Two weeks ago, my daughter proclaimed that her mother is a workaholic. Last week, my husband noted that I had not been home before six o’clock in weeks. As we wind down the first quarter of the new school
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In His Own Words
In September many Stories From Schools Arizona bloggers highlighted the roles support professions play in education. (See here, here, here, and here.) My previous post recognized the work of Debbie and Charlie, two Exceptional Education Teacher Assistants. I'm going to
Read MoreAn IDEA by Other Names
“The Individuals with Disabilities in Education Act” (IDEA) is a law ensuring services to children with disabilities throughout the nation. IDEA governs how states and public agencies provide early intervention, special education and related services to more than 6.5 million
Read MoreSmall Data
I'm beginning to truly believe that our obsession with "data driven decision making" will end one day. I used the term the other day and I felt like I was saying something outdated, like "paradigm shift" or "Michelle Rhee". It
Read MoreJust Humor Me
“Don’t smile until December,” a teacher warned me before I started my first year. I tried that on the first day, but it was too hard. My face is expressive. Kids know if I’m scared or nervous or happy or
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Some Needs Are More Basic Than Math
The hand that holds mine on our path through life is chapped and cut and burned: the wages, along a few dollars an hour, of preparing 400 school meals a day. Her day begins early. Up and out the door
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(Un)Informed Critical Thinking?
Surprise, surprise. In a survey released this week, pollsters found that the American public is uninformed about a host of public policy issues, in particular the Common Core Standards. As educators we gasped at the numbers generated by the
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Virtually Segregated
Teachers must be vigilant that with online tools we do not inadvertently stigmatize groups of students we mean to help.
Read MoreThe Real Advantage of Wealthier Schools
I love my school and I love my school district. I love the people I know and the community that surrounds it. I love the kids I teach and the way they’ve entrusted me with their stories. And yet .
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