Education
A Game Changer
Earlier this year, I made a fairly big decision, one that I wrestled with for several months but now feel confident in sharing more openly, more honestly. So let me start with the obvious, something most of you have figured…
Beyond These Difficult Weeks
I’m not gonna lie. These last few weeks have been tougher for the kids than usual. Teachers as well. Testing has made all of us a little crazy, a little irritable, a little more impatient at times, and certainly a…
A Reason to Smile
I’m so, so proud to announce, for the first time since its private release in early May, that I have published my first children’s book, about a group of clever, creative, and courageous kids figuring out how to thrive in…
Don’t Quit On Us
It only took twelve years to put out a second book, but the paperbacks have finally arrived. “Prior to the 2020 pandemic, studies showed that four out of every ten teachers were already leaving their classrooms and their professions. COVID…
Children on the Pandemic
Trying to keep a finger on the pulse of this nation’s children, I spoke to nearly all 72 of my fifth graders today over the course of three hours, asking them to reflect and share their experiences over the last…
The Currency Jungle
This week, I had the kids choose a career, find their annual salary, break it down into monthly, weekly, and daily figures, then break down the daily into currency chains with the extra change. If my prairie-based room wasn’t already…
The Proudest Moment
Trying to describe what happened this morning puts me at an unusual loss for words. Because it’s not just that a sitting US Congresswoman came to visit my classroom and my kids after a tumultuous week in Washington. It’s not…
Finally, a First Draft
Two years ago, I set off to write a book about the experience of teaching, the reasons why most of us stay and the reasons why some of us still end up walking away. As of this afternoon, 157 pages…
Letter to a Congresswoman
Congresswoman Murphy, As the elected voice of Florida’s 7th District in Washington, your service to the nation on January 6th, under looming, unprecedented threats against the Capitol, will forever be marked as courageous. I am not an elected official, but…
Our Word of the Day
These kids are great. Witty and super fun. Every morning, we start the day with a random word pulled out of a deck and their challenge is to find a way to use that word in some creative or natural…
