My mom is a textbook definition of the eternal optimist. She sees the bright side of every situation through her rose-colored glasses. Her self proclaimed nickname is Pollyanna. I did not inherit this trait from her. I, on the other
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What Happens When We Get to College, Mrs. Clark?
One of my favorite aspects of being a teacher is talking with the kids. Just talking. Asking them questions about themselves, their friends and families, hobbies, other classes, after school activities, and future plans. I sit back listening as they
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What Makes a School Great?
I drove by my school at 6:30 pm Sunday. Teachers and staff weren’t due back until Monday morning, but my school buzzed with the enthusiasm of a Friday night football game. Pop up tents, propane firepits, camping chairs and tents,
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Responding To Not So Nice Emails
Chances are, you have been on the receiving end of an email from a parent, a colleague, or someone else that is less than kind. I‘ve worked with many teachers who need help responding to these emails and I’ve devised
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Picky Eaters: What Happens When Kids Don’t Gobble Up Our Passion
As I write this blog, I’m munching on delicious homemade mac and cheese. I made quick white cheddar sauce and tossed in peppers, mushrooms, and peas. It’s topped off with more cheese and a few pieces of crunchy dried jalapenos.
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Raising Student Voice through Inclusion
P-A-R-T-Y! Party! Party! Party! Where is the party? The party’s over here! Does this chant ring a bell? It does for me. It’s a popular chant at every Student Council event. The kids chant it back and forth across the
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Story from the School Garden
In 2008, Lisa Moberg, now an NBCT and once a blogger for Stories from School Arizona, was teaching on a third grade team in a West Valley Title I school. The team had heard about the Western Growers Foundation grants
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Why Do You Stay?
Sniffles, sneezes, and coughs. That’s what I woke up to Tuesday morning when I picked up my nine-month-old son, Brooks. I’ve been dreading this day since he was born. So far, we’ve dodged the cold bug, but I knew this
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Show Me the Money!
Asking for money can be so awkward, right? But I shouldn’t feel weird about since I worked in retail for nearly ten years. I routinely asked people to whip out their credit card to pay for their purchases without flinching.
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#MomLife: Tips for Juggling It All
Meet Brooks Nash Clark, my seven and a half-month-old son. He has red hair, which people love to point out to me, a big gummy smile, and is the cutest little man I’ve ever met, also the messiest person. How
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