Password Storage

I have had the hardest time remembering my passwords to access all my educational resources. My administration team gave us the best present last year- a mini file folder for passwords! On an index card, I write the program name and the password. (Disclaimer: This is not for personal use. These programs and passwords are…

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Book Club

One of our most recent literacy objectives was to have students meet independently in a group to read the same book and have an enriching discussion. I broke up my students into 5 groups that would meet once a week with a book on their independent reading level (determined by running records).  I brought students…

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Long-Range Planning

The latest fad in my school district is providing teachers with a “Quarterly Planning” day. Substitutes take over the classroom for the day while the team of teachers meet together in a central location and plan for the quarter. The belief is that by allowing teachers time to plan effective lessons, students will become more…

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No Planning Week

Are you productive when your team comes together for planning or all-staff professional development meeting? For me, I generally am productive. However, there are particular times in a teacher’s schedule when everything comes to a close and you about lose your mind trying to tie all the loose ends together. This generally happens at the…

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*200 Followers* Freebie!

Today I am celebrating 200 followers!! Wahoo!! Thank you to all my loyal readers. I started this blog last year to record my experiences and reflect on how I could become a better teacher. Networking with teacher  bloggers has allowed me an outlet to vent with people who “get it” as well as borrow stellar…

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Teacher of the Month

Wednesday, January 9th was one of those days where it was the best and the worst day rolled into one. I went from the lowest low to the highest high. Let me start at the beginning… I left teaching in a Title-One school after 5 years because I was ready for a change. I was…

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Literature that will Change your Life

Have you ever read the book Junebug by Alice Mead? Oh my goodness. I might have been more excited to start reading it than my own students! Tell me this wouldn’t have you hook, line, and sinker?: “Reeve McClain, Jr.—Junebug—has decided to skip his birthday. Since ten is the age when boys in the projects…

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Enriching Learning

Have you heard of ASCD? [“ASCD is a membership organization that develops programs, products, and services essential to the way educators learn, teach, and lead.”] I receive their magazine “Educational Leadership” monthly. At the end of the magazine, there is a section called, “Tell Me About A Time…” where readers (just like us!) can write…

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Rubric vs Checklist

I have evolved in the way I grade papers over the last seven years of my career. In my first year of teaching, I took every paper home. I’d look through it, make editing marks, and even record it. I quickly learned this is a way to get burned out so instead I would just…

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New Year's Resolution Linky!

Thank you to Jen over at The Teacher’s Cauldron and Amanda from Teaching Maddeness for these fun linky parties! Personal: Allow myself balance. I love what I do so it is easy to get caught up in hours of “teachery” stuff. I want to walk my dog daily so that gives me a good hour…

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