Student Work

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…

          Need some ideas for those last few days of school? Writing prompts have been my best friend! I gave my students the writing prompt: “_[insert name]___ lived in a castle in a far away land.” Students chose their main character’s name and copied down this sentence. They then added one…

This school year was fantastic! There are so many wonderful memories to cherish. So many in fact, I may have forgotten them! I asked my students to place their heads down on their desk and visualize the year from beginning to end. They brainstormed a few of their favorite moments from this year and chose…

At the end of every school year I do the same activity with my class. It’s a way to say “thank you” and celebrate individual attributes. I got the idea from a story I read while I was in college. I apologize to the author as I cannot remember the source. I also apologize that…

As I continue on my journey as an educator of young minds, I always reflect on how I can inspire my students. I want them energized and engaged in their learning, so much so that they yearn for more each passing day. But….how do I do that? So I thought about what made me as…