Think back to the time when you were a little kid and you were asked what you wanted to be when you grew up. A fireman? A doctor? An astronaut? Kids emulate the adult world through play, learning through imitation, and immersion. That dynamic has not changed …

As technology advances, our world gets smaller and smaller. Back in the dark ages, we used to be able to learn about other cultures only through books or maybe TV shows. Now, anything we want to know is just a click away. But even with all that informatio…

We’ve all heard it, after the shock of a poor grade on homework, on a test, on a major assignment/project.  It didn’t matter that I stated very clearly at the beginning of the year – I don’t believe in extra credit; I believe in doing the job correctly the …

The other day, I opened my email to see feedback from a teacher who downloaded my "Story Map for Novels" graphic organizer. This is what she said: "I allowed my students to complete this worksheet for our class texts and use them on the final e…

I began using interactive notebooks (INBs) as subject journals in my classroom before I knew they were a thing. I loved that kids could have pertinent information, notes, and practice all in one handy composition book.  Through the years, I devised a list of …

The nice thing about a blog is that I can post my fondest desires for education, and it will either fly away like bubbles in the wind or hit home for anyone who reads it.  Today is one of those days I feel like sending bubbles out to the universe.  Here goe…