TL;DR: Ants appear to roam anywhere and everywhere outside but when they come inside your home, their purpose becomes more evident. Ants are strong and tenacious. Educators can learn by studying them and being more like them. They know their WHY. Do you? If you haven’t thought about your WHY in a while, it’s time to revisit and rediscover. It … Read More
4 Strategies to Get to Know Your Students
TL;DR: We all want to start the year with the notion that it will be the best year yet. Learn four ways on how to get to know your students better. Have students work on a mind map with activities they did, family members, and places that were important to them. Then have them present not their own, but their … Read More
Me in a Bag
TL;DR: A great first week of school activity is “Me in a Bag.” Encourage students to use their creativity when placing items that must fit in the bag. Start by setting the example and have your own bag prepared. Present your items explaining the reason for each. Be flexible with the number of items in the bag and show genuine … Read More
The Gift of Care
TL;DR: The practice of choosing One Word can be more effective than making New Year’s resolutions. One student chose the word CARE and he demonstrated it every day. Begin to see kind and caring gestures for you as gifts of care because it deepens your gratitude and relationships. Give the gift of care for others by not only thinking of … Read More
Building Relationships in the First Weeks of School
TL;DR Strong relationships in the classroom are the foundation for a successful school year. Be intentional with the activities you choose and be willing to be vulnerable with your students. It is important to scaffold relationship building with students. I believe that I am an outstanding teacher because I work hard every day to build relationships with my students to … Read More
