A Cup of Coffee and a Conversation It is Freezer Saturday today. As I write this, it is 4 degrees F. The wind chill is much colder. Have you signed up for my newsletter yet? Go here to do that now. It is delivered to your inbox on Fridays and…

A letter to my friends as part of my #100dayproject Dear Fellow Educator, Today is the last day of winter break. I know I will walk into my classroom tomorrow and it will feel like I never left — that there was never a break. It happens every time. …

How labels can be freeing. — If you had to think through the teachers in your school, what are the adjectives you would use to describe each person’s style? What would people use to describe you in the classroom? There are many discussions about what teachers “should” be. There used to be a defined set of…

Asking the right questions leads to the ideal teaching life. — This school year feels like it is everyone’s first year teaching no matter what year you are on. A friend recommended a book by Debbie Ford called The Right Questions. There is power to questions. …

A Cup of Coffee and A Conversation — Welcome back to the weekend. This week has flown by as the hint of normal schedules looms in the balance. I feel that rush of trying to get errands done and checklists checked before the start of the new school year. My children have gone back to school all virtually…

A Cup of Coffee and a Conversation — Welcome to the weekend! Since most people are still not traveling anywhere let’s pretend we are riding on a train to have an adventure together! We can order a fancy coffee beverage or just plain coffee. On this train, the coffee is amazing so you are free to order anything! …

How Verbalization Can Make Us All Better Writers — Do you receive my newsletter? Last summer I was honored to attend a literacy conference where Cornelious Minor spoke. I took copious notes and was able to have many conversations with colleagues in the evening. …

A Simple Tool to Keep You Focused — I am a list keeper. There is satisfaction in making a checklist and completing the list. I keep lists in my paper planner and also in my Google Keep app. Keep is on my phone and also provides a checkbox option. I can also transfer any note to a Google…

An examination of the interrogative practice — Have you signed up for my newsletter yet? Questions and ideas should be the ax that breaks open the frozen sea within us. -Kafka How much thought do you put into the questions that come out of your mouth? Do you write out questions to ask in your classroom? Your…