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Indulging in Reading
From the desk of Alice… I recently trimmed back my social media time in the evenings to make more room for reading for pleasure. I have a bookshelf full of books that have been on my list for a while and I decided it was time to read them or get rid of them. Last…
Read MoreIndependent Learners, Part II
From the desk of Carol C. . . Last week we looked at some of the characteristics of independent learners. This week let’s focus on how educators can help children become independent learners. If independent learners are risk takers, how do we help our students take more risks? Once we’re sure our students understand what…
Read MoreImportance of Choice
From the desk of Leigh Ann . . . “The 3 C’s of Life: Choices, Chances, Changes. You must make a choice to take a chance or your life will never change.” – Unknown The children in our classrooms make choices all day long. They choose to obey or ignore the rules, say kind or…
Read MoreIndependent Learners, Part I
From the desk of Carol C. . . During the month of March we’re looking at the idea of autonomy in education. This week I want to look at some of the characteristics of autonomous learners. First, simply put, autonomy is the ability to take charge of our own learning. Autonomous learners are capable of…
Read MoreCitizenship in the Virtual World
From the desk of Leigh Ann . . . Technology has provided wonderful opportunities for learning autonomy. The dramatic increase of online resources, network services, educational software, and quality learning games are creating great new opportunities for self-directed learning. Developments in mobile technology and the explosion in social media have accelerated students’ interest, so it…
Read MoreSeeing Instead of Being Told
From the desk of Leigh Ann . . . As a young educator I felt the overwhelming need to be in control. I thought to be a successful teacher my schedule must run like clockwork, my students must sit quietly and compliantly following my directions, – and if all went as I had so neatly planned – the learning would flow like…
Read MoreThe Power of Losing Control
From the desk of Monica… Choice helps students. Really, it does. I admit it. I am a control freak. If I could, I would control every part of my life, my circumstances, and my career. All of it. And as I get older, I realize that the quote from that 1990s racing movie, Days of…
Read MoreERG Receives National Recognition!
The ERG job-embedded process was recently highlighted in the American School Board Journal as a model process! Click HERE for the entire article.
Read MoreWhat's the Weather?
From the desk of Leigh Ann . . . “It is my personal approach that creates the climate. It is my daily mood that makes the weather.” – unknown As teachers we are are tasked with building the whole child – academically, socially, and emotionally. The climate in my classroom is instrumental to me meeting the…
Read MoreInfusing Enthusiasm Into Your Teaching
From the desk of Carol C. . . It is the supreme art of the teacher to awaken joy in creative expression and knowledge. Albert Einstein Sometimes it’s just downright hard to be enthusiastic. Your team is losing the game. The sermon is delivered in monotone. The neighbor continues to drone on about something you…
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