There are moments when we all feel discouraged. Moments when it seems easier to give up or move on. In those moments I am reminded of this quote by Commander James Lawrence during the War of 1812. It's perfectly acceptable to take a few steps back to reflect and regroup when we feel things aren't going … Continue reading Don’t Give Up the Ship- #BLOG365 Day 133
Author: Jill Cross
The “joyous task” of being an American citizen – #BLOG365 Day 132 #sschat
"It falls to each of us to be those those anxious, jealous guardians of our democracy; to embrace the joyous task we've been given to continually try to improve this great nation of ours. Because for all our outward differences, we, in fact, all share the same proud title, the most important office in a … Continue reading The “joyous task” of being an American citizen – #BLOG365 Day 132 #sschat
Oh, #Homework… – #BLOG365 Day 131 #edchat #hacklearning
Oh homework, how we loathe you in my house. You take us away from family time and dinner conversations and walks around the neighborhood and play time and even recreational reading time. You invade car rides and take away sleep. You diminish social time with friends. You make us question participation in Boy Scouts … Continue reading Oh, #Homework… – #BLOG365 Day 131 #edchat #hacklearning
I Didn’t Have Time to Blog Because…-#BLOG365 Day 130
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
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
Jill Cross 