Getting Out Early

Getting Out Early

  Have you ever truly enjoyed something that you were doing?   It could have been watching TV… or a movie… or maybe attending a concert… or even reading a…
Thoughts from #TCT16

Thoughts from #TCT16

  This weekend, I had the opportunity to attend the Tomorrow's Classrooms Today conference hosted by the guys at Evolving Educators. I had a chance to catch up with some…
Behavior Instruction

Behavior Instruction

  You would never make a student who struggles with reading clip down or lose a ticket if they didn’t read something correctly.   It doesn’t make any sense.  …
In Case of a Fog Delay

In Case of a Fog Delay

  Friday night, I took my children to a baseball game. It was a beautiful night for a game. Warm. Calm. Clear. 70 degrees, with a nice, cool breeze coming…
A Chorus of Can’t and Won’t

A Chorus of Can’t and Won’t

  What are our students capable of? I would argue that we will never know unless we try.   I used to work with a colleague who taught in a…
Point at the Process

Point at the Process

  When a student is not doing his work teachers, generally speaking, say one of two things.   They will say to themselves, “He’s not doing his work!” or “This…
Questions We Should Be Asking Students

Questions We Should Be Asking Students

  For many years, we have asked students small questions. Detail questions. Fact questions. Who? What? Where? When?   We must ask big questions of students. Some of our questions…
Only 40 Days To Go

Only 40 Days To Go

  Only 40 days to go. I hear this sort of countdown frequently during this time of year. Only 8 weeks left. Whenever any of these statements are made, there…
PS We Found It

PS We Found It

  In my first year of teaching, I was hired as the last teacher to complete the fifth grade team at a brand new school. My classroom happened to be…
Make a Splash

Make a Splash

  This week, many educators and students will return from spring break. If you are an educator, take advantage of this opportunity. Create something meaningful for your students. Make a…