No, it doesn’t fit into your state curriculum. It’s not in the “Standards” or the “Frameworks”, however if you are in any way trying to make great connections with students (what teacher worth their salt isn’t?), I think it is a MUST in your year.
Read more "Your MOST important :20 minutes of teaching that no one talks about"This past week I had the opportunity to present four education sessions at the MTA (Massachusetts Teachers Association) summer conference at UMASS in Amherst, MA. When I present at conferences I try to stick to themes and ideas and create ‘what can teachers/administrators use immediately’ types of sessions. I know as an educator, those types of sessions, articles and […]
Read more "I’m sick of theory too!"A number of years ago, when my professional speaking business had really started growing and I was feeling A LOT too good about how awesome I was at speaking, I had, to this day, one of the most embarrassing, poorly prepared and humbling moments of my entire life; let alone my speaking work. I was […]
Read more "Learning from the embarrassment of a lifetime"Tomorrow I am presenting at a New Hampshire teachers conference in Concord, NH. I have been prepping for this event and I am thrilled to be able to be there. Also, I am working toward my professional development goals and it has made me really be reflective about my PD (professional development) and what I […]
Read more "Poke Me In the Eye, Right Now!"FriYAYs are amazing… How do you make them great for your students?
Read more "How To Increase The Joy of an Already Joyous Day in Your Classroom- Happy FriYAY!!"My friend Sarah Kurtz McKinnon and I just wrote a book together! Not The Way You Have Always Done It: A Book of Camp Tips and Tricks. It took us only 8 months. We have known each other for less than a year. Sarah is beginning her career in the professional speaking and camp consulting business, but […]
Read more "Stop Paralyzing Creativity by being a lone wolf!"Almost 13 years ago when I started my professional speaking business, I heard a great speaker name Rick Segel Link to Rick’s Website talk about the 4% rule. Since that very day, it is something that I have always tried to live by. The 4% rule is simply this… If you are giving your best effort, your 100%, […]
Read more "Illegitimi non carborundum – The 4%"This is the time of year in education when some teachers, colleagues, maybe some of your friends are getting fired. You might be getting fired. I hope not, but someone reading this potentially could be. Total transparency. I have been fired more than once in my life in education. The first time was around this […]
Read more "Getting Fired Can Be The Best Thing For You"The month of March in most public schools in the region I teach in (New England) can be an incredibly difficult time to teach. Unlike many parts of the United States, we don’t have an official “Spring Break.” We have one week off in for February Vacation and one week off for April Vacation. Link […]
Read more "Mastering the Misery That is March: One Day at a Time"I feel so lucky to teach in a school district where I work with some of the best people, professionals and friends I could possibly imagine. However, establishing that relationship doesn’t just happen, it takes a lot of work. It takes a great deal of putting yourself out there to colleagues and making yourself somewhat […]
Read more "Finding the Power of Positive Colleagues in the Midst of Anxiety and Depression"