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 …
Blog
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 …
SEL- Not Just Another Educational Acronym
There have been lots of questions about what I’m teaching this year. In the midst of everything going on last spring a big announcement happened during a big pandemic. So …
“That Teacher Is Driving a What????” Dreaming Big Every Day
Have you had a dream car since you were a kid? I have! I remember watching Keeping Up with The Kardashians nearly 20 years ago and falling in love with …
School Safety vs. School Safety
Drills. Drills. Drills. Not to be confused with the 90’s hit by Destiny’s Child, Bills, Bills Bills. Never in a million years did I think, we as teachers, would be …
New Classrooms For ALL Teachers
This is my new classroom for next year. Like you, I have absolutely no idea what it will actually look like when school actually starts. Even right now it feels …
Reminder To Teachers: You Are Awesome
Well. Here we are getting ready to start another year of awesome education for students. But this year feels so stinkin’ different right? We are throwing out words like “hybrid …
3 Things Teachers MUST Do This Summer
We are coming into this summer with a lot of unknown. There are SO many questions we have, but the reality is we don’t have control over most of it. …
Teachers Crushing COVID- Ideas & Reminders for Educators
Resources. Reminders. Remixes. Really everything an educator needs right now. In this relatable episode we talk about the #1 needs of kids AND teachers right now. To listen to the …
BONUS Episode- Tough Times for Teachers Means More Laughter and Learning
In this special, extended episode Jack Berckemeyer and I dive deep into the state of education right now and what this means for the future. Whether you are a teacher …