A Colorado Teacher's Journey
This blog is to give anyone a chance to follow my journey as a teacher starting with the nomination of 2014 Colorado Teacher of the Year. This blog can also be used as a resource for information within the world of education.
Quote
Nelson Mandela
Friday, May 15, 2015
Reflection
Thursday, May 14, 2015
Teacher Leadership
Do you show these attributes or know a teacher in your building that has these attributes? Teachers who exhibit leadership are good listeners, communicate well, experts in curriculum and instruction. They are competent in the classroom, credible among their peers and most of all approachable. These teachers are life-long learners, applying what they have learned in their classrooms. Most of all they model leadership in their classrooms and create strong relationships in the school and the community. If this is you, education needs you. I understand it may take up time, time is precious but so is ensuring all students get the opportunity to be successful.
How can you utilize teachers who show attributes of leadership? You can create professional learning communities within the school to allow these teachers to share their expertise in a casual setting. Reach out to those teachers and ask for their expertise to help you become a more effective teacher. It is imperative to use the resources we have. You would be amazed at how much you can learn from the other teachers in your building.
Wednesday, January 28, 2015
Teaching is Challenging This Time of Year
Friday, October 31, 2014
Supporting Teachers
What we need to be doing in our schools and districts in order to keep the best and the brightest in our profession is have the resources available to these teachers. Mentors, teachers that help guide new teachers into the profession. Have someone who is not in the same curriculum guide them so they are being mentored on classroom management and best teaching practices verses being critiqued on curriculum. Coaches, someone who asks questions and be a resource so the teacher can evaluate themselves instead of being told what to do. We need to make sure our novice teachers an new teachers to a school or district feel like they have something to contribute. Especially 1st year teachers who are coming into the profession with new eyes, new rigorous ideas and amazing energy and passion. Give these teachers time to acclimate to the profession or new school. We are asking novice teachers to jump right into the profession and be able to handle the load of a veteran teacher. Give them a time to plan, research, watch other teachers teach with their mentor so they can collaborate on what is happening in the classroom being observed. I feel that our system is set up for failure instead of success and I know we do not set our schools up for our students this way so why would we do it to our teachers.
Brain Break; Get Up and Move
Friday, September 26, 2014
Active Body has an Active Mind
I have found some great information on the impact of physical activity on the brain. It is so important that we get our students moving to ensure they are getting the best education possible. Use this information to educate others.
The Link Between Physical Activity and Brain Activity!
The images are a composite scan of 20 students' brains taking the identical test. On the left is the brain activity from students who sat quietly prior to the test. On the right is from students who were active prior to the test, but the images showed their brains were more active as well!- Dr. Chuck Hillman, University of Illinois
Performance Of The Mind And Body Are Related
Researchers at West Virginia University evaluated the fitness levels and standardized academic scores of 725 Grade 5 students and re-examined the results two years later when they were in Grade 7. The study concluded that academic performance dipped when students' fitness declined but academic performance incresed when fitness improved.
Exercise is the single most powerful tool to optimize your brain function!
“Consistent Exercise, and certain types of specific exercises, can both temporarily and permanently affect the way your brain is able to focus, its ablitity to deal with stress and anxiety, and its ability to learn! ...Exercise is like fertilizer for the brain...it's so good, it's like Miracle Gro®.”
- Dr. John Ratey, Harvard Brain Researcher