The middle of the year is an excellent time to look at your students’ data and analyze it! I agree with most educators that there is too much testing in schools. However since we have this data, we should use it! I know using the words “data” and “analyze” in the first sentence of this post may have you cringing, […]
Using Data Effectively
Rock Your Report Card Comments
The end of the semester is just around the corner! And you know what that means. Time to complete report cards for your students and fill in the dreaded comments section. I tell you the first time I wrote report card comments, it took me hours! I wanted each comment to be unique and meaningful. Over the years I learned […]
10 Secret Santa Gifts $5 or Less
It’s that time of year! Time for the Sunshine Committee to spread some cheer by involving staff in Secret Santa! I actually really enjoy Secret Santa. It’s a fun way to connect with a co-worker and bring some extra joy to the work day. However, if you’re like me, it may be difficult to decide what to get the person […]
10 Super-Easy Teacher Lunch Ideas
Our lunch period goes by in a flash, but it is important to eat and take a short break during that time (even, it’s only a few deep breaths). I know many of you have to eat your lunch with students, but, thankfully, that is changing in most places! Every teacher deserves some uninterrupted time to eat their lunch. Now, […]
Reading Intervention: A Day in the Life
I just started my second year as a reading interventionist and am loving it! I hope I will get to continue in this position for years to come, but time will tell. Anyway, when people ask what my job is and I say reading interventionist, most people ask, “What is that? What do you do?” Usually, I’ll say, “I teach […]
What Teachers Teach That Curriculums Don’t
I had no idea what my topic for this week was until today. I was thinking about yesterday when a fourth grade student asked me to help him tie his shoe. I said, “You don’t know how to tie to your shoe?” I was a bit incredulous. He replied, “No one ever showed me how.” I told him, “How about […]
What Happened to Handwriting?
Is it just me or has there been a decline in the quality of students’ handwriting? Over the past few years I have noticed student handwriting getting worse and worse. I, also, notice that handwriting is not being taught explicitly in most classrooms. Why is that? Here are my thoughts on that. 1. The curriculums that teachers are being forced […]
10 Must-Have Teacher Supplies
Time for back-to-school! Say, what? I know, it doesn’t feel long enough does it? I go back to work Wednesday and as much as I have enjoyed summer, I know it’s time. And I love my position as reading interventionist, I really do. However, this year, just like others before it come with its own set of changes and I’ll […]
Top 5 Tips for Working with Military Students
Happy Memorial Day! We get an extra day off to remember those who served and gave the ultimate sacrifice for their country and all of us. I thought this would be a good time to take the opportunity to think about the military students and families I have worked with over the years and what I have learned over that […]
Reflections of a School Year: Gauging Success
Testing is over and the year is winding down. Only about 10 more days to go. While entering test scores on data spreadsheets and having Spring data meetings, I have been thinking a lot about how successful this school year was. I think about it every year. How many students made their goals? How many didn’t? How close were they? […]