TL;DR: Students respond better to classroom spaces that are interactive and encourage exploration, movement, and collaboration. Students learn science better through instruction that allows them to have access to the entire classroom space when inspiration strikes. Consider taking the time to honestly reflect on your classroom space to make it more engaging to your students. How are you using your … Read More
Teacher Mindsets that Matter for Multilingual Learners
TL;DR: The beginning of the school year gives us an opportunity for a fresh start. Instead of a negative mindset, identify student’s passions and interests, and how we utilize those to empower students. We can have some fresh mindsets about unmotivated students, lack of support at home, and students without a dominant language. Mindsets to embrace are linguistic inclusivity, want … Read More
Why I’ll Never Go Back to “Normal”
TL;DR: Distance learning helped us connect. Rather than going “back to normal,” educators can take all of the things learned during COVID to make positive changes going forward. Why I’ll Never Go Back to “Normal” I won’t lie to you. There were days last year that I taught in pajama pants, shoes-off, with a cat in my lap. Days where … Read More
Tiny Teachers: Roots of Empathy
TL;DR: Love builds brains and bridges, as well as grows emotional literacy. This post is the first of a new blog series – Better News. The post features @RootsofEmpathy! Roots of Empathy (ROE) is a classroom-focused social and emotional literacy program. It leverages the influence of local families and their babies. Children also have an immeasurable influence in the lives … Read More
The Giving Tree
TL;DR: We can learn about giving from Shel Silverstein’s children’s book, “The Giving Tree.” Recognize that you have gifts and tools that will make others happy when you share them. “The Giving Tree” by Shel Silverstein has long been a cherished book of mine. I remember when I first received the book as a gift when I was seven years … Read More