TL;DR: A few decades ago, children were given the freedom to play with less adult intervention. They learned how to self-regulate and problem solve on their own. Now, adults quickly jump in to provide solutions to every problems. We have disempowered children by controlling many aspects of their day. Snowplow parents smooth the way for their children by removing possible … Read More
Learn HOW to Differentiate in Teaching
TL;DR: Rather than modify assignments to differentiate instruction, change how we teach to ensure students understand the material. Not all students learn in the same way. We need to recognize when to change how we teach the lesson. We need to know our students and support them. With differentiated instruction, it is possible to meet the learning styles of all students. … Read More
Summer as a New Teacher
TL;DR: Summer needs to be a time of rest and an intentional reset yourself for the next school year. Summer as a new teacher can involve working at a summer camp or summer school. You can take professional development. Or you can work seasonally for a local business. Congratulations! You have (almost) made it to the end of the school … Read More
Disability and Language
TL;DR: There are three types of language that people use to describe disabilities: person-first, identify-first, and person-centered. To be most respectful, connect with individuals in the community and ask for their preference in language to use. “She suffers from cerebral palsy.” “He is ‘on the spectrum’.” “She is a person with a hearing impairment.” “He is a blind man.” There … Read More
Living the BLENDED Lifestyle
TL;DR: Make the shift from balancing your life to blending your life. The blended lifestyle is the mindset of recognizing that no matter what you are doing, it’s who you are that matters most. When I made the shift from trying to balance my life to blending my life, I went from surviving to thriving almost instantaneously. You’ve probably heard … Read More
