TL;DR: Reflecting back and remembering this year allows these challenging times to empower us in the future. View this past year with a growth mindset. Take your new skills into the next school year. A few years back, our principal bought everyone on staff the book Mindset by Carol Dweck. This book is one that many will refer to as … Read More
Reflecting at the End of the Year
TL;DR: Teaching from home has been challenging to not be able to “see” our students. There were frustrations from the perspectives of a teacher, student, and parent in the past 180 days. It is important to reflect on the past year and a half: in-class instruction cannot be replaced by virtual, students preferred to be in class, students had diverse … Read More
Engage Until the End: Reflecting on the End of the Year
TL;DR: Reflect by creating a visual timeline, class memory book, or slideshow. Culminating projects to show what students learned during the year include a book sales pitch with their favorite books showcased, summer or year-end BINGO cards, or a game of Family Feud. Proper closure to the year is important. Some ideas include writing a letter to their next year’s … Read More
Teaching During a Pandemic: Feeling Lost (Part 1)
TL;DR: When the pandemic started, educators around the globe were thrown into unchartered territory. Educators had to quickly learn how to adapt lessons to be online, and students had to adapt to the use of new technology as well. My Purpose My purpose in blogging is to work through and process thoughts, happenings, and feelings throughout my teaching career. I’m … Read More
Making the Shift from “Getting by” to “Getting BETTER”
TL;DR: Change your mindset from finishing the year by just getting by. Instead, recognize what you learned and how you’ve gotten better. Reflect on how you have improved this year, how you have learned from others, what you’ve learned from PD opportunities offered. Don’t go back to “just surviving” in education. Work together to be better together. Recent interview with … Read More
