Teachers On Fire
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On the Killing of Charlie Kirk
What’s the teacher’s takeaway from September 10th? Sickened and disgusted. That’s how I felt after learning of the senseless shooting of Charlie Kirk. I’m still processing it. Charlie was a controversial figure. I disagreed with him vehemently on some issues. You probably did too. One thing that every educator can agree with Charlie on, however,… Continue reading
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6 Things I’m Doing to Be A Healthier Educator This Year
What if your health was actually the single biggest factor in job satisfaction? A new school year is under way, and I have two questions for you, colleague. How are you finding the work so far? Are you finding joy in the labor? Here’s something I’ve been thinking about lately: the state of our health plays… Continue reading
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17 Easy Ways to Build Belonging in Your Classroom This Year
You belong here. We’re almost there, colleague. The first day of classes for my Vancouver elementary school is Tuesday. Classrooms are coming together and teachers are hyped. Our theme this year is You Belong. Every educator knows that students learn best when they feel safe, loved, included, and appreciated. This is the work we already do… Continue reading
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Mourning the End of Summer and Embracing the Mission Once Again
This will be my 25th year in education. Summer holidays are a sacred blessing for K-12 educators. For the ten-month school year, we give this work our all — often to the point of mental, emotional, and physical exhaustion. Then summer blissfully arrives, and with it, an extended emotional intermission. We have our critics, of… Continue reading
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How to Manage Student Behavior Effectively: 7 Essential Skills
Seven moves you can make to save your sanity and empower your students. What’s one student behavior that you’ve found challenging recently? Whether you’re new to teaching or you’ve been around for a couple of decades, we’ve all got room to grow in terms of how we interact with students and manage our spaces effectively.… Continue reading
