Education
Modeling Responsible Behavior
From the desk of Leigh Ann . . . “The greatest gifts you can give your children are the roots of responsibility and the wings of independence.” – Denis Waitley We can scold, plead, and beg for responsible behavior, but the truth is, if we don’t demonstrate it each day, our students won’t either. Children…
Read MoreModeling the Sounds of Learning
From the desk of Leigh Ann . . . One of my favorite classroom signs reads, “Pardon our noise. It’s the sound of learning.” A class of enthusiastic learners is not silent, but filled with meaningful conversations about all aspects of the curriculum. Classroom talk is a powerful tool and is critical to teaching and…
Read MoreTech Talk
From the desk of Leigh Ann . . . Are you looking for quality tech tools to help guide teaching and learning in your classroom? Here a few picks that might interest you: http://thinkfinity.org/ – Thinkfinity is a free online professional learning community that provides access to curriculum resources and enhancements for K-12 teachers. https://www.remind.com/ –…
Read MoreLet's Get Moving
From the desk of Leigh Ann . . . “Physical fitness is not only one of the most important keys to a healthy body, it is the basis of dynamic and creative intellectual activity.” – John F. Kennedy Sadly, we see it in classrooms every day. Kids – waiting for an opportunity to leave their…
Read MoreInstruction Should Be Everyone’s Thing
From the Couch of Monica… Sometimes in education, in the day-to-day grind, we forget that reflection is a powerful starting point and an invaluable tool when we think about what kids need from us in the classroom. It is an easy thing to do these days, when there are many responsibilities and tasks imposed on…
Read MoreGreat Expectations
From the desk of Leigh Ann . . . I watched a master teacher at work on the soccer field the other day. As a great debate ensued over the fairness of game rules, she quietly walked over to mediate. She asked the children to explain what was going on and quickly realized that not…
Read MoreFinding Fulfillment Again
From the desk of Carol C… Where will you keep your focus this year? Most of us went into teaching to make a difference in the lives of children and therefore, a difference in our world. Remember the excitement (and fear) we felt at the beginning of each school year our first years in the…
Read MoreWhy We Need More Coffee Shops and Less Teacher Lounges
From the desk of Alice… Every now and then I like to splurge for a latte at a locally owned coffee shop instead of heading straight to my office. While sipping on my favorite latte, I like to read and write and people watch. I have found that the change of scenery is perfect to…
Read MoreReflect and Revitalize
From the desk of Leigh Ann . . . Teaching can be an incredibly fulfilling and exhilarating experience, but it can also be one that leaves you feeling defeated and exhausted. When you unwind and finally have time to reflect on your teaching day, where do your thoughts go? Do…
Read MoreExpected Versus Unexpected
From the desk of Carol C… How do you spend your day? Are you rushing from activity to activity? Most of us are so busy hurrying from one thing to the next we don’t seem to have enough time to do anything other than move at dangerous speeds. Now it would serve to reason in…
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