Archive for September 2014
Cowboy Confidence
From the desk of Alice… So today is Throwback Thursday on social media. I love it. I love everything about seeing people’s snapshots of their lives prior to me meeting them or just reminding me of great memories. As I look at my early years of teaching, I will tell you that I was far…
Read MoreThe Highlight Reel
From the desk of Leigh Ann . . . I spotted a refrigerator magnet that said, “The reason we struggle with insecurity is because we compare our behind-the-scenes with everyone else’s highlight reel.” These words caused a brief moment of introspection – and as all teachers do – I related it to education. I was…
Read MoreParental Trust
From the desk of Carol C… Years ago when I was still a young teacher and TB tests were required before you could teach every year, I paid my doctor a visit. Routine except this time my blood pressure was up. When my doctor commented on it and asked why it might be higher than…
Read More10 Things to Know about My Work with ERG
From the desk of Alice… In my personal life, I try not talk about my work very much. I usually tell people that I run a staff development company and that the heart of my work is, “teaching teachers.” Because ERG is unique, it is difficult for people to picture exactly what our work looks…
Read MoreSelf-Doubt – An Enemy of Learning
From the desk of Leigh Ann . . . I recently read an article discussing how the brain gives priority to our emotions and I have seen first-hand how children’s emotions affect their perception of school. Emotion affects a child’s self-confidence and self-confidence affects whether a child learns to read, write, and problem solve. Learning…
Read MoreHinging on Confidence
From the desk of Carol… “… my father, Mickey Parsons, he encouraged me to be an actor. He never discouraged me to be an actor, and in a career that hinges so much on confidence a lot of the time, that was a really great gift.” ~ Jim Parsons, Emmy Speech 2014 What a tribute…
Read MoreFear Transformed
From the desk of Alice… On days like these, it is difficult to say things that have not already been said. If you are over a certain age, there is no doubt you remember where you were 13 years ago on September 11th and you will relive it each and every year on this date. …
Read MoreAuthentic Learning Lasts
From the desk of Leigh Ann . . . When I think back on the educational experiences that inspired me as a child I can say with certainty that not one single worksheet pops into mind. The concepts that have stayed with me and boosted my self-confidence as a learner focused more on process than…
Read MorePigeonholing Children
From the desk of Carol… I’m a reader all the time and a mathematician when necessitated. So it was clear to me when my great-niece, Madyson, reached the toddler stage she was going to be a reader. After all, she loved to look at and listen to books. She couldn’t seem to get enough of…
Read MoreWhat Can Go Right
From the desk of Alice… When Hope and I started ERG, we never really considered the things that could go wrong. We were laser focused on all the things that were possible as we started on the journey of building a business to increase teacher capacity to ultimately help students. As I look at those…
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