Tales From Tennis: The Court is the Classroom

From the desk of Alice… I didn’t start playing tennis until I was an adult.  I picked it up gradually with a few friends who were patient enough to allow me to “just hit” and not keep score.  Over a few years, I was able to keep score and actually win.  I thought it was…

Read More

Think for Yourself – Find Yourself

From the desk of Leigh Ann . . . “To find yourself, think for yourself.”   – Socrates As teachers we are tasked to facilitate learning, model appropriate behaviors, and guide students to develop the strategies to become competent readers, writers, and problem solvers.  Striking a balance between allowing them to be independent learners and…

Read More

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 More

Self-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 More

Hinging 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 More

Authentic 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 More

Pigeonholing 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 More

Best Laid Plans

From the desk of Leigh Ann . . . One thing we as teachers need is the confidence to be flexible so we can deal with the unexpected things that inevitably take place during the learning day.  We busily plan for the needs of our students and map out long range goals for a wonderfully…

Read More

Inspiring Confidence in Math

  From the desk of Carol… Sometimes it’s easier to find ways to build on children’s reading skills.  You know you can have your little one read to grandma, grandpa, best friend,  and mail carrier.  You can have them read the cereal box, street signs, and fast food menus.  These kinds of activities strengthen our…

Read More

Learning Outside of School

 From the desk of Carol C… Learning opportunities outside of “the schoolhouse” arise all of the time. Some may seem obvious while others are more subtle. Once you begin to see these teachable moments, you can easily take advantage of them. Be a Chef- Involving children in helping to make something good to eat is…

Read More