Let’s face it, kids are hardcore honest. Once I had a fourth grader let me know about my wild and crazy nose hairs! True story! During a parent conference! But sometimes kids bare their souls and we aren’t listening, we aren’t seeing. We may see hours later what we missed or we may never know,Continue reading “Are We Listening?”
Becoming More Culturally Responsive in Teaching
Years ago in my teaching prep courses at Southeastern Oklahoma State University, we were asked how we would teach/be culturally responsive in a diverse environment. I answered the question by copying whatever the text said and that is why I do not remember what I wrote, only that I had absolutely no idea what IContinue reading “Becoming More Culturally Responsive in Teaching”
Saying Goodbye
When my husband and I were daydreaming about an adventure in a far off place, there was no thought of what it would feel like to say goodbye. This evening, as I prepared for tomorrow, tears fell as I fully took in that there wasn’t much more time in the building that is my secondContinue reading “Saying Goodbye”
How Melody Became Brave
For #WorldReadAloudDay, a fellow first grade teacher and I used Skype to invite author, Elizabeth Roach, into our classroom. She wrote and shared her story How Carlos Became Brave. This story was about a young man who was afraid to go down a tall slide, but his older cousin helped him overcome his fear byContinue reading “How Melody Became Brave”
Connecting Through Tech & Story Telling
Bringing people in and making global connections has been the theme to help my students fall in love with reading and develop their social emotional learning, since we’ve come back from winter break. I wasn’t sure how it would work out, but after Skyping or using Google Hangouts, with an author and other story-telling-educators, IContinue reading “Connecting Through Tech & Story Telling”
Relationships Matter
Starting to teach at 23 years of age, I can tell you that I did not have an abundance of wisdom. BUT, I did know that relationships matter in my profession of teaching. Like many college kids after earning their degrees, I was super scared about where the next road in life would take me. Continue reading “Relationships Matter”
Connecting Through Tech: What’s Holding You Back?
Technology is great. I’m only a fan of it, though, when I actually know how to use it to make life better or cooler. A few years ago, I had been out of the classroom for three whole years and when I came back, technology was not my friend. I felt like it had advancedContinue reading “Connecting Through Tech: What’s Holding You Back?”
Here’s to 2019: My Song!
Here’s to 2019! I’ve been hoping you’d come and dreading it at the same time. The passage of time can feel like the enemy is after me when there’s so much to be done and so many challenges along the way. Here’s to 2019! New beginnings feel like spring, even during the winter. Here’s toContinue reading “Here’s to 2019: My Song!”
TCCA Evolve: A Conference FOR Educators
This past weekend, I was able to attend a FREE conference for educators in Houston, TX called TCCA Evolve brought to us by the Aldine Independent School District. I went with a colleague from my district, Statia Paschel, and it was an all around, amazing experience. We were able to meet other educators in ourContinue reading “TCCA Evolve: A Conference FOR Educators”
Courageous Conversations: Race Matters
Of the blog posts I’ve written, the only one that keeps being read and shared more than any of the others, is Why Race Matters for This White Teacher and I hope you’ll check it out, too. To summarize it, I had to come to terms with my own prejudice and be proactive about changingContinue reading “Courageous Conversations: Race Matters”
He Gave Me A Melody 