Category Archives: Students First

Seriously Terrific Energizing Activities that Matter: STEAM Education at one elementary school in Los Angeles

Posted on August 23, 2018 by Be Strong. Be Courageous. Be You

AltaSea is a gem of a place located in the heart of  Los Angeles Harbor.  Here, professionals in the business world mix with educators and service providers and all sorts of folks invested in the marine environment and the “blue … Continue reading →

Posted in Learning, Principal, San Pedro, STEAM, Story, Students First, Teaching, Teaching Strategies | Tagged , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Celebrate: Books!

Posted on January 14, 2017 by Be Strong. Be Courageous. Be You

I believe there is always something to celebrate.  Today I join with Ruth Ayers and her commuity of writers who celebrate each weekend to celebrate the arrival of new books at our school.     The first boxes arrived the … Continue reading →

Posted in Books, celebrate, libraries, Passion for teaching, Principal, reading, Students First | Tagged , , | 9 Comments

View from the Principal’s Office

Posted on October 11, 2016 by Be Strong. Be Courageous. Be You

  Being a Principal is amazing challenging different than anyone can imagine. As different as being a teacher REALLY is than what everyone thinks it is. Teaching is a profession many think they could do. But it’s kind of like … Continue reading →

Posted in Learning, Passion for teaching, perceptions, Principal, SOL2016, Students First | Tagged , , | 7 Comments

Anatomy of a teaching point

Posted on September 13, 2016 by Be Strong. Be Courageous. Be You

I received this text from a colleague this morning: What is the “how” in this teaching point? She queried. I read the part right under “Name your teaching point.” I thought about it. I have not read this entire lesson.  … Continue reading →

Posted in Passion for teaching, reading, Students First, Teaching, Teaching Strategies, Writing | Tagged , , , , , , | 1 Comment

Let’s talk about Pokemon Go!

Posted on August 9, 2016 by Be Strong. Be Courageous. Be You

Educators are always looking for an in. Here are a few reasons we need to know something about Pokemon Go! before our students return to school this fall. The technology!  This is Google Maps and Google Earth, coupled with a … Continue reading →

Posted in games, Students First, Teaching, thoughts, Uncategorized, Yes | Tagged , , | 7 Comments

It’s What’s Up

Posted on April 19, 2016 by Be Strong. Be Courageous. Be You

The school site is a hive abuzz. We have reached the apex of our year together. Students sit, heads bowed low over texts and computers. Pencils scritch-scritch-scritch with thoughts and responses, working to show all they know on high-stakes standardised … Continue reading →

Posted in Child Matters, Passion for teaching, Principal, Step up, lean in, lead., Students First, thoughts, Truths | Tagged , , , | 2 Comments

The Real Work of a Principal

Posted on March 10, 2016 by Be Strong. Be Courageous. Be You

When you find yourself sitting in the office of an elementary school principal, just about anything can happen.  It’s the same in a classroom. Just a smaller number of people involved. Same in a district office. More people involved. Exponential … Continue reading →

Posted in Principal, SOL2016, Students First, Teaching, thoughts, Truths | Tagged , , | 4 Comments

Reading Non-Fiction with Power

Posted on March 9, 2016 by Be Strong. Be Courageous. Be You

I’ve spent some time thinking about how to help students read informational text.  If you’re an educator, you have too.  I’ve gathered a lot of strategies across years to further this effort. This is difficult work because often children want … Continue reading →

Posted in Child Matters, close reading, Learning, Passion for teaching, SOL2016, Students First, Teaching, thoughts, Truths | Tagged , , , , , , | 2 Comments

No More Sound it Out

Posted on March 8, 2016 by Be Strong. Be Courageous. Be You

We’re working as a school on improving our ability to grow students as readers. One of the ways we are doing this is by pulling students into small groups each day and reading with them. We use books that are … Continue reading →

Posted in Child Matters, Learning, reading, SOL2016, Students First, Teaching | Tagged , , , , | 10 Comments

The School Year & School Day

Posted on March 6, 2016 by Be Strong. Be Courageous. Be You

A couple of weeks ago I gave my first “Pizza with the Principal”.  I modeled it after one given by a colleague who is principal at a local middle school.  (He does a great parent meeting.)  It was an evening … Continue reading →

Posted in blogging, Child Matters, SOL2016, Students First, thoughts | Tagged , , , , , | 8 Comments