What Do We Really Learn From Letter Grades?
Traditional letter grades in school continue to be an ineffective measure. Because what do an A, B, or C really mean? What if we focused more on encouraging kids to …
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The Best SEL Curriculum for Your Students & School
Make Your SEL & Morning Meeting Planning SO much Easier! To be honest, sometime SEL feels like “one more thing” even though we know in our teacher hearts that it …
The Dollar Tree: The Ultimate Teacher Trap
It just doesn’t make sense… We walk into Dollar Tree to buy popcorn and juice boxes for a classroom party. And walk out with $172 worth of items we don’t …
THIS is What Kids Need More (The Answer May Surprise You)
Sometimes kids need our hugs and high-fives more than our advice and opinions. SEL isn’t complicated. SEL is about connections. High fives have changed this year. Hugs have changed this …
Educators Can STOP Doing This! (And START Doing This)
Teachers, We are going to look back on the year 2020 and 2021 and think… What a beautiful opportunity we had to revolutionize education. This is our moment to STOP …
Fonts Don’t Fuel Kids!
“Thank you so much for spending 17 minutes picking out the font for this google doc. Your choice really helped me engage in the lesson and retain the information.” ~Said …
Bring the Awesome to Your Science Lessons!
Who is concerned about creating dynamic, engaging, collaborative science lessons during our new “normal” in education? Part of teaching science is getting kids connected to real world applications, right? Luckily, …
Working and Learning are 2 Totally Different Things. Here’s Why…
There is a substantial difference between WORKING and LEARNING. Working out 5 problems can prove that students are proficient. They don’t always need 25 practice problems and 70 fill in …
Is School Really About Curriculum and Content?
School isn’t all about learning content. It’s about having students figure out what the content will mean for them in their lives. And in order for that learning to take …
Clapping vs. Critiquing In Classrooms
Let me get straight to the point… Our classrooms should have far more clapping than critiquing. How motivated are you when somebody tells you that you are doing something wrong? …
The Truth About School Data (It May Not Be What You Think)
Formal data tracked by schools for headlines in newspapers: Test Scores Attendance Honor Roll Informal data tracked by teachers for authentic proof of …
Make June & July Extra Awesome with This Simple Link
YOU deserve to have an awesome summer. We as teachers deserve that every year, but especially after this school year. And as much as I want to turn off my …
What an F Means to Students This Year (And Probably Every Year)
A loving reminder to parents, teachers, and education leaders… Letter grades this year are more of a reflection on how kids can: COPE during CRISIS rather than their knowledge of …
The Real Reason Kids Come to School
Here is a big, bold, beautiful reality about why kids come to school: Kids don’t enjoy going to school because they love information. Kids enjoy going to school because they …
The 3 Pillars of SEL: Social-Emotional Learning
If this year has proven anything it’s that our kids are not connected to buildings, they are connected to people. But our kids need more than just connection. They …
Learning Loss: Is This Legit or Not?
Learning Loss… the new education buzz word for 2021 We don’t seem to hear the words “unprecedented times” anymore… nope we have now lived through that, survived them…so naturally we …
The Amazon Box for Teachers
1 year ago today was different in so many ways… 1 year ago our laptops were propped up on an Amazon Box. 1 year ago we were learning how to …
Working Through a Pandemic… 1 Year Later
There is a massive difference between students being disengaged in school work and students trying to work their way through a continued pandemic. Let’s continue to recognize that difference. Yes, …
How to Have The BEST 4th Quarter of Your Teaching Career in Less than 21-Days… Even if You are Feeling SO Burnt Out!
Did you know…that just because spring fever has hit (you and your students), doesn’t mean we can’t end the year even better than we started. Is 4th Quarter So Stinkin …
March Madness REMIX For Relationships
March Madness isn’t just about basketball! I’ve got a list of question for you teacher friend! Looking for fun, engaging SEL activities? Searching for ways to get kids talking and …
Make Your Month Magical with This Classroom Competition
A trip to the dollar tree can make your March magical! Or Your April Awesome. Or Your May Magnificent! Need to help motivated your class during what seems like the …
Is This Educational Shift Good for Kids?
Back in November 2018 I had the amazing opportunity to stand on the TED circle and deliver a talk that was worth spreading. The title of the talk is How Starbucks …
Spirit Week During a Pandemic?
“Ms G is that a Malibu Barbie Sweatshirt…?” Spirit week has to be one of my favorite weeks of the entire school year! There is something ridiculously exiting about getting …
“You Are a Terrible Person!” How to Overcome Haters in Education
As teachers, we put ourselves out there all the time. We share our ideas. We share our stories. We share reality. And sometimes that means people will fight back in …
Never Underestimate The Value of Student Selfies
Confession: During the quarantine developed a daily need for McDonalds unsweetened tea (add 3 splendas) It’s become a pandemic vice and I’m totally ok with it! A few weeks ago …