Yesterday I was working on a project at work and was looking for some artifacts to share with our teachers. Fortunately, or unfortunately, I am one of those people that purge pretty frequently. I know it is shocking given my obsession with antiquing and ephemera. But, when it comes to every day stuff I clean … Continue reading If You Only Ask – #BLOG365 Day 67
Little Bits of Fiction – #BLOG365 Day 66
I love this picture of me because it shows my first love affair. I am deeply, madly, passionately in love with reading and with words and with narratives of any kind. It plays out in my love of history, my love of objects, and museums, and learning. It bleeds into everything I do and everything … Continue reading Little Bits of Fiction – #BLOG365 Day 66
Using Art to Teach Reading – #BLOG365 Day 65
Over the last few days I have shared Picturing America a few times with colleagues. It's funny how resources float in and out of your mind. I don't think I had thought about Picturing America for months. But, yesterday I asked a friend "do you ever using art to teach history?" Today I have … Continue reading Using Art to Teach Reading – #BLOG365 Day 65
Sometimes You Just Need to Reset – #BLOG Day 64
Yesterday was a rough day. My husband has been traveling for 2 weeks. My son had a camping trip and basketball try outs and it was Halloween. Last week was Homecoming so we had to dress up by theme each day (a.k.a. extra work for overworked mamas). Couple all that with some difficult conversations at … Continue reading Sometimes You Just Need to Reset – #BLOG Day 64
Author of Clarity – #BLOG365 Day 63
Today, I heard one of my colleagues say he didn't want to be an author of confusion. It's an idea from 1 Corinthians and while I am not religious at all, I really like this idea as it pertains to our work within educational institutions. Making sure that we build clarity around vision in the … Continue reading Author of Clarity – #BLOG365 Day 63
Teacher as Artist – #BLOG365 Day 62
I asked one of the teacher groups I am working with to read this post by George Couros, the 10 Essential Characteristics of a 21st Century Teacher. In it, he writes about the teacher as artist. It was an idea that stuck with the teacher group. Couros doesn't write about teacher's being organized or flexible. He … Continue reading Teacher as Artist – #BLOG365 Day 62
Let It Go! And I’m Not Talking About Frozen – #BLOG365 Day 61
I am part of a few professional learning networks on blogging. It helps me stay focused on #BLOG365 and be positively accountable to a group. One challenge that many of us sometimes face is the need for perfection in blogging, the feeling that we can’t post until our writing is perfect. I definitely felt like this … Continue reading Let It Go! And I’m Not Talking About Frozen – #BLOG365 Day 61
Museum Monday: Object Stories – #BLOG365 Day 60
I have written a few times about using object stories in the classroom. Most recently in this blog post for ASCD Inservice. One of my favorite apps to do this with is Voicethread. There are plenty of apps (Chatterpix and Explain Everything), but I like Voicethread because it allows people to comment on the object … Continue reading Museum Monday: Object Stories – #BLOG365 Day 60
Risk Taking – It’s Time to Be Scared – #BLOG365 Day 59
I was at a social studies conference this weekend and I picked up a vendor giveaway with this quote on it. It's one of those quotes I have seen frequently and always forget about. Lately, I have been thinking about risk taking as it pertains to our practice as educators. Each day we ask our … Continue reading Risk Taking – It’s Time to Be Scared – #BLOG365 Day 59
The Beauty of #civicparticipation – #BLOG365 Day 58
I couldn't help but tear up a bit when I voted yesterday. It's the history buff in me. The result of perspective and understanding of the moments that have lead me and every other voter to this moment. I felt the rush of all those moments. The signing of the Declaration of Independence. Seneca Falls. … Continue reading The Beauty of #civicparticipation – #BLOG365 Day 58
Jill Cross 