TL;DR: Students are looking for connection, peer validation, and a sense of belongingness. This post shares the inspiration behind the creation of a campus podcast. Students and staff are invited to share their voice and their stories. JagsWired: Lending a Voice When I tell people I am a middle school assistant principal I am given the same sad puppy dog … Read More
Before You Throw in the Towel: REASSESS
TL;DR: Being a teacher is not for the faint of heart. Teaching is a calling. If you ever feel helpless, unappreciated, or want to leave the profession, don’t. Instead, REASSESS: remember, evaluate, affirm, seek, study, eliminate, survey, and shift. By nature, I am highly reflective. As a teacher, I often looked forward to ways to redo a poorly executed lesson … Read More
5 Tips for Building Classroom Community
TL;DR: Challenging classroom behavior is often why teachers feel burned out. Building a strong classroom community is a proactive strategy to support positive behavior. Some strategies to build community include morning meetings, closing circles, mindfulness, and more! I was a special education teacher for 10 years and have been in the field for 12. The classroom community is my bread … Read More
Six Tips to Write Your First Book
TL;DR: There are 6 tips to write your first book: go digital, start writing, keep organized, know your why and stick to it, move your mindset, and dangle the carrot. Start writing! Whether you have a story of inspiration and determination or a wealth of knowledge and experience to share, writing a book may be the perfect opportunity for you. … Read More
Be You
TL;DR: Listening to Hamish Brewer or Monica Genta at a conference is inspirational. Be authentic in your relationships with others, especially students, because they will be able to tell when you are not. Demonstrate to students that you care. Recently, I attended a conference where I had the opportunity to observe two amazing presenters, Hamish Brewer and Monica Genta. Let … Read More