When I think about my goals as a teacher, I think about how I want to empower my students to go out into the world and think for themselves.  Creating independent, confident, life-long learners who aren’t afraid to try to new things is really the ultimate dream…

It’s time to take a closer look at character in my classroom. We spent the first few weeks of workshop analyzing and experimenting with setting and point of view, and now I want my students to explore the ways that…

Starting a writing unit by examining great examples of the kinds of writing we’ll be doing is one of those ideas that I seem to forget and remember over and over again. Maybe it’s because I rush through writing plans, anxious to get to the assignment so that students can start working. Maybe it’s…

The task that teachers have to teach letters and sounds is monumental. Helping young learners master their letters and letter sounds is crucial to their being able to read. You can’t build a house without the foundation…

Y’all, I can’t sit still. Throw me in a long meeting or even a long movie, and I struggle. I wasn’t wiggly in high school, but I now I need to move around more. If I can’t sit still, my students shouldn’t have to, either. That’s why I’m a huge advocate of…