Like Oscar Wilde, I learned in elementary school that it was only in the theater that I lived. I was one of the kids who found a home in the sharp contrast of the blinding stage lights and the inky
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50 Minute Recess: An Experience in a K Classroom
As I sit in a professional development on Developmentally Appropriate Practices in Kinder, toggling between Pinterest & Facebook, I found something that made my heart soar. A proposed bill that I have seen become law or policy in other states. A
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30 Days In
Early this month I posted a blog The Broken Principal and outlined several changes I was committed to making in an effort to be a human being, not a human doing. This is my 30-day check in and you are
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Right to Recess
In a scene from my favorite TV show, My Crazy Ex Girlfriend, a clueless shopper holds up a plastic wiffle ball and bat set and asks the clerk if a 10 year old would like it. She responds with, “You
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We Shall Not Cease From Exploration: A Plea for Geography Education
Did you know it’s Geography Awareness Week (November 13-19)? Did I just lose your interest because when you hear “geography” you picture a dusty, outdated atlas on your classroom shelf? This is my plea for geography instruction in today’s schools.
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Kindergarten: Fully Funding the Foundation
Recently, there have been a few articles regarding the full funding of Kindergarten in the state of Arizona, as seen here and here. Currently the state funds Kindergarten for half a day, while some districts find ways to fund
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Henry Ford and Ed Policy
“I’d like to observe your 90-minute reading block if that works for you,” says my principal as we are setting a date for my formal observation. “Well, we’ll be using literacy skills to close read and annotate a piece of
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The End of the Day
The End of the Day A Play by Donnie Dicus A Sequel to Angela Buzan’s Masterpiece “Before the Bell” Setting: 3rd Grade Classroom at 2:15 in an Urban School in West Phoenix Characters: Teacher: A man in his mid-30’that kids
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Running and Testing
For the past several months I have been training for a half marathon. Myself and several other colleagues each had a different, unique training regiment leading up to the race. I needed to begin early and gradually increase the distance
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