Archive for December 2014
Open the Gate
From the desk of Leigh Ann . . . I just finished reading an article that called math “the gatekeeper of success.” Sounded a little scary to me, but got me thinking. A lack of skill and confidence in math problem solving can affect the ability to make some critically important decisions. Often when people…
Read MoreChanging My Mindset
From the desk of Carol C . . . A few weeks ago I had a conversation with a colleague, Katy, about what she did to make math so interesting for her students. “Oh, I just let them play games,” she replied tongue in cheek. Well, I knew better than that. Katy is an excellent math teacher…
Read MorePrincipal's Hot Picks
From the desk of Alice…. In every school I have ever gone in, there are students who can read but choose not to. These students know how to call words, they understand what they read and they even think critically–when they decide they want to. They can be a challenge because the barrier to reading…
Read MoreFixing a Fixer
From the desk of Leigh Ann . . . “And they lived happily (aside from a few normal disagreements, misunderstandings, pouts, silent treatments, and unexpected calamities) ever after.” – Jean Ferris I am a fixer. That’s right – I have an overwhelming need to fix things. My husband calls it my “storybook complex.” I want…
Read MoreModeling Responsible Behavior
From the desk of Leigh Ann . . . “The greatest gifts you can give your children are the roots of responsibility and the wings of independence.” – Denis Waitley We can scold, plead, and beg for responsible behavior, but the truth is, if we don’t demonstrate it each day, our students won’t either. Children…
Read MoreModeling the Sounds of Learning
From the desk of Leigh Ann . . . One of my favorite classroom signs reads, “Pardon our noise. It’s the sound of learning.” A class of enthusiastic learners is not silent, but filled with meaningful conversations about all aspects of the curriculum. Classroom talk is a powerful tool and is critical to teaching and…
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