Riding The "Title" Wave

At the beginning of each school year, I always make it a point to watch Rita Pierson's TedTalk, Every Kid Needs a Champion .  This talk always inspires and invigorates me as I anticipate the coming school year.  It puts into perspective the true reason as to why we show up each day for our students. In the talk, Rita says, "kids don't learn from people they don't like" and for me, this is the most intricate piece of the teaching puzzle.  Above all else, students and adults alike need a personal connection in order to create the most beneficial learning environment.  Rita references James Comer in her talk quoting that, "no significant learning can occur with a significant relationship." In such a demanding profession, where time is the most limited resource and pacing guides seem to rule the day, remembering the true reason we are there makes it all so much more manageable.   When I see former students of mine...who now have childre...

If you are looking for a great resource that offers a wealth of information concerning Title 1 schools, Bright Hub Education is the place.   If offers great ideas for all levels of teaching from Pre-K to the High School levels.  It also has a variety of resources for Special Education and teaching English Learners.   Happy Reading!  https://www.brighthubeducation.com/ For specific Title 1 information and articles, try here: https://www.brighthubeducation.com/teaching-methods-tips/11105-basics-of-title-1-funds/

This year, I started at a brand new school within my district.  I replaced an amazing gentleman that retired after years of being in the position that I was now taking over. There have been many things that I have been made aware of about myself with this transition.  Much of which has me reverting back to ways that I once felt when I was a student in grade school myself. I was excited to meet and work with new people, but also this was coupled with the fears that I hoped that I would be well-received.  Like in grade school, making new friends can sometimes be hard.  When it was time for lunch on the first day, I wondered and thought about where to sit...should I chime in with conversations or just smile and nod?  Fortunately, everyone that I work with welcomed me with open arms and open hearts and I am simply loving my new school home. On the first Friday, of the first week of school I was called to the office.  It was time for the "Principal's C...

I posted last week about my feelings and beliefs concerning the negative impact that timed math fluency testing can potentially have on students.  If you read that post, and found yourself nodding along in agreement, then I would truly recommend this resource for you to dive into.   I was given this text as a gift from a dear friend and colleague this week, and I read the whole book in one evening.  I know it will be a resource that I will be turning to over and over again.   The authors of No More Math Fact Frenzy , closely examine the research  centered around this and emphasize the ways in which students can gain a more authentic math fluency.   I would love to hear the comments and take-aways that others find within this rich and honest resource.   Thanks! 

A recent course that I have taken, prompted and encouraged me to ponder the question “ I believe that students learn this way, but I am teaching this other way because ...” From that, I have felt the new challenge to dig in a bit more deeply as to why things are the way they are with some current educational practices. With the start of the school year, and the required fact fluency testing, that thinking has brought me to the place of timed math fact fluency testing and my feelings around such practices.   Resulting from my own experiences as a child, fact fluency is a corner of the math world that I have very deep feelings around. In my own personal opinion, I despise timed fact fluency tests and the use of speed as a motivating factor for students to master math facts. It is my belief and claim that timed math fact fluency assessments have an adverse effect in the lives of many young mathematicians. Even as a teacher, watching students now have to take timed f...

When I moved from a classroom teaching position of 14 years, into a Title 1 teaching position three years ago, I don't think anything could have prepared me for the way that I would feel on that very first day of school in my new role.  I had a sea of emotions leading up to that first day.  I was excited for the change and to be a part of a new school, yet that excitement was often met with small little deflated moments as well.  Like for instance, when I wasn't writing out name tags for student desks or putting together a "classroom helpers" job chart.  I realize now that these small warnings were trying to precursor how I would feel when everything came together at the start of the school year. Everything truly hit me, all at once, at the morning playground duty on the first day.  Every staff member was out in the courtyard, sporting our bright yellow vests and most welcoming smiles.  We greeted all of the students getting off the bus, walking to...