Posts by Gretchen Schultek Bridgers
116: The Safe Keeper
As teacher leaders we need to create the culture in the school where balance is acceptable and encouraged. Without a healthy teacher, a classroom can never reach its fully potential. Tune in to hear two steps teacher leaders can take today to ensure teachers and students are physically, mentally and emotionally safe. You are ‘The…
Listen to Episode115: Set the Example with Dede Rittman
Dede Faltot Rittman graduated from Edinboro University in 1974 with a bachelor’s degree in secondary English and attended the University of Pittsburgh for post-graduate credits. After two years at Penn Hills, she began teaching English and Theater in the North Allegheny School District, a position she held for thirty-five years. For thirty-two of those years,…
Listen to EpisodeA Home Environment Fit for an Early Reader
The above pictures of my sweet baby Lily at 9 months is the inspiration behind this post. I happened to be rushing around downstairs preparing dinner while my little one ran around holding her stuffed giraffe singing her made-up melody when all of a sudden it went quiet. If you are a parent, you fear…
Read Full Post114: Don’t Be A Pretender
Sometimes we feel as though we need to be the expert in everything and start pretending we have the knowledge and skills required to do it all. The fact is, it’s a sham. We are pretending and the ones who get hurt the most are the children. Tune in to hear how to stop being…
Listen to EpisodeThe First Week of School: What Do I Do?
Happy Back-to-School season! One question newer teachers always ask their colleagues is: “What do I do the first week of school?” My answer is always the same: “Routines and procedures sprinkled in with content.” [See a list of popular routines and procedures here.] What I mean by this is as educators we have to prepare…
Read Full Post113: Be that Knock at the Door
“What do you want to accomplish this year and how can I help you get there?” is a powerful question from a teacher leader to someone that they lead. Act like Publisher’s Clearing House and go knock on your colleagues’ doors during this back to school season and make their dreams come true. Tune in to…
Listen to EpisodeThrifty Thursday- 8th Edition
Thrifty Thursday Each week I bring to you helpful tips to become a more effective educator on the Always A Lesson fan page on Facebook. (Give it a quick like by clicking here!) I decided to start grouping my social media posts into a blog post incase you might have missed anything. Time to get caught up:…
Read Full Post112: The Dysfunction of Grading
Grading is only as good as the effectiveness of instruction leading up to it. A grade on an assessment that doesn’t match the learning leading up to it is worthless, demeaning and dysfunctional. Tune in to hear three steps you can take now to ensure you teach hard enough, long enough and deep enough for…
Listen to Episode6 Easy Steps for a Successful Back-to-School Night
Summer is winding down and the upcoming school year is rapidly approaching. Teachers are trying to balance their time between setting up their classroom and attending professional development sessions as well as numerous meetings with school personnel. Most schools host a “Back-to-School” night prior to the first day of school so that parents and students…
Read Full Post111: Building Capacity Through Relationships
If you are in education, you are in the people business. In order to have a successful school year, students and teachers need to feel supported. By building capacity, you are investing in people, and that has a high return on investment. Tune in to hear how teacher leaders can empower classroom teachers to attain…
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