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
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A Rainbow Inside the Cloud
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
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Teacher, a Modern Day Abolitionist
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
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Snap: Academic Gaps Continue for African American Youth in AZ
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
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14th Annual TLI: Developing School Communities that Thrive
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
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Supporting African American Youth
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
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(Better) Partnering with Parents Around Reading
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
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Applying the Principles of “Good to Great” in the Classroom
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
Read MoreMOWR…Is 2nd Grade the New 3rd Grade?
Move On When Reading (MOWR) is a policy currently in effect with the intention of preparing students to be proficient readers by 3rd grade so they are properly prepared to enter 4th. This leads to the questions: What is so
Read MorePartnering with Students with Unique Needs
This article is a reflection on my experiences with my students with unique needs. “When he comes into your class, he may have a hard time adjusting. He has… …a learning disability …a speech impairment …occupational and executive functioning delays
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