I’ve spent the past several years considering how to best advocate for our educators, educator needs, and completing advocacy work from a local level to a wider state or national level. Everyone’s advocacy work looks slightly different then the next
Read MoreOutdoor Education
Over a decade ago when I started teaching sixth grade one of my first questions were about the school’s science camp program. I was teaching in the same district I had attended as a sixth grader and remembered the major
Read MoreWhat time does school start?
I’ve been thinking a lot lately about sleep schedules. With the upcoming birth of my husband and I’s first child, and having friends with young kids things like feeding and nap schedules are something I find myself reading about a
Read MoreStudent Growth and Effect Size
Recently, I had the pleasure to sit through a professional development session geared around quick formative assessments. Having taken other classes and even reading a few books with formative assessment ideas I felt prepared for the session. What I was
Read MoreSetting Goals
Do you start the new year by setting goals for yourself? Perhaps it is one word that will be the theme of your year or a set of professional and personal goals. Do you do this with your students as
Read MoreMy Colonial Williamsburg Experience
This past summer I had the privilege of being awarded a scholarship to attend a seven-day teacher institute with the Colonial Williamsburg Foundation. As a fifth grade teacher, I can say that this summer professional development truly transformed my Social
Read MoreHow do you show your students gratitude?
You might find yourself reading this question or click on the title of this article because it puzzles you. Or perhaps you can immediately answer the question. There are lots of research studies to support gratitude and the positive effect
Read MoreThe Power of Student-Parent-Teacher Conferences, Part Two
Conferences have come and gone for myself and many educators I know, but districts that start later in the year or have conferences after Fall Break may still be in the midst of these important events. For those reading about
Read MoreThe Power of Student Led Parent-Teacher Conferences, Part One
A few years ago, after reading research about student reflections and goal setting, myself and a few teachers presented our findings to our administrator and proposed the idea of incorporating student-led conferences to our typical parent-teacher conference time. The number
Read MoreReflections on a Broken Teacher Cart
It was a few days after the school year had ended and I was in my classroom. I was working on finishing up my preparation for the first few weeks of the upcoming school year and gathering materials and resources
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