The Pandemic- The Worst Best Professional Development

I haven’t written a blog post in almost two years. My very first blog post was on June 23, 2019; between then and August 14, 2019, I wrote a total of 12. At that point, I had finished my 25th year of teaching and had a lot of topics on which I wanted to reflect, … Continue reading The Pandemic- The Worst Best Professional Development →

The Power of Taking a Risk

Even though I spend a lot of the summer doing school work, I make a deliberate effort to stay away from school for the summer. Two days ago, I returned to my classroom for the first time since June 13th, our last day of school. I was meeting with some other department members to review … Continue reading The Power of Taking a Risk →

When We Lose a Colleague

While this initially may seem like a depressing topic to write about heading into a new school year, I actually think it is an important one to think about as we head back to school. Of course, it is sad and difficult when anyone dies. Even if we did not know someone personally, as humans … Continue reading When We Lose a Colleague →

Why Teachers Need Summer Vacation

I remember early on in my education classes in college…. The professor asked why we chose teaching as a career. I can still picture the woman who responded, “June, July, and August.” I remember chuckling but then realizing quickly that she meant it. She was serious. Without a doubt, it is nice - and I … Continue reading Why Teachers Need Summer Vacation →

Why I am Writing a Blog about Teaching

We might not knowingly think of the specific terms purpose and audience when we sit down to write something, but the odds are high that we have thought about them. Writing, in its simplest terms, boils down to 1. why we are writing and 2. for whom. A grocery list scribbled on a scrap piece … Continue reading Why I am Writing a Blog about Teaching →

Your Philosophy of Education and Why It Matters

I remember all of those education classes I took in college…. Actually, that is not exactly true. I remember taking a number of education classes, but, to be honest, they all sort of blend together in my mind. I remember many of them required twenty hours of classroom observations over winter and spring breaks followed … Continue reading Your Philosophy of Education and Why It Matters →