New Year, New Traditions

This school year, I'm doing something new...

That Time I Missed a Faculty Meeting

Teachers report back to school in less than a week, and I can't help but reflect on something that happened near the end of last school year. It's been a while since I did this, so here's another tip from this veteran teacher...

Six Words

It's been YEARS since I had my students write just six little words about themselves...

Handle With Care

 Sometimes students are like fragile packages...

First Days of School

This week students returned to school, AND we had a blast...

Fancy a Plank or Some Wall Sits?

I'm not quite sure whose idea it was, but my students and I started an interesting trend, the last two months of the school year...

First Chapter Friday

I've been reading a chapter from a new book every Friday to my students...

Shut Down, Unplug and Disconnect

I returned to my new school today for day one (out of 10!) of pre-planning, and I had to remind myself of something...

My Favorite Teacher, Equity and Reflections

Day two of teacher orientation and icebreaker activities got me thinking about my favorite teacher, of all time, and what I want to remember going into this new school year...

Go For It

During one of our weekly walks, a friend of mine asked me a really good question...

Outside the Classroom Walls

Turns out they were right all along!

I've long known that the greatest way to have an impact on a child's life is to get to know them outside of the classroom...to find out their interests and support them.  Like, go to their basketball or football game, their concert, or recital.  Sounds easy right? Not really...

Book Love

For as long as I can remember, I have been a lover of books, but this summer I read a book that's changed my teaching life and inspired me to put a book into the hands of every one of my students...

The Last Day of School

For the past several years, I have done this one special thing for my students. It happens on the last day of school, it's memorable, extraordinary, and it makes them cry every time...

A Handwritten Note for Every Student

This school year, I'm writing a thoughtful note to each and every one of my students...

A Special Thing We Do

There's this special thing we do in my classroom. I gave my students the idea to do it one day, and it sort of took off, and now we (they!) do it all the time...

It's Not Personal

Sometimes I wish I could capture and bottle the feelings I have during the first few months of school. I'm super happy, patient and optimistic about the school year. That's how I'm feeling these days. I'm able to deal with negative behaviors quickly, some small things I may even choose to ignore, and I focus on the positives and keep things moving. But inevitably, during the course of the year, when kids and teachers get a bit weary, emotions can get the best of us...

Day One. Without Kids.

Gwinnett county teachers returned to school today, bright and early, after having two glorious months off from work.  A week before kids come back, teachers come together to plan...or rather...attend meeting after meeting.  Don't believe me? Here's exactly how this first day went...

Teacher Appreciated

We've truly lucked out. Year after year, we've been extremely blessed with Buddy Roller's amazing teachers. It seems like each year just gets better and better, and this one is no exception...

Tip #14 - Have Fun with Your Students

This Thursday, students will return to school for their final semester of this school year, and I can't help but reflect on the first half of this year, particularly the last day of first semester. It's been a while since this so-called veteran teacher posted a teaching tip, so here's a reminder on how to have fun with your students...

On Trying New Things in Teaching

This school year, I'm trying all things new. New strategies. New ways of doing old things. Fresh. New. Unfamiliar. New.  And I'm discovering that the very things I've always been afraid to try, aren't as daunting as they first appeared...