August 2018 - Page 2 of 2 - STORIES FROM SCHOOL AZ

Last Leaf to New Life

August 16, 2018Sandy Merz Life in the Classroom

For Sonya Rashad I didn’t water the plants in front of my porch much last spring, and by June, the Rosemary, Lantana, and a small shrub of unknown species weren’t doing so well. The shrub had exactly one leaf left,

Administrators: Be The Support We Need

August 14, 2018Jess Ledbetter Education Policy, Life in the Classroom, Uncategorized

Deep breath in. The beginning of a school year feels like a fresh morning in the mountains: new energy, new students, new staff members. Everyone is busy, but there is hopefulness. It reminds me of standing on the porch watching

A Fresh Start: New Beginnings with Learning Styles

August 12, 2018Treva Jenkins Education, Life in the Classroom

It’s the most wonderful time of the year is playing in my head right now! I absolutely love the start of a new school year, and after a quite challenging year last year, I am truly looking forward to a

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Room for Reflection: Learning Environments

August 10, 2018Amethyst Hinton Sainz Life in the Classroom, National Board Certification

“Accomplished English language arts teachers carefully and intentionally design and manage all aspects of the learning environment, from the physical space and the physical resources within it, to the movement of people and objects, the personal relationships within the environment,

Leading in the Wild West

August 8, 2018Jaime Festa-Daigle Current Affairs, Education

I have successfully completed my first school year. As teachers and staff across the state are returning to the classroom, I am winding down the marathon that is summer life of a personnel director in Arizona. I have conquered the

Required Reading: What Every Educator Should Read

August 8, 2018Leah Clark Current Affairs, Education, Life in the Classroom, Professional Development, Social Issues, Uncategorized

A social media trend took over this summer. As I scrolled through my feed, my friends began posting their “7 Day Challenges” ranging from books, music, movies, and personal photos. The challenge required participants to post pictures of their seven

Back-to-School Tip: Rules vs. Pet Peeves

August 8, 2018Angela Buzan Education, Life in the Classroom

Imagine you’re driving down the freeway, barking Cardi B, and hand-dancing like you’re popping bubbles. You’re just in the HOV lane when you see the red and blues. You pull over, considering possible offenses: ‘I wasn’t speeding—did I forget to

Dear Principal

August 1, 2018Beth Maloney Education, Elementary, Life in the Classroom

Dear Principal, First let me say, I don’t envy you. I know your job is a tough one- heavy on responsibility and light on accolades. But after almost twenty years of working with all sorts of administrators as a classroom