Is Your Homework Meaningful or Just Busy Work?

Jeff GargasBlog, Innovation, Lesson Planning, Reflect Better, Student Engagement

The homework debate continues to divide educators, parents, and students. Some advocate for practice at home, believing it solidifies learning, while others argue that homework places unnecessary stress on students and families. Before I go further, I want to note that many educators question the equity of homework in general, because we simply cannot control what students go home to, … Read More

Why Heart Health Education Matters in K-12 Schools

Suzanne RogersBlog, Reflect Better

Cardiovascular disease remains the leading cause of death in the United States, making heart health education essential for students from an early age. Teaching students about heart health can: Encourage lifelong healthy habits, including regular exercise and balanced nutrition. Reduce the risk of obesity, high blood pressure, and heart disease later in life. Promote mental well-being by emphasizing the connection … Read More

What is Yours to Do? Teach Happier Blog Series

Suzanne DaileyBlog, Reflect Better, Self-Care, Teach Happier

Former NFL player and author of Protect Your Peace, Trent Shelton says, “We can’t control what the day brings, but we can control what we bring to the day.” During this unsteady time in education, what can we bring to the day? What can we realistically do? As I was thinking about this month’s Teach Happier blog and considering a … Read More

The Hardships and Highlights of A Middle School Teacher: A Thank You For ALL You Do!

Andrea BitnerBlog, Leadership, Reflect Better, Student Engagement

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