their classrooms. Students are taught to take strategic steps to build up areas that are harder for them. Students are given positive language to use when tackling challenges. But students don’t live in a bubble. They watch kids and adultsRead more
There are many reasons, benefits, and downfalls of home visits for teachers. If you, your grade level, or your school is thinking about home-visits, here are a few things to consider: Why Should I Do Home Visits in the First Place? It helps to really get to know your students – nothing teaches you aboutRead more