Topic: Teaching & Learning
The Importance of Music Education
When I first started teaching in 1998, I believed fervently that music education was as vital to each student's development as math, reading, science, English and history were, and I stand by that even more today. The constant drumbeat of "high-stakes testing, Common Core State Standards and STEM (science, technology,... Read the full article >
Journey to True Stardom
Our society today seems obsessed with fame, fortune and celebrity status. This is evidenced by the many reality television shows that seem to catapult the average “girl or guy next door” into an overnight star. Recently, my questions have been “Who are the real ‘stars’ in our culture? Who are... Read the full article >
Leading With One Foot In and One Foot Out
How many of you have noticed that the expectations for the teaching profession have changed dramatically in recent years? Do you seek out innovative strategies and create interactive lessons? Do you attend oodles of professional development sessions and participate in professional learning communities so that your voice, as a teacher,... Read the full article >
Lessons Learned
Learning lessons is a part of life, and our quest to know everything started at a young age—when learning was easily second nature. We wanted to learn how to do what we saw others doing and our curiosity fueled us to take risks and try new things. Whether that is... Read the full article >
Making Beautiful Music: How to Strike the Right Notes as an Educator
She saved me; that’s certain. Her approach blended content knowledge, instructional strategies and other less tangible, life-changing gifts. Mrs. Linda Francisco stands as the educator who had the single most profound influence on me. A recently retired piano and choir teacher at the Indiana School for the Blind and Visually... Read the full article >
The Makings of an Effective Teacher
People often wonder what makes one teacher effective and another teacher not as effective. Here are some examples of an effective teacher: Passionate about the subject they teach Compassionate toward their students Listens to what the students are saying and/or asking Flexible Develops relationships with their students, parents, fellow teachers... Read the full article >
One Educator’s Journey
Inspiration to Teach They say it takes a village to raise a child. I have realized that it certainly has and will continue to be a village that raises this teacher. My parents were my first teachers and certainly demonstrated to me the value of education through their professional careers... Read the full article >
One Piece at a Time
After all these years, I can still recall an assignment from my fourth grade year. We were learning about what life was like for travelers of the Oregon Trail and the settlers who chose to put down roots on the Midwestern plains. One assignment was to build a log cabin... Read the full article >
The Role of Advocacy in Public Education
As the 2014-15 school year ended, I found myself engaging in the practice of intentional reflection. Like most practitioners, I am always eager to assess where my successes and shortcomings have occurred as they affect the quality of my students’ instruction. Yet, this year, I find that I am not... Read the full article >
“Six-Figure” Teachers
Prior to entering education almost 10 years ago, I worked my way up the corporate ladder in Fortune 500 staffing and technology companies. As a mid-level manager, I interviewed hundreds of candidates to work in various jobs, from front-desk receptionists and salespeople to regional directors. It was hard not to... Read the full article >