TL;DR: Staying active is important, during a shelter in place order, and always! Tips to get (and stay) active. One of the most important things for educators is to maintain their mental health. With so many states issuing stay at home orders during the pandemic, it may have been a struggle for you to stay healthy mentally. One thing that … Read More
Powerful Podcasting at the Hands of Students
TL;DR: How podcasting can benefit student engagement AND meet content standards. Basic tips for starting a podcast with your students. Why Podcast with Students According to George Washington University, “Students who said they aren’t that motivated at the beginning of class score higher on tests when they listen to podcasts featuring content.” Besides being a fun and engaging way for … Read More
Grading SAMR Model
TL;DR: Grading is undergoing changes, and many schools or districts need guidance. A comprehensive overview of the grading SAMR model, created by Erik Youngman. Grading should be fair, accurate, meaningful, and clearly communicated. I created the “Grading SAMR Model” to provide a framework for defining indicators within four distinct dimensions. They can be compared, separately or simultaneously, to guide grading … Read More
The Power of Place Based Education
TL;DR: Helping children to truly learn about their community and to engage in their own learning. Leveraging partnerships within the community to create these learning experiences can transform learning and can yield higher levels of learning for students. How do you create authentic learning experiences in schools? There are several ways to help students experience learning beyond the classroom. At … Read More
Returning to the Classroom after Maternity Leave
TL;DR: Encouragement for any new teacher mom. A letter, some love, and a game plan for returning to work. It’s that time of the school year where some new mamas are preparing to head back to the classroom after a maternity leave. When I had my daughter, I often thought about the leave, but didn’t think much about the return. It … Read More