Two tools that I kept within my desk were a timer and bell. They were my reliable tools when teaching a lesson and assisted with the strategy of monitoring overall class engagement. The timer was used for bellwork, which was a five-minute assignment that may have been a quick vocabulary or grammar review. It was […]
Archives for September 2018
There’s a Parking Lot In Class?
The parking lot strategy has been a part of many of my professional development sessions. A facilitator placed large, white, sticky posters along the wall, and we had to go to each poster and make a comment to a question. Although I did the strategy many times within a professional development session, it was not […]
Baby Step to Financial Freedom
I became very concerned with my student loan debt in 2014 after viewing a YouTube video, when a speaker said it was my duty to pay back the student loans I borrowed. He continued to state that I made a promise to the loan provider and to the man upstairs that I would repay it. […]
The Journey Began in March 2018
As a wise man once said, “Sallie Mae has been living in your house too long, and it’s time to kick her out!” Sallie Mae, a U.S. government student loan program, was personified within this quote as someone who overstayed their welcome. In my life, Sallie Mae was consolidated into one loan and was now […]
Don’t Just Say the Learning Goals, Explain Them
From my years of teaching, I would always have objectives posted on the board. It was part of my routine. One day, a teacher leader entered my room to observe me and suggested I post the objectives from the textbook we were using. I used the suggestion. When my principal evaluated me, she stated the […]
Please, Don’t Call Me-I’m Not Ready (Student Engagement)
During my first week at my new school, I was introduced to using popsicle sticks to call on students. I had never heard of it, but it was highly recommended by the administration staff. I can recall my principal meeting with me for my teacher evaluation, and she suggested that I use the sticks for […]
