As a former educator and literacy coach in Title 1 schools for over 20 years,  Lori has a passion for growing both students and teachers. She currently serves as a district literacy specialist, college instructor, and staff developer. She also is the proud mother of two struggling readers. While her children are almost grown now,…

We have lost so many great teachers in our profession and we are losing more each day. Teacher mentorship can help us save more of our elite educators but we have to get a better support system first. Mentorship in education has  stigma of underperformance. We have to change our programs so that our structure…

Your training as an educator did not prepare you for the job you are currently doing. It’s ok to acknowledge that this year is not your best and that you have weaknesses. What is important is that you also realize that weaknesses are just strengths in a different area. If you were to put yourself…

Even in the chaos swirling around you, there is a lesson to be learned. 2020 is going to be one of the most challenging seasons of our careers, however it doesn’t all have to be bad. Each day you are becoming a better version of yourself if you are choosing to stay present, positive and…

2020 has come with a lot of complex adjustments in regards to life and teaching. In order to be our best, we have to get back to the basics of why we love the profession we chose! We have to get excited about the lessons we are teaching and be fully present to make an…

James Sturtevant navigated thirty-four years in a public high school classroom. He now teaches Intro to Education and Assessment to future teachers at Muskingum University. He combines fearless experimentation with a willingness to learn from younger tech-savvy students and colleagues. He’s authored three additional books that promote student engagement and bonding with kids. James hosts…

We have spent a lot of time discussing how teachers should adjust this year. We also have to consider how our students are doing with all the adjustments that they are facing. As leaders in their life, we have to take the time to acknowledge the adjustments they are making.  We also have to help…

This year is quite different than other years of teaching. If we were using a rubric, this year wouldn’t be scoring at the top. Therefore, why are we holding ourselves to the same expectations? It is time for us to recalibrate our expectations and make adjustments based on our new reality. In order to be…