Teacher Talk
Teachers vs. Tech: Putting an Old Adversary to Good Use
By: Dr. Jerri Ward-Jackson | Aug 9, 2023
Since the first clunky cell phone rang in a silent classroom, technology’s place in education has been hotly debated. Does its potential for good outweigh its potential for disruption? Do kids need more screen time than they already get at home? Is educational technology actually beneficial or is it just a dazzling, counterproductive novelty?
To Dr. Jerri Ward-Jackson of the University of West Alabama’s College of ...
15 Memes That Make Me Laugh, Cry, and Try!
By: Jon Konen | Dec 11, 2018
Memes can be powerful reminders about the current state of education. It will interesting to compare them ten or twenty years from now. What we focus on now, may or may not be what we focus on then.
As educators they can have a impact on what we do daily, or ...
Accepting Personal Responsibility and Being a Good Teacher-Leader
By: Mary McLaughlin | Dec 5, 2018
I have, on more than one occasion, been told I am bossy. It is a term assigned to me which has really never bothered me.
I’ve also been called four-eyes, ugly, chicken legs, fatso, a b****, mean, stupid and loads of others.
Over time, one either begins to believe the words they ...
The Toilet Paper Caper: Why We Should Celebrate our Janitors
By: Jon Konen | Nov 6, 2018
31 cameras later and I refuse to use them to solve the Toilet Paper Caper! We have cameras in just about every location on our school campus. We have solved many problems by reviewing the tape. We have a camera in the hallway outside of our main bathroom. The camera ...
7 Reasons Why I Am Humbled to Win the NDP Award as told By My Elementary Students – Part 1
By: Jon Konen | Oct 12, 2018
Humbled to say the least – let me start out by saying there are much better principals out there than me…many in my own school district. I recently was honored to win the 2018 National Distinguished Principal (NDP) Award from the National Association of Elementary and Middle School Principals (NAESP).
One ...
A 5th Grade Teacher’s Guide to Surviving October
By: Amy Konen | Oct 10, 2018
It is October and I sit here wondering if I am doing enough for my students. Am I providing enough for them to be ready for 6th grade by the end of this year? Am I giving them knowledge, strategies, friendships, and hopefully, good memories of this year?
My own reflections ...
Twice Exceptional Students: Understanding What Makes Them Unique and What Will Help Them Connect
By: Mary McLaughlin | Oct 1, 2018
Some storms are expected…
Hurricane Florence has dominated the news for the past few weeks.
Florence was expected to dump up to 40 inches of rain. Wind damage and flooding were projected to be residual with an extreme physical and financial toll for victims.
Hurricane winds were projected to be upwards of 100+ ...
11 Ways Football is Your Classroom
By: Jon Konen | Sep 25, 2018
If you love football and you love teaching like me, I tend to find similarities at every turn. This article is meant to encourage discussion during any football or educator gathering. This article is not meant to make you a football expert, or an armchair quarterback, but it can be ...
How an Old Teacher Learned to Survive in a New Position Where Cattiness and Cliques Rule
By: Mary McLaughlin | Sep 13, 2018
My good friend Marti had a very nice job in a district near her home. She was a Special Education Teacher in a self-contained classroom. Her ten students were moderately to mildly disabled. Two of her kids were medically fragile but in stable health.
Marti was very connected to her students’ ...
8 Things to Think About As You Start the School Year
By: Jon Konen | Sep 4, 2018
As you start school this year, do you feel you are more efficient than last year? What makes us feel better after we get more years under our belt?
Starting my second decade of education…I can’t believe it. Many of you have been around longer than then that, but most of ...
7 Reasons You Have the Best Community for Education
By: Jon Konen | Aug 16, 2018
What makes some communities better than others for education? Much like creating the perfect pizza with cheese, meat, and vegetables, successful communities have the right mix of ingredients. One person may be able to correctly put these ingredients together, but a team can do it more effectively and efficiently. These ...