After a long winter of being cooped up indoors, it’s time to get outside and start exploring. Spring is the perfect time to get outside with your students and start experiencing the joy and wonder of outdoor learning. As the winter changes to spring, our world is bursting with new life. So why not use it as a chance to … Read More
The Hardships and Highlights of A Middle School Teacher: A Thank You For ALL You Do!
Teaching Middle School is hard. There are layers and layers of developmental science that teach us educators all about the why’s and how’s and when’s and wow’s of adolescence. Socially, new social circles are emerging. Diverse opinions are converging. Physically and emotionally, young emerging adults feel like roller coasters who are operating at unstoppable and slow moving speeds (that often … Read More
How Aligned Content Can Boost Student Success
Education is like a complex puzzle, and one of the most important pieces is ensuring that what students learn in the classroom actually aligns with the goals and standards set by schools, districts, and states. This is where aligning our content comes into play. When I say “aligning content” what I mean is creating consistency between curriculum objectives, teaching strategies, … Read More
Why Black History Belongs in Every Classroom All Year
Why Black History Belongs in Every Classroom Year-Round Despite Black individuals’ profound contributions and enduring legacies throughout history, the full breadth of Black experiences remains underrepresented in many school curricula. This gap denies students a comprehensive education and hinders the opportunity to foster a more inclusive and informed society. To address this disparity, educators must champion the integration of Black … Read More
Do Kindergarten Crafts Really Make a Difference?
Traditional, copycat crafts have long been the norm in most early childhood classrooms and kindergarten classrooms, despite not having any educational or developmental theories to support them. What can be wrong with these adorable, sometimes intricate projects that have have been sent home from preschool and kindergarten classrooms for as long as any of us can remember? Meeting students where … Read More