Teaching Math is Not for the Faint Hearted
From the desk of Laney… Teaching math is not for the faint hearted! It is a complex task that requires deep mathematical content knowledge, a toolbox of instructional strategies, and the ability to create a culture of learning that encourages sometimes math averse students to venture into the discipline with an open mind. While I…
Read MoreWhere Have All the School Mamas Gone?
If you work in a school, at one time or another you have had a School Mama. You know exactly who they are. You can probably picture one right now. School Mamas come in all sizes, shapes, colors, and are in every school. They are the ones who are wise, give you tips on how to…
Read MoreJust One Resolution
About 25 years ago, I was a disillusioned teacher. I spent my days dealing with students who did not appear to care or appreciate anything I was bringing to the classroom, and I spent my nights dreading going to work the next day. For some of my instructional day, I hated the content I was…
Read MoreDon’t Ask
What did you get for Christmas? Did you have a good break? You may think this is polite chatter for your students as everyone falls back into the routine of school. These are normal questions that we all ask without thinking. We’re excited to see the kids and genuinely interested in how they spent their time. They are the…
Read MoreWhy You Need to Start Talking to Students
It’s not unusual for me to be in conversations with teachers and administrative teams where the following things are discussed: Data Books Other resources Family issues Objectives Lesson Plans Ironically, one of the things that is rarely discussed is what the students have to say. I find it odd that we continue to work around…
Read MoreNot Your Mama’s Grading and Reporting
Grading and reporting is a topic I have dreaded discussing for years. It is the proverbial Pandora’s Box. Basically, when it comes to grading and reporting, everyone has an opinion on the “best” approach. In my own undergraduate work related to education, this is something that was not explicitly addressed. I had limited responsibility…
Read MoreWhy You Need to Stop Overdosing on Whole Group
Most of us that were educated since the 1970’s (yes, I am that old!) remember sitting in a classroom with the teacher at the board (with chalk), and we dutifully followed along page-by-page, problem-by-problem. We can also remember classrooms where we really didn’t follow along…we passed notes, doodled, and talked. Times in classrooms have not…
Read MoreThree Favorite Things
It’s that time of year where everyone is making lists and checking it twice, so we thought we would toss out a few of our ERG Favorite Things. Children’s Literature What’s not to love here? Children’s books are not only designed to create a love of reading, but also are handy tools in classrooms…
Read MoreDear Empowered Teacher
Dear Empowered Teacher, We see you. You are quietly working away. You seek new information. You see obstacles as opportunities. You find joy in your work. You willingly seek collaborators. You are focused on the right things. You recognize the good in both students and colleagues. You know how to sway without breaking.…
Read MoreMythbusters: Differentiation Edition
With so many resources available for differentiation, why do we still struggle with implementing the ideas? We all tend to agree that one size fits all is not what works in our classrooms, and we also agree that we want to grow each and every student the best way we know how. So what gives?…
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