TL;DR: Making connections with and learning from other educators helps lead to growth. Educator support systems are a fundamental part of growth. Make sure to ask for help or seek it out when you need it. As a full-time teacher, a mother of two boys and one more on the way, and a doctoral student preparing for the final defense … Read More
The Courage to Change Your Mind
TL;DR: Teachers of argument should encourage students to lean out of their comfort zone and explore different points of view. Listening to things we don’t readily agree with actually helps us become more informed about our own values and ideas. Several strategies like believing/doubting, belief continuums, and confirmation bias assessment help students become better at argument writing and speaking. Have … Read More
Building a Runway for Student Success
TL;DR: Teachers and administrators need to build a runway to ensure student success in the 2021-22 school year. Assessments, interventions, social and emotional learning, and priority standards are among many things that need to be considered for the upcoming year. W.I.N. time provides daily or weekly time for academic interventions, enrichment, or tutoring. Ladies and gentlemen, on behalf of the … Read More
Creating Mindful Moments
TL;DR: There are a number of strategies for creating mindful moments as an educator. Mindful moments will help you create balance in your teaching career. “We are the creators of our own destiny; with each moment we live, we have the opportunity to touch another life and make the moments count.” Mindfulness is a Buddhist-inspired spiritual awareness practice. It allows … Read More
Students Want Adults Who Care
TL;DR: Students don’t want adults who dispense information. They want adults who care. Create thought-provoking learning experiences for students and avoid lecture-style teaching. Make learning relevant for students by connecting what they are learning to the real-world. If building relationships with students is difficult for you, start by talking to students about their lives. I sat speechless in a grade-level … Read More