I recently read an online post in which someone described their frustrating year, teaching from behind a screen. They shared that this was a “lost” year for student learning. Yet, I wonder if that’s true. Did our students truly slide
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Beyond the Standards
Most teachers, including myself, feel that standards are a significant part of the learning process. They help keep our students on track. They help us organize and develop our curriculum and our yearly scope and sequence. Students then take tests
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Supporting First Year Teachers
Next month, thousands of college students across Arizona and the country will proudly move their graduation tassels from right to left, signifying the completion of their degree. This momentous occasion symbolizes their hard work and dedication as they worked toward
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Lessons from Brooks’s Preschool Classroom
Ring, ring. “Hi! This is Mrs. Clark. I am your student’s English teacher.” In my 8th year of teaching, I feel comfortable picking up the phone, calling a student’s home, and saying those words. FINALLY. The act of calling families
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How to Hit a Curveball
From school administrators to teachers to students, we often hear the phrase “When things go back to normal.” I am a bit tired of hearing that, but not for the reason you may think. We all want to be back
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Platforms Vs. Foundations. Pre- and Post- Pandemic Metaphors
Lately I have been considering the term “learning platform.” If you are a teacher, you have likely been expected to utilize multiple learning platforms over the past decade. If you have been avoiding digital learning platforms, then you certainly have
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Can We Reimagine Our Profession? I Believe the Answer is Yes!
Little grey boxes with students’ names fill my screen four and a half hours a day. Maybe a few brave souls flip on their cameras for four and a half seconds a day if I am lucky. These little grey
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Why I Chose to Maintain my National Board Certification During a Pandemic
I try to remember to look at the small pupil of the laptop camera instead of the grid of faceless names before me as I smile, wave and say hello. I am collaborating with a colleague to teach Hamlet to
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Four Little Letters: NBCT
Four little letters: NBCT. Four letters that have come to mean so much to me. Four letters recently added to my name: NBCT. Three years ago, I decided to start the National Board Certification process. I knew two NBCTs, and
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“Zoom, Zoom, Zoom” used to be just a car commercial: The impact of Zoom and other web-based communication platforms
Regardless of your profession, the pandemic has probably significantly impacted both your personal and professional life. As a teacher, this year has been extremely challenging for me. I feel I have been “Zooming” around an unfamiliar race track, not
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