Hey Bevin! Do me a favor and make at least one ripple today! One of our well-loved division leaders once shouted this to me in passing, and needless to say, it resonated. In this casual, impromptu moment, I believe he was alluding to the ripple effect. The ripple effect...
Let Them Play: 6 Ways to Promote Play
*Originally published on Becker’s Insights on Early Learning blog Play matters! In fact, it’s perhaps the most essential element of children’s learning. Play is crucial to brain development as well as the health and well-being of early learners. It fosters physical, emotional, social, and cognitive skills while cultivating creativity and...
A Day in THAT Child’s Life
This blog post can also be read/reflected upon individually or used as a visualizing activity during professional learning. For professional learning, have participants pair up and stand back to back with their eyes closed. Then, read this aloud to them. Afterward, have them face their partner and reflect upon...
A Dozen Do’s for Student Teachers
It wasn’t that long ago when I was a wide-eyed, eager-to-learn student teacher. I remember those couple of months that I jokingly referred to as “free labor” to be challenging, enlightening, and rewarding. That quick snapshot in time undoubtedly laid the foundation for my first full-time position to follow....
Impact & Inspire: Am I a Teacher Leader?
Am I a teacher leader? This is a question I asked myself when I was about 5 years into my teaching career, and to be honest, the answer then was, “Nope…not so much.” At that point, I knew I was good at my job, but that “goodness” pretty...
Teaching Inclusion Taught ME
Don’t stare. Keep your heads down. Eyes forward. My elementary school teachers, all of whom I loved and respected, uttered these kinds of things in the hallways whenever we passed THAT group of students, the ones who looked, sounded, or perhaps acted just a bit differently than my classmates...
20 Teaching Tips: High-Energy Students
I’ve always had a special place in my heart for high-energy students. I admire their enthusiasm and how they always seem to show up to class ready to bring it. Monday morning, rain or shine, while I’m waiting for my caffeine buzz to kick in from the Coke Zero...
Instead of “NO”, Let’s Try…
NO! STOP! DON’T! Students hate to hear it. Teachers wish they didn’t have to say it. But, do negative words such as these really even work? And, when does “no” lose its luster? I’m reminded of just how much disciplinarians overuse these words at the start of each school year...
EdCamp: Honoring Voice and Choice
Have you ever participated in an EdCamp? I’ve participated in and facilitated several and just can’t say enough about what a valuable professional learning model Edcamps are for educators, especially classroom teachers. If you like personalized learning experiences and engaging in authentic dialogue with other passionate educators, keep on reading! What...
13 Animal Videos for PreK-3 Students
Animals are an essential part of the science curriculum. Here is a collection of 18 instructional animal videos and songs for PreK-3 learners, covering topics such as habitats, body coverings, methods of movement, food chains, hibernation, migration, and more! These clips are both educational and entertaining. I hope you find strategic...