Growing Firsties

Even though I teach at a public school, I feel that God is at work in my classroom every day.
Student and school shooting tragedies weigh heavily on us all.
On social media recently, I saw something that really didn't sit well in my mind and I've been wrestling with it quite a bit. You may have seen it (or something like it), too. It said:...

As a veteran classroom teacher of 24 years, I have worked with several students with autism over the years and my heart and mind have expanded with each of them.
Having read some of Temple Grandin's books in the last ten years or so, I was thrilled to see a picture book about her! Thanks, Innovation Press, for the review copy - my students and I love this book and had excellent discussion around it. It's told...

Have you noticed an increase of both diagnosed and un-diagnosed anxiety in your students over the last few years? I sure have!
I'm starting year #23 of teaching and have concerns about how much anxiety I'm seeing in students these past few years. Each student's story is their own and particular to them, but I will say that I just can't help but think that increased testing and...

Writing Workshop has been a important and delightful part of my classroom for over ten years. My students and I absolutely adore writing workshop! Yet - I'm still in a constant state of refinement and tweaking of workshop.
Here are some tried and true tips for what has worked well over the years, regardless of the writing curriculum I was using...Let me know which tips you find most helpful!...