A Teacher’s Impact Can Transcend Generations

Kari PitstickBlog, Reflect Better

TL;DR: A teacher’s impact on the lives of their students can transcend generations. Don’t lose sight of the fact that though they may not be tangible, we are making positive impacts on lives every single day. I wanted to be a teacher my entire life. I have memories as early as kindergarten, coming home from school and teaching my stuffed … Read More

Thanking a Teacher

Susan JachymiakBlog, Reflect Better

TL;DR: A teacher can reignite a passion for teaching and learning by believing in you and caring about you. Read an appreciation letter to Dr. Cullen for making such an impact on Susan’s life. You are strongly encouraged to thank a teacher this week to let them know of their impact. Growing up, I was fortunate to have amazing teachers … Read More

Love Better: Connecting Again in Hard Times

Sanam EdwardsBlog, Reflect Better, Teach Happier

TL;DR: While some teachers were excited to be back at school, others loved working from home. A lot of negativity was hidden when people didn’t have to interact with one another in person daily. How do you react to negative experiences at your school? Connect to students and staff members, practice patience, and love better. Back to School After being … Read More

Teaching Collaboration and Communication

Erin StackBlog, Reflect Better

TL;DR: How do students know if they’re doing a great job collaborating? Directly teach students what collaboration looks like. Share feedback with them throughout their class through glows and grows or a rubric. Embed practice into your lessons. Prized Classroom Possession My most prized classroom possession may not be what you’d assume. It’s not a document camera, SmartBoard, or other … Read More

Remote Learning: Does Learning Space Impact Student Growth?

Steven WeberBlog, Differentiation, Lesson Planning, Reflect Better

TL;DR: The pandemic has caused a gap between students from access to resources, support, and learning environments. Students’ circumstances impacted their ability to learn creating interrupted and unfinished learning experiences. There was a vast difference in what students’ learning spaces were like outside of the classroom. Reflecting on what students have gone through and how this translates into our classrooms … Read More