“Is this the hill you are willing to die on?” As a passionate and often stubborn individual, this saying has helped me a lot over the years in personal and career situations. This phrase is used to determine if whatever circumstance or problem is worth standing my ground and possibly losing big! Is this a […]
Author: cslaughter97
There is no room…
Observation and reflection are vital in growing in your career and life. Over the past sixteen years of education, I have spent so much time absorbing everything from technology to classroom management. My desire has ever been to be the best educator I can be and share my passion for the power of education. Always […]
Let’s Talk About Math
Math talks are an essential way for students to learn and engage with mathematical concepts while building a deeper understanding of their own metacognition. While presenting their ideas and listening to the ideas of others, students are able to develop a deeper understanding of the material and begin to develop other strategies based on their […]
Have You Taught Today?
the first 5 minutes: ignite student learning Excerpt from “The First 5 Minutes: Ignite Student Learning: by Curtis Chandler: I have a teaching colleague who was a very talented track and field athlete back in the day. In one of our recent conversations about teaching and learning, she shared a bit of “sprinter wisdom” that […]
Hope is a Strong Emotion
As teachers, coaches, and leaders, we should always be careful with our words and actions. We should be setting the example, inspiring them to reach for that next improvement and success. We must look at each of them individually with the goal to help each of them become all around better. If each individual becomes […]
Thrive Instead of Survive
Have you ever been in such a case of constant busyness and getting from one thing to the next that it feels like you are simply surviving life. For me, it has sometimes been like a small trickle that suddenly feels like I am drowning. When we feel overcome with all the busyness, it is […]
To Build or Not to Build
A turbulent river separated two great lands. A woman from a village in one of the lands looked out over the water and realized that if she built a bridge to the other side of the river, all of the people from both sides could live as one. They could share in each other’s […]
Look Out for One Another
This morning I was reading and I came across Philippians 2:4 which says, “Look out for one another’s interest, not just your own.” We are not meant to walk this world alone and we are not meant to take on the whole world. I do not know about you, but the weight of the world has […]
We All Need A Little Cinderella
Recently I reprised my role as the Fairy Godmother for the Beta Princess Party. Someone asked me if I enjoyed doing this and I answered with, “I love the kids.” The truth behind that statement is that I am scared to death of tripping, nervous about the crowd, and afraid of failing. Over the years, […]
Inquiring Minds
It is essential to learn the proper questions to direct the learning process. Asking questions can help to create an environment of deeper thinking and even more so when the students are the ones that are posing the questions. Have you ever had someone ask the right question? What I am referring to is a […]
Mother Teresa Had It Right
I wrote the following down awhile back and saved it for a rainy day. I was talking with my son one day and I was telling him that if you want kindness you have to show kindness. You get what you give. He looked at me with deep eyes and said, “Mom, you know that […]
Change Fails When It Is too Late, DON’T WAIT!
One of the most inspiring movies about education, the power of voice, and change is that of “Dead Poets Society.” While it can be seen as very controversial, aren’t most messages worth being heard a little controversial. The teacher, Mr. Keating, said, ” Boys, you must strive to find your own voice. Because the longer […]
The Power of Designing Your Lessons
Where Do I Go From Here? “Alice: Would you tell me, please, which way I ought to go from here? The Cheshire Cat: That depends a good deal on where you want to get to. Alice: I don’t much care where. The Cheshire Cat: Then it doesn’t much matter which way you go. Alice: …So […]
My Advice for the Beginning of the Year
Hello, I wanted to share my best advice for the new school year in hopes it will inspire you. Procedures and expectations are very important and should begin on the first day and repeated often in the beginning. They are learning what it is to be in your classroom and those first few days will […]
I Had to Swim…I Had to Try
Standing on the dock, I looked across that small lake and thought, “I have to try.” I did not say a word to anyone around me, held my breath, dove in, and started swimming. For me, I just had to swim across that lake. That one event from the summer I was thirteen is so […]
Dreaming with Eyes Wide Open
400 Minutes a day. What are you doing with this time? More importantly, what are our students doing? WOW! This quote is where Empower by John Spencer and A.J. Juliani sucked me in. Let that sink in and play that question over and over in your head as you go through the day. What are students doing […]
Remember Them…
I ran across this picture a while back on the internet, and it stopped me in my tracks. “Remember her? She is still there…inside you… waiting. Let’s go get her! Take a minute and look at that picture and think about a time when you had this look on your face. What was going through […]
Gumption and Moxy with a Side of Grace
“I’m not saying it’s going to be easy. Nothing in life is easy. But that’s no reason to give up. You’ll be surprised what you can accomplish if you set your mind to it. After all, you only have one life, so you should try to make the most of it.” ― Louis Sachar Gumption involves […]
Top 10 Techniques for Building Rapport with Students
Today I ran across an article that caught my attention, “Top 10 FBI Behavioral Unit Techniques for Building Rapport with Anyone” and I began thinking about classroom rapport. When I was in the classroom, each year I would reflect on my class, and one of the things I always considered was the relationships. What did […]
May I Go…
“We’re expected to raise our hands to use the restroom, then three months later be ready to go to college or have a full time job, support ourselves, and live on our own. It’s not logical.” – Kate Simonds The first time I read the book Innovator’s Mindset was the first time I had ever […]
Get Away from the Shoreline
She was sinking, trapped, fighting to not drown. How did she get here? How did she get so far away? Would someone help her? Could she help herself? She sat there in her classroom looking at that room full of chairs, the curriculum in front of her, and she felt … lost. As an educator, […]
Roots and Wings
This time of year is the hardest for me now that I no longer have a classroom of my own. The reminders that a new school year is getting ready to begin are everywhere. At the store, the school supplies are front and center. I have always had an affinity for school supplies! (Maybe the […]
Always Ask
I remember when my kids were little they asked what seemed to be a million and one questions every day. They were always asking why. While at the store, they would notice the smallest most obscure things and ask me about them. I tried very hard not to be in a hurry or bypass those […]
What is right? What is Wrong? What is Missing?
I have always created a list with three categories. What went right? What went wrong? What was missing? This active reflection has always led me to action and goal setting to improve my craft. As I stepped out of the classroom and into the role of support for the staff, I struggled with my heart […]
Consumption vs. Creation
Much of society has focused on the students of today as being digitally native. This implies a greater knowledge of the ability to use technology as compared to those of the past. In reality, many of our students are excellent at consuming content digitally. They know how to find information quickly and seamlessly. The issue […]