Yolanda Wheelington, Author at STORIES FROM SCHOOL AZ

Christmas in Phoenix 2019

November 25, 2019Yolanda Wheelington Current Affairs, Education, Life in the Classroom, Social Issues, Uncategorized

I do not know how it happened, but somehow the Christmas Season has arrived! There are many that hold that the season has not started until after Thanksgiving. Yet, there is enough evidence in the stores, on streaming providers, and

Bilingualism is a Two Way Road

October 28, 2019Yolanda Wheelington Current Affairs, Education, Education Policy, Elementary, Life in the Classroom

‘English Only’ Laws in Education on Verge of Extinction was the title that immediately caught my eye during my recent review of Education Weekly. The article, written by Corey Mitchell gave a brief overview of the history of bilingual education

There is a Forest in My Acorn

September 27, 2019Yolanda Wheelington Education, Education Policy, Elementary, Life in the Classroom, Professional Development, Teacher Leadership

I was listening to a minister speak on the importance of recognizing untapped potential. He used an acorn as the example and expounded on all that it can become when put in its right environment. In fact, each acorn has

A Rainbow Inside the Cloud

August 27, 2019Yolanda Wheelington Uncategorized

During a small group outing to Burton Barr Library, one of my students directed me to “Look up at that, Mrs. Wheelington!” I did, and I saw something I never saw before…a rainbow inside a cloud. I posted a picture

Teacher, a Modern Day Abolitionist

May 16, 2019Yolanda Wheelington Uncategorized

This has been a significant year for me. I am now a NBCT, the majority of my students have met academic growths and measures, and my youngest child got her Learner’s Permit. I have been blessed with the opportunity to

Snap: Academic Gaps Continue for African American Youth in AZ

April 16, 2019Yolanda Wheelington Assessment, Current Affairs, Education Policy, Elementary, Professional Development, Social Issues, Teacher Leadership

As mentioned in my previous articles, I have set off on an inquiry regarding the academic status of African American students in Arizona. Although I am still in the gathering process, it is time to give an update on what

14th Annual TLI: Developing School Communities that Thrive

March 19, 2019Yolanda Wheelington Current Affairs, Education, Education Policy, Elementary, Life in the Classroom, Professional Development, Social Issues, Teacher Leadership

If you attended Teacher Leadership Institute last year, then you already know that you do not want to miss this annual AZK12 event. In 2018, this gathering of educators and stakeholders helped to ignite, motivate, and confirm many of the

Supporting African American Youth

February 18, 2019Yolanda Wheelington Current Affairs, Education, Education Policy, Elementary, Life in the Classroom, Professional Development, Social Issues, Teacher Leadership

My initial purpose for this writing piece was to highlight the current academic status of African American youth in Arizona. Unfortunately, I was not able to locate current information about our academic demographics. I have requested this information from the

(Better) Partnering with Parents Around Reading

January 21, 2019Yolanda Wheelington Education, Education Policy, Elementary, Life in the Classroom, Professional Development

January marks the second half of the school year and this time usually flies by quickly. My 1st graders are now demonstrating increased rigor, independence, and pride in academic growths. This has allowed me to have a more accurate assessment

Applying the Principles of “Good to Great” in the Classroom

December 17, 2018Yolanda Wheelington Assessment, Current Affairs, Education, Elementary, Life in the Classroom, Professional Development, Social Issues, Teacher Leadership

National Board score releases have come and gone and I was relieved to see the “Congratulations!” banner come across my screen. That was a sweet, sweet moment and I am thankful to all of those who helped and supported