By: Michelle Areaux | Apr 19, 2018
If you are like me, you are always trying to find new and innovative ways to get your students engaged in your lesson...or at least to buy into what you are teaching. The daily “sit and get” or the constant shuffling of stations can grow tiresome.
One new learning style I ...
By: Jon Konen | Apr 17, 2018
What attracts teachers to specific schools? You will hear a myriad of responses, but most likely, it comes back to culture. Who wants to be in a school where the culture is toxic? You can walk into such a school and know that relationships, respect, and trust are not valued. ...
By: Mary McLaughlin | Mar 27, 2018
Last Saturday was a glorious day here in northeastern Arkansas. The breeze was steady but light, the sun was shining after what seemed to be endless days of drizzly rain, and the temperature was in the low seventies after days of chilly 40-degree temperatures. It was, in fact, a beautiful ...
By: Mary McLaughlin | Mar 27, 2018
During Christmas break, I spent far too much time in front of the television. I know this because there is a groove in the couch from where my happy hiney spent far too much time embracing the spirit of the word “break.”
I took a break from wearing make-up. I took ...
By: Mary McLaughlin | Mar 27, 2018
I got a new student in late March of a particular school year and as I sat down to review the out-of-state Individualized Education Plan.
The student was sort of a mystery. He was a cute little strawberry blond-haired boy with those adorable red silicone break-resistant glasses. Kids and glasses…every time ...
By: Tricia Koechig | Mar 27, 2018
Teachers are infamous for ALWAYS using up any and all resources. Teachers can NEVER have enough glue sticks. Teachers can NEVER have enough paper clips, file folders, paper, pencils, white-board markers, sticky tack, tape, and the list could go on and on. Teachers are experts at depleting materials, resources, time, ...
By: Jon Konen | Mar 26, 2018
I have a streak going…four straight years of dealing with students on Snapchat as an administrator. From the beginning speech the teachers and I give to parents and students, it is inevitable that the lure of Snapchat will grab most any kid with a smart phone and teach a lesson ...
By: Jon Konen | Mar 23, 2018
Do you have that drive or passion in education where you are always pushing the proverbial “envelope?” Some educators are a lucky to not only have this passion to try new things, but they have found a partner that shares the same passion on educating youth. Those partners may be ...
By: Mary McLaughlin | Mar 23, 2018
During the course of my career, I have been sneezed on, coughed on, vomited on, spit on, pulled on, tugged on, cried on, been in the presence of seizures, copious amounts of blood, and even a heart attack. Insulin pumps don’t scare me, neither do tracheotomies.
What really scares me the ...
By: Jon Konen | Feb 20, 2018
Professionalism can be vividly seen and heard. Yet, it can be the hardest concept to change and teach someone who is unprofessional. How educators conduct themselves with students, colleagues, administration, parents, and the community is important to maintaining high standards of professionalism.
As schools are asked to do more in meeting ...