I was busy advocating for education. Calling senators and encouraging others to do the same. Although I have been working in private schools for a few years, my heart still lies with my public school educators and students. After all, we are all on the same team. So a few hours of my evening wasn't … Continue reading I Didn’t Have Time to Blog Because…-#BLOG365 Day 130
Month: January 2017
Museum Monday: Bottle Digging and Using Collections in the Classroom #sschat #museumed-#BLOG365 Day 130
This weekend I finally decided on a place for my grandmother's bottle collection. For two years the bottles have been packed away and I have been waiting to finish remodeling or find the perfect piece of furniture to display them (having my 3 cats in the back of my mind too!). Saturday we picked up … Continue reading Museum Monday: Bottle Digging and Using Collections in the Classroom #sschat #museumed-#BLOG365 Day 130
What’s It All For?- #BLOG365 Day 129
This article has been popping up all over social media. Poet: I can’t answer questions on Texas standardized tests about my own poems. I read this and didn't know whether to laugh or cry. The author writes: These test questions were just made up, and tragically, incomprehensibly, kids’ futures and the evaluations of their teachers … Continue reading What’s It All For?- #BLOG365 Day 129
The Book is Always Better…-#BLOG365 Day 128
A Series of Unfortunate Events was the first read aloud in my classroom when I started teaching. I can't remember how many in the series we read that year in fifth grade, just that my students and I were smitten with the books. Years later I watched my son become smitten with the series as … Continue reading The Book is Always Better…-#BLOG365 Day 128
#Booknerd – #BLOG365 Day 127
Today I was talking with our librarian and she was so excited about the shipment of new books she was getting. I looked at her and said "we are such book nerds!" We had been discussing book options for a new historical fiction genre study. With every title I mentioned I was reminded of … Continue reading #Booknerd – #BLOG365 Day 127
The Reality of Hope – #BLOG365 Day 126
Full disclosure - this isn't a political post... I don't really watch nightly news, but lately we have been recording the nightly news on each channel trying to decide which network we like best. Tonight we sat watching Obama speak with Lester Holt on NBC. The segment was called The Reality of Hope and was a … Continue reading The Reality of Hope – #BLOG365 Day 126
There’s a duty to be done and I say aye-#BLOG365 Day 125
Not to throw out my credentials or anything, but I was a Girl Scout. By default I am always prepared. After all the Girl Scout motto is "Be Prepared." Sadly, this week I was not prepared. Sometimes it happens. My days don't quite go as I expected. The challenges I confront are not ones I'm … Continue reading There’s a duty to be done and I say aye-#BLOG365 Day 125
#whereissasha Our Exam Crazed System – #BLOG365 Day 124
No surprise I am anti-exams. Exams don't give us a clear picture of student understanding. They don't prepare students for 21st century careers. They cause anxiety for our students. They encourage low level thinking and regurgitation. They don't encourage collaboration or creativity. Last night #whereissasha blew up on social media. The teacher in me knew … Continue reading #whereissasha Our Exam Crazed System – #BLOG365 Day 124
Hygge: The Educator’s Version -#BLOG365 Day 123
Hygge has been floating around lately and was recently named the 2016 Oxford Dictionary Word of the Year. According to Oxford hygge is: Southern Living explained it in their article Here's What 'Hygge' Means- And Why You Should Try It In essence, hygge is taking pleasure in the small things: time with friends, hot chocolate, getting … Continue reading Hygge: The Educator’s Version -#BLOG365 Day 123
Museum Monday: Salesman Samples- #BLOG365 Day 122 #sschat #objectbasedlearning
One of my favorite units at the museum school was a unit called "Everything Changes." The interdisciplinary unit covered changes over time. During this unit we often had the students create object timelines: a telephone through time, children's games over time, etc. Years and objects were combined to create visual timelines of how everyday objects … Continue reading Museum Monday: Salesman Samples- #BLOG365 Day 122 #sschat #objectbasedlearning
Jill Cross 