Professional Development

Over the summer, in addition to the COVID-19 pandemic and all the changes it mandated, another major societal upheaval began: the Black Lives Matter protests across the nation. They began after the May 25 death of George Floyd, a black man who died in Minneapolis, Minn., after a police officer knelt ...

It’s August now – the month when teachers traditionally decorate their bulletin boards, prepare their lesson plans, and get ready to welcome a new group of students to their classroom. At least that’s what happens in a normal year. This year, of course, belongs to COVID-19. It has changed ...

If you are a teacher who has struggled with teaching your students to write, you’re not alone. The research studies and reports have become relentless over the past couple of decades: Students are having more and more trouble learning to write well. It’s not one particular age – elementary, ...

Is stale the best word, or is stagnant better? Is there rain outside, or a deluge? Do you hear noise, or a commotion? And are the differences important? They are, especially in a world where teens text phrases like what u doin? or ...

The statistics tell the story: More students of all ages – from elementary through college – are living with anxiety and depression than ever before, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The statistics are worrisome: Think about the changing world we live in. There have always been parents who ...

“Oh, no, I can’t even draw a straight line.” That’s the response many people give when the topic of art comes up. The thing is, art is not about drawing straight lines. And if you need one, you can always find a ruler. Teaching art can be intimidating ...

Every January, the temptation beckons: New Year’s Resolutions. Will this be the year that we actually lose a few pounds, spend more time with your family, learn healthy recipes,  or increase your activity levels? We could. We might. We want to. The promise is there, the fresh start is ...

Imagine your boss telling you that for a certain period of time each day or week, you get to work on a project that feeds one of your passions, even if that project doesn’t directly have an impact on your current work. Sounds like a dream, right? That’s ...

Think about the elementary school library of your childhood: shelves, books, table, and a librarian who focused a lot of her time keeping kids quiet! Now, imagine if a corner of that library had been set up for the best of exploration, tinkering and discovery by you and your classmates. ...

(Photo credit: Monkey Business Images, via iStock)

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  Articles aimed at new teachers can sometimes seem ominous: Those are all real titles of articles aimed at teachers who will be walking into their own classroom for the first time this fall. Daunting, aren’t they? “Overwhelming is the ...