TL;DR: Black history should be amplified all year long. Black voices belong in students’ curriculum and content for more than 28 days. Amplify Black authors and achievements in all subjects by citing Black teachers, creators, authors, and thinkers, reading text that celebrates black excellence and joy, and helping students understand Black history. Teach Black identity intersectionality and be mindful of … Read More
What IS Engagement?
TL;DR: When we engage students in the curriculum, we need to consider whether we are creating excitement, curiosity, and interest to want to learn more. Behavioral, physical, social, emotional, and cognitive are all types of engagement to consider in an educational setting. Engagement is another word that became overused in 2020. As schools transitioned to remote learning this spring, districts … Read More
My Educational Heroes: Our School Counselors
TL;DR: The role of the school counselor has changed from in the past. They manage college essays and counsel students. They also create and monitor programs, including social-emotional learning, new student programs, suicide prevention, career development, intervention, and family issues. This post honors National School Counseling Week from February 1-5. A few years ago, I had the privilege of co-presenting … Read More
Mind Your Business!
TL;DR: Mind your own business to keep a positive heart space and headspace. Consider whether something is your business, someone else’s, or the universe’s. After you discern that, you can discern the next right thing. Do you find yourself stuck in the land of what-ifs? Or is there a certain person or situation that continues to take up a significant … Read More
You the Person, You the Teacher
TL;DR: Discover who you are as a person, then discover who you are as a teacher. To determine what kind of teacher you are, first determine what your passion is. Offer up the gift of being likable. And be vulnerable with your students. I’d like to take a moment or two of your time to reflect on some things that … Read More