IEP Writing 101
Just to give a little background on myself. I am a graduate of James Madison University (JMU; and former student of Dr. Jen Newton)! I remember after my first day…
I’m Here To Learn
A little about me in the month before my first year begins To be perfectly honest, I’m nervous about my first year of teaching. I’ve spent the summer reviewing learning…
We Need To Talk About Punishment
Recently, after working with teachers on shifting our approach from punishing to teaching, a teacher in attendance emailed me saying, "At first, I wasn't sure I was going to "buy…
Embracing Failure
I am a big fan of mistake making. Well, not the making of the mistakes part so much but of the learning from mistakes, expecting mistakes, embracing mistakes. What if…
4 Ways You Can Take Action As A Teacher
As a teacher I want action. As a teacher I want to be able to tell my students that they are safe at school. I also want to tell my…
Teaching is Political
In teacher education programs, we have a responsibility to prepare future teachers for the civic profession of education. For me, this means registering students to vote in my classes, advocating…
What Teachers Want: A Call To Arm
There are many facets to the current debate over gun control, but a lot of focus has fallen on two extremes. One extreme is a call to ban all guns.…
Every Classroom, Every Day: Rethinking Inclusion
What is Special Education? When I began my undergraduate studies in Elementary and Special Education, I hoped to gain a deeper understanding of how to support students with Individualized Education…
Things I Know
Educational contexts will not improve until we demand professionalism of the field. That begins in teacher education. Set a high bar for faculty. Teacher education is not a place for career teachers to transition. It’s a career in and of itself with specific knowledge and skills separate from those demanded in K12 environments. Parenting is hard and no supports exist for doing it well. Everyone is not an expert on child development nor does everyone have access to an expert on child development. Unrealistic expectations abound and parents and kids struggle as a result. Every. Single. Person. is doing the best they can with what they have. Behavior is communication and serves a purpose so seek to understand rather than punish. Address the cause of the behavior rather than the behavior itself. Mistakes are unavoidable and necessary components of learning. Typical grading systems do not reflect learning. They're more reflective of compliance with teacher preferences. If you give/get attendance points, drop a letter grade for late submission, or in any other way use grades to compel behavior, you are abusing the system. Grades are communication of mastery. That's it. Not behavior. Meaningful inclusion means each and every learner is a valued member of the classroom and school community. Supports are in place in order to reach the high expectations set for each student. Fair is not always equal as we each need different supports for success. Every. Single. Family. Loves their child and is doing the absolute best they can with their specific realities. Empathy is foundational to effective teaching. What do you know? Tell me!!