What makes a great teacher? It’s a simple question with seemingly endless answers, yet Todd Whitaker condenses them to a manageable few in his 2011 informational,What Great Teachers Do Differently: 17 Things That Matter Most. This short, 144-page book filled with psuedophilosphy for teacher self-help made its way into my reading cycle recently, and I […]
What Great Teachers Do Differently, 2nd Edition – Book Review Read More »
In the weeks leading up to the 2024-2025 school year, I read the New Testament book of James and meditated on how the wisdom therein might guide my actions as a classroom teacher. A few passages stood out to me, and I’d like to share the along with my commentary. Each verse below is taken
Reflections: Spirituality and Intentionality in 2024-2025 Read More »
Coming in hot on the first days of school might be the single most important ingredient for a successful school year, and to make your life easy, I’m giving you my back-to-school resources for FREE! You’ve nothing to fear if you build rapport with students, set expectations, and touch base with the home base from
FREE Back-to-School Teacher Resources 2024-2025 Read More »
Testify To the cold, metallic voice of reason Reach For the fiery sparks of fear and doubt Stand In the settling dust of one day’s work Hard as iron, sharp as nails “Cursed is the ground because of you…” Genesis 3:17
The 2023 Louisiana Association of Public Charter Schools Conference took place this past Thursday, December 14th. Administrators, board members, vendors, and more gathered in New Orleans, LA to talk about key education issues over coffee and beignets. As fate would have it, I was able to attend, and after reflecting on my experience, I decided
Reflections: 2023 Louisiana Association of Public Charter Schools Conference Read More »
I’m out of school for Thanksgiving break, and today seemed like as good a day as any to pick up a few books for my classroom library. There’s a Goodwill Outlet in town that sells books at a rate of ten for fifty cents. Yes, you read that correctly: ten for $0.50, or one for
Book Haul – November 22, 2023 Read More »
What is a Read Aloud? A read aloud is a teaching technique where a person—often a teacher, parent, or educator—reads a book, story, or text aloud to an audience, typically a group of children or students. This activity is used to foster a love for reading, improve literacy skills, and engage listeners in the content
Read Aloud 101: A Beginner’s Guide Read More »
So you’ve heard of shared reading but still have lingering questions? What is it? Is it the same as guided reading? If you aren’t exactly sure, keep reading! Your questions will soon be answered! In short, shared reading is an evidence-based instructional practice for developing students’ literacy skills. It’s a method you absolutely need in
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Guided reading is one of the most effective strategies for supporting struggling readers. It’s so effective, in fact, that it serves as a central component of many literacy programs, and every reading specialist, interventionist, and teacher should at least know what it is, if not how to use it. After all, reading is in the
Guided Reading 101: A Beginner’s Guide Read More »
In the past few weeks, I’ve radically altered the structure of my 7th grade reading class to create a more balanced literacy experience for students. One major pivot, and the focus of the article, is the use of Sustained Silent Reading (SSR) in exchange for traditional bellringers at the beginning of each class. This combined
I Implemented SSR, and THIS Happened… Read More »