So, I am sick. I am really sick. Last year I came down with Valley Fever. Let’s just say if I was on the Oregon trail; I probably wouldn’t have made it past Kansas. My illness knocked me
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The Last Walk to the Parking Lot
In August 1987, I drove into the parking lot at Naylor Middle School for my first day ever as a professional teacher. Chances are that I’ve had the time of my life with you blasted from my radio, because it was
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A Tribute to The Brave Who Came Before #TsChangeLives
There’s a special smell this time of year: a mix of sweaty kids and exhausted teachers. Walking around the hallways is treacherous as parents teeter past with arm-loads of teacher appreciation gifts and students race around like walking went out
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In Appreciation of Teachers
In my 14 years of classroom teaching, I feel like I took Teacher Appreciation Week for granted. I didn’t really feel the need to be appreciated. I loved what I did and I felt the love from 150 high school
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Loving Intentions and Liking Our Students
There is a sign on the door of my classroom that says “I <3 My Students” (with an actual heart). It is cut out in the shape of a heart and made on sunset colored poster board. I made it
Read MoreWhy Men are Not a Bigger Part of the K-12 Education System
I write this blog while sitting in the midst of over 200 teachers attending a training day for candidates working towards their National Board certification. And while sitting in this large, noisy meeting room, my thoughts returned me to
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Keep the Student in Student Teacher
Dear Student Teacher, Congratulations! In a few months, you will begin the part of your college experience that you have likely been waiting for forever – student teaching. I hope that your student teaching experience gives you all the tools
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Outdoor Education
Over a decade ago when I started teaching sixth grade one of my first questions were about the school’s science camp program. I was teaching in the same district I had attended as a sixth grader and remembered the major
Read MoreStill, I Blog
To pull back a curtain, I’ll let you know that I wrote a generic blog post a few months back to keep around in the event I was stressed or in a pinch the week I was scheduled to post
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