Hungry Students

John Spencer Social Issues

"Mr. Spencer, we don't have enough breakfasts for the whole class," a kid complains. I double-check the numbers. Zero absent on Cocoa Puffs day, which means that unlike yogurt day, they're all having breakfast.  A boy pulls me aside and

Read More
winding-down

Winding Down

Jen Robinson Education, Elementary

The last time I looked at my calendar it was February. Where has the year gone? We are now fast approaching the end of the year. It didn’t hit me until this weekend, less than 15 days of school left.

Read More

Are We Ready?

Daniela A. Robles Uncategorized

  When I achieved National Board Certification I declared that I found my voice. For the last six years, I have used my voice with some proficiency to advocate for teaching excellence. Saturday afternoon I found myself representing Arizona educators

Read More
a-missing-blossom

The Loss of a Child

Mike Lee Assessment, Education

On Saturday night, I received news that one of our students was killed in a tragic car accident.  Our community is devastated, the staff is beginning to grieve, and our students will need the full weight of our district’s crisis

Read More

That’s Not How Students Write

John Spencer Assessment

I spend most of Thursday pulling staples out of the wall, trying my hardest to keep the student work intact. Art work and thought-provoking writing are replaced by emptiness. Whitewashed walls extract the color, vitality and voice of our classroom

Read More
a-third-grader-shares

A Third Grader Shares

Daniela A. Robles Uncategorized

The majority of us have the opportunity to engage with students on a daily basis. The degree of engagement varies and most often never strays too far from academics, at least not for extended periods of time. Considering that thought

Read More