TL;DR: Twenty years ago, teachers had each other’s backs. Their PLN were teachers down the hall. Now, PLNs look different. When you attend national conferences, you have the opportunity to connect with other educators across the U.S. You can learn and grow from others by asking questions. Five benefits of a PLN: learning, sharing, celebrating, reflecting, and growing. A PLN … Read More
Teaching During a Pandemic: Renewed Hope (Part 2)
TL;DR: Teaching during a pandemic began with feeling lost. Getting more information and clarity on teacher expectations led to higher confidence for teachers. Experiencing this year has led to a renewed hope for the future. My Purpose My purpose in blogging is to work through and process thoughts, happenings, and feelings throughout my teaching career. I’m hoping that through my … Read More
Climb Higher: It’s Not All Low-Hanging Fruit
TL;DR: There are benefits to reaching for the low-hanging fruit: small wins, buy-in, momentum, easier to check off the list, requires fewer meetings and communication, and there is less risk involved. We cannot afford to pick low-hanging fruit for a prolonged time. It’s the second semester and summer break will be here before we know it. Teacher teams and school … Read More
Engage Until the End: Reflecting on the End of the Year
TL;DR: Reflect by creating a visual timeline, class memory book, or slideshow. Culminating projects to show what students learned during the year include a book sales pitch with their favorite books showcased, summer or year-end BINGO cards, or a game of Family Feud. Proper closure to the year is important. Some ideas include writing a letter to their next year’s … Read More
Relationships & Partnerships Are Keys to Good Leadership!
TL;DR: Building relationships and community partnerships are keys to good leadership! We teach the students in our communities; why not connect them to the community as we teach? A partnership with community groups when teaching contributes to positive learning and teaching experiences. A Key to Good Leadership: How do we build partnerships? It’s so important to consider relationships and how … Read More