Self-Reflection
Difference Makers
From the desk of Leigh Ann . . . “In a gentle way, you can shake the world.” – Mahatma Gandhi I had dinner with four amazing women last evening, and as you can probably guess, the conversation revolved around teaching. We were dissecting the characteristics exemplary educators possess. What is it that gives them…
Read MoreImproving the Quality of Literature Circles
From the desk of Carol C. . . Do you ever feel the literature circles in your classroom could work better? A higher level of learning taking place? Responses from more students? Sometimes we don’t notice the positives that are taking place in lit circles, so we aren’t able to take advantage of those aspects. …
Read MoreOpen 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 MoreWhat Reflective Teaching Looks Like…
From the couch of Monica… In my first contribution to the ERG blog, I wrote about reflective teaching and how true reflection transforms what we are able to accomplish in the classroom through our planning. Considering the 20 kiddos in front of me as a teacher, and balancing their need with the demands of the…
Read MoreInstruction Should Be Everyone’s Thing
From the Couch of Monica… Sometimes in education, in the day-to-day grind, we forget that reflection is a powerful starting point and an invaluable tool when we think about what kids need from us in the classroom. It is an easy thing to do these days, when there are many responsibilities and tasks imposed on…
Read MoreFinding Fulfillment Again
From the desk of Carol C… Where will you keep your focus this year? Most of us went into teaching to make a difference in the lives of children and therefore, a difference in our world. Remember the excitement (and fear) we felt at the beginning of each school year our first years in the…
Read MoreReflect and Revitalize
From the desk of Leigh Ann . . . Teaching can be an incredibly fulfilling and exhilarating experience, but it can also be one that leaves you feeling defeated and exhausted. When you unwind and finally have time to reflect on your teaching day, where do your thoughts go? Do…
Read MoreExpected Versus Unexpected
From the desk of Carol C… How do you spend your day? Are you rushing from activity to activity? Most of us are so busy hurrying from one thing to the next we don’t seem to have enough time to do anything other than move at dangerous speeds. Now it would serve to reason in…
Read MoreThe Highlight Reel
From the desk of Leigh Ann . . . I spotted a refrigerator magnet that said, “The reason we struggle with insecurity is because we compare our behind-the-scenes with everyone else’s highlight reel.” These words caused a brief moment of introspection – and as all teachers do – I related it to education. I was…
Read MorePigeonholing Children
From the desk of Carol… I’m a reader all the time and a mathematician when necessitated. So it was clear to me when my great-niece, Madyson, reached the toddler stage she was going to be a reader. After all, she loved to look at and listen to books. She couldn’t seem to get enough of…
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