Category : “Parent Involvment”

Vulgar and Perilous Reforms

March 27, 2013Sandy Merz Assessment, Current Affairs, Education, Education Policy, Parent Involvment, Teacher Leadership

In 1790, conservative political philosopher Edmund Burke wrote in Reflections on the Revolution in France: “A state without the means of some change is without the means of its conservation.”  Clay Shirky, expert on the role of social media and

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The Biggest Loser in Education

March 22, 2013Lisa Moberg Assessment, Education, Elementary, Life in the Classroom, Mentoring, Parent Involvment, Teacher Leadership

I am a fan of “The Biggest Loser,” the reality-television show which rewards one person with the biggest weight loss after undergoing 12 intensive weeks of healthy eating and strenuous workouts with trainers.  While viewing the season finale this week,

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Half Empty or Half Full

March 12, 2013Jen Robinson Education, Education Policy, Parent Involvment, Social Issues, Teacher Leadership

I recently read a post on Facebook… A psychologist walked around a room while teaching stress management to an audience. As she raised a glass of water, everyone expected they’d be asked the “half empty or half full” question. Instead,

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Teacher-Defining Moments

March 5, 2013Lisa Moberg Education, Life in the Classroom, Parent Involvment, Teacher Leadership

After attending an educator’s conference this past weekend, I was inspired with a question to ponder, “How does my background impact my effectiveness as an educator?”  I am sure you recognize the phrase, “My life flashed before my eyes.”  Well, the

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Enriched Kids

August 11, 2012Mike Lee Education, Parent Involvment

The statistics don’t lie: students who come from academically focused and highly educated households will often replicate such success. But why? Experiences? Lifestyle? Money? Parental education?

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Bully: Will it Get Better? Part 2

June 3, 2012Donnie Dicus Current Affairs, Elementary, Life in the Classroom, Parent Involvment, Social Issues

Will bullying ever go away? Probably not. Will things get better for those being bullied? Yes, it will but it won't happen on its own. We have to empower children on how to handle bullies and be there to help

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Swan Song

May 16, 2012Alaina Adams Education, Education Policy, Elementary, Life in the Classroom, Literacy, Mentoring, National Board Certification, Parent Involvment, Professional Development, Social Issues, Teacher Leadership

Every year, during Teacher Appreciation week (last week), one of our Spanish teachers invites students to write a thank-you letter in Spanish (with an English translation) to give to one teacher. Every year, I get a few of these letters

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Teacher Eval: Hunger Games Style

April 2, 2012Alaina Adams Assessment, Education, Elementary, Games, Life in the Classroom, Literacy, Mathematics, Mentoring, National Board Certification, Parent Involvment, Professional Development, Social Issues, Sports, Teacher Leadership

Yes, the geeky-English teacher that I am has jumped all over The Hunger Games craze. Yes, I’ve coerced all of my students into buying the book to use in class, most of us have seen the movie, plan to blog

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Calling All Teachers

October 18, 2011Delyssa Begay Current Affairs, Education, Education Policy, Life in the Classroom, Mentoring, Parent Involvment, Social Issues, Teacher Leadership

I was raised on the Navajo Indian Reservation; in a small community called Rough Rock. I know what it is like to do homework with the light from a kerosene lamp, chop wood, cook for younger siblings, and take care

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Protecting the Teacher AllSpark

October 17, 2011Alaina Adams Current Affairs, Education, Education Policy, Elementary, Life in the Classroom, Mentoring, National Board Certification, Parent Involvment, Professional Development, Social Issues, Teacher Leadership, Web/Tech, Weblogs

I read Bill Ferriter’s blog this week about the story of Mitchell 20, a movie about 20 Phoenix elementary teachers who chose to pursue National Board certification as a way to take control of the one thing they could control:

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