How the Dedication of My Teachers Changed My Life

“All students need what I needed: teachers who are determined to make learning accessible to every one of them.”

How I Build Community with ‘Smiles and Frowns’

I wanted a daily way to check in with kids, so I started a practice called ‘smiles and frowns.’ I started off this year telling kids, ‘There’s nothing more important than the humans in the room, so we start with the humans in the room.’

#SawYouBeingAmazing: A Conversation Sparked by Four Inspiring Educators

by Christina Torres | 5.10.19

As teachers, we all get really busy. It can be hard to make time to plan a new and innovative curriculum, and instead we end up reaching for something we’ve done before without questioning it. I’ve definitely found myself in that boat.

#SawYouBeingAmazing: How My Colleague Inspires Me to Grow

by Christie Nold | 5.8.19

I’m lucky enough to work with a colleague who always pushes me to grow, and I want to celebrate him this Teacher Appreciation Week.

#SawYouBeingAmazing: How My Teacher Friends Support Me Through Tough Times

by Edwin Minguela | 5.6.19

I’ve wanted to be a teacher ever since I was in elementary school. When I was in third grade, my dad bought a full-sized chalkboard, so our basement became my classroom. I would get home from school and tell my mom, ‘Okay, mom, I’m going down to my classroom.’

How I Let Students Lead

by Jill Fletcher | 4.9.19

Students often love to share their ideas aloud. There was a time when I didn’t value this enthusiasm for engaging. I saw it as a trait to tamper – something that stood in the way of getting information to them. Then I realized their willingness to speak was one of their greatest assets. And in order to reach them, I needed to build upon their passion for discussion.

I Found My Voice at ECET2

by MeMe Ratliff | 4.9.19

Now, my professional learning network is immense, and I keep up with a lot of the folks I’ve met through the convenings. We meet virtually. We go to other edu-events and invite one another. We meet up socially. We even have a playlist of songs we listen to when we get back together. It’s a family.

3 Creative Ways to Build Empathy in the Classroom

by Wendy Turner | 4.4.19

I am known as a warrior of social-emotional learning. I always say my teaching puts SEL first – and empathy is a critical component. People ask me all the time how I build empathy in the classroom. The answer is one day at a time, one experience at a time, with great intention, focus and practice.

How I’ve Worked to Build a Community Where Students Discuss Equity

by Emily House | 3.28.19

I grew up going to rural Iowa schools, and diversity wasn’t a big part of my educational background. As a teacher, I’ve realized how many different experiences exist even within a single classroom – and how few of those experiences are like mine. It’s been a humbling wake-up call.

A small change made a big difference on my assessments

by Julie Arsenault | 3.19.19

This year, I changed my assessments by adding a piece of paper at the end, asking, “What else do you know about the topic, that I didn’t ask you about?”