Many times when we see the word “TEAM” we think of its association with sports. Quickly we make the connection to winning. With a sports team every individual has a role and is trained and ready to fulfill that role so that the “TEAM” will hopefully win. However, in education, we come with all kindsContinue reading “Learning to “TEAM””
Category Archives: School Culture
Having a “Can Do” Attitude…
I have had the unique experience of transitioning from Middle School as an instructional coach to Elementary as an Assistant Principal. If you put a kindergarten parent side by side with a parent of an entering middle schooler, I am sure their fears and concerns would be very similar. One thing I think educators andContinue reading “Having a “Can Do” Attitude…”
Genius Hour Comes Full Circle…
As this year came to a close it marked four years ago I closed the end of a school year as a classroom teacher. It was four years ago that I stepped out and tried Genius Hour in my classroom and it was four years ago that I began to put together my story toContinue reading “Genius Hour Comes Full Circle…”
Going Back to 7th Grade…#shadowastudentchallenge
I am not sure many know how deeply I love working on a middle school campus. This passion for investing in middle schoolers comes from a less positive place in my own life. When I was the age of today’s middle schoolers it was not a time that would be categorized as “fond memories.” InContinue reading “Going Back to 7th Grade…#shadowastudentchallenge”
Ways to #pumpitup Now and All Year
Over the past two weeks I have had the distinct privilege of hearing keynote presentations from George Couros, Michael Wesch, Dave Burgess and Travis Allen. In every message the ideas of wonder, risk-taking, relationship building and passion. As we embrace the beginning of another cycle of instruction we have the unique opportunity to reflect, re-frameContinue reading “Ways to #pumpitup Now and All Year”
Living the digital Life… It’s not a Generational Thing
Recently my twelve year old daughter asked my husband and I the following question: “I feel so upset when elderly people tell me I don’t have it as hard as they did, was life more difficult then than it is now? I think it’s different and we have challenges that they didn’t have, but it’sContinue reading “Living the digital Life… It’s not a Generational Thing”
Achieving Balance…or NOT!
There is a lot of talk about balance, work-life balance. At one time I read a book about achieving balance. It recommended you plan out your day and prioritize what percentage of your day gets that amount of your focused attention. While in theory that sounded like a great idea, in reality it didn’t work…Continue reading “Achieving Balance…or NOT!”
Learning Is “Egg”cellent Even for the “Egg”spert
For the past few springs in our district our Elementary Science Coordinator @tkmotley attempts to provide every elementary classroom K-5 a “live animal” for the life science curriculum. In first grade this means “chicks.” Yes, the furry, yellow, cheeping kind. However, the “chicks” don’t come chirping. Our students, district-wide, get the thrill of waiting 21Continue reading “Learning Is “Egg”cellent Even for the “Egg”spert”
A Quarterly Review: Progress, Process and Persistence
It has been 3 months since I posted my New Year’s post #beUncommon. We all set goals, but what makes those goals achievable is revisiting them and assessing if we are making progress to meet them, what is the process we are utilizing to work toward those goals and what level of commitment… in manyContinue reading “A Quarterly Review: Progress, Process and Persistence”
What is my WHY?
Recently my assistant superintendent, Rob Thornell, wrote a post titled “Never Forget Why You Started?” It got me to thinking. After sharing with fellow #blogamonth-er and creator of the #BlogAMonth Challenge, Drew Frank (@ugafrank) via Twitter, the importance for educators to constantly be mindful of why we do what we do, I had a planContinue reading “What is my WHY?”
The Bulldog Educator 