Big Thoughts About Schools, Teaching, and Learning
Hi friends! On this lovely Friday, I want to share with you some of my favorite current reads in case your idea of a good weekend includes a trip to the library and reading before bed. Young Adult (Contemporary) Hands-down the most captivating and charming series I have read in years is the Songs About …
Over the years, I have had some stellar teachers. Today I’m sharing some tips and tricks for achieving their level of awesomeness 🙂 Build a planetarium out of garbage bags and giant boxes and use a thumb-tack to poke out astrologically correct constellations. Keep in the corner of the classroom at all times. Name …
It’s been a minute. Whoops! I’ve been doing a lot of subbing lately, and lacrosse coaching season just started! This is a rough season for schools. Students and teachers are on edge. Debate is fierce over the causes and solutions for the growing problem of school shootings. At its core, this is truly a heart …
Over the years, I have observed that the needs of students Ages 13-15 (Grades 8-10) differ pretty widely from their older high school peers. I was blessed with positive a middle school experience because I was in a school that cared for me as a person before academics. I also had a fabulous student teaching …
For years I have pondered this question. For years public education in the United States has operated as a conduit, both mimicking the 9-5 factory-style work system and preparing students for it. Well, bit of a news flash, both home life and work life in the United States has changed rather dramatically in the …
The way teenagers are treated by adults Particularly librarians. Why librarians? I have no idea, but so often I have seen librarians snapping at students just for using the library as it was intended to be used: for study and research. I thought it was a librarian’s job to cultivate that, not snuff it. This …
The flexible schedule I can set my available days. Before my daughter, I could sub five days a week if called or I could choose to only work two and go to Bend or the beach for the day. Of course,
One of the love-hate elements of substitute teaching at the high school level is that the classroom teacher often leaves films for subs to watch with students. In my opinion, leaving movies as the lesson plan doesn’t reflect especially well on the classroom teacher because it often communicates one of two things. Either the …
I could probably do a whole blog devoted entirely to subbing stories. This morning as I walked around the neighborhood with my daughter, I was reflecting on all my crazy teaching experience. I have now had my license for seven years, and I have more years of subbing than actual full-time teaching under my belt. …
Although Daniel Pink’s revolutionary book Drive primarily addresses businesses, the concepts are extremely applicable to education. The book explains the psychology behind human motivation and work. This is probably the most transformative professional development book I’ve read since Teach Like a Champion. And I read it for fun, which is fitting 🙂 When considering …
