TL;DR: Having a maker mindset can encourage students to be creative and explore. A maker space is not necessary for providing these opportunities for students. Curated materials and time are all students need. It can be the perfect activity to end the year. State testing is over. We’ve covered the curriculum. Students are unruly and impatient for summer. How do … Read More
Episode #164: Rae Hughart
Rae Hughart is the Executive Director of the Association of Middle-Grade Schools, CXO for the Teach Better Team, TEDx Speaker, Educator, and author of “Teachers Deserve It” and “Teach Better” books. Growing up with IEP support after being diagnosed SLD in Reading, Writing, and Math, Rae has worked with other educators and districts on designing mastery learning classrooms nationwide to … Read More
Episode #163: Barbara Ann Mojica
Barbara Ann Mojica is a historian and retired educator. Barbara provides tools to inspire, entertain and educate youth. History is the key to solving today’s problems. Tired of being bombarded by social media noise? Accept the challenge. Be a truth-teller. She lives in Upstate NY. Her education career spans more than forty years serving as a teacher, special educator, principal, … Read More
Sneaking Assessment Into Writing Instruction
TL;DR: Assessment doesn’t always have a positive connotation. Start with an asset-based mindset: what can students do well? Clarify what you want the students to be able to do and look for it. Involve students in the goal-setting process. Sneaking Assessment Into Writing Instruction If I mention assessment to teachers, they cringe. Maybe the cringe comes from the thought that … Read More
Reawaken Your Clarity
TL;DR: Let go of perfection. Allow yourself to move forward and let go of the past. Give yourself time to rest. Be okay with setting boundaries. Reawaken clarity. I hopped into my car yesterday and realized that the front windshield was dirty. With no time to clean it on my way to work, I realized how difficult it was to … Read More



