Rachel Perugini, Author at STORIES FROM SCHOOL AZ

Firsts

August 27, 2019Rachel Perugini Education, Life in the Classroom

Every year before the first day of school, the nightmares start. Usually it is some version of me in front of my classroom, which is filled with too many students, unable to get anyone’s attention. In the worst of these

The Best Part

May 29, 2019Rachel Perugini Education, Life in the Classroom

Teaching is a difficult job full of tough days and challenging students, so I try to focus on the good stuff: the lesson I planned that went perfectly, the student who says that I am their favorite teacher, the moment

When Tests Matter

March 29, 2019Rachel Perugini Assessment, Current Affairs, Life in the Classroom

Last April started the dreaded month of state testing. A month is not an exaggeration either—my juniors took the ACT and the writing AZ Merit tests the first week, the reading test for 2 days the next week, and finally

Powerful P.D.

February 28, 2019Rachel Perugini Education, Professional Development, Teacher Leadership, Uncategorized

As teachers, we go to many professional development opportunities. Tons of our hours are spent each year learning to be better teachers, so we know the good trainings from the bad. The good trainings remind of us why we decided

A 30 Day Update

January 31, 2019Rachel Perugini Education, Life in the Classroom, Web/Tech

Instead of a resolution, I started off the New Year with a 30 day challenge. You can see the details of my challenge and start your own here: http://www.storiesfromschoolaz.org/setting-resolutions-30-day-challenge/ Now that my 30 day, no email challenge has finished, the

Setting Resolutions: A 30 Day Challenge

December 21, 2018Rachel Perugini Life in the Classroom, Professional Development, Uncategorized

Today officially ends the first half of my school year and, with that, starts my brain thinking about the new year and new semester. New Year’s Eve brings with it resolutions, and I fail at mine along with half the

Making the Most of Time Off

November 30, 2018Rachel Perugini Life in the Classroom, Uncategorized

I always go into breaks from school planning to be really productive, but not getting a lot done. I usually spend two days catching up on sleep, television, and cleaning before realizing I’ve accomplished nothing and binge working the day

A Snow Day Solution

October 30, 2018Rachel Perugini Education, Life in the Classroom, Uncategorized

When I moved from Pennsylvania to Flagstaff, I spent a good deal of time explaining to my friends and family that yes, it does indeed snow in Arizona. As we gear up for winter in the mountains, my thoughts have

Students in Motion

September 28, 2018Rachel Perugini Life in the Classroom

At the start of school this year, I started videotaping lessons for my National Board pursuit. Initially there was a lot of annoyance over how my voice sounded and how much I played with my hair, but then I started

The Effects of RedforEd

August 31, 2018Rachel Perugini Current Affairs, Education, Parent Involvment

The 2018-2019 school year started in a new era: post RedforEd. The painted cars, walk-ins, rallies, and walk-out of the spring changed the conversation teachers and the public were having about the state of education. But even after all of