Halloween is not necessarily my favorite holiday. Actually, that’s an understatement. I understand why children love it so much. The excitement of dressing up as someone else for the night, along with collecting buckets of candy, is very appealing to kids. I try to remember this as a teacher. I decorate and go all-out at…

As I was growing up, I was lucky enough to have a number of smart, loving, family members teaching me the mysteries of life. I didn’t always appreciate their wisdom at the time, but I’m so thankful they were there to guide me into adulthood. I learned lessons I didn’t even know I was learning.…

As an elementary teacher, I sit in numerous meetings throughout the year discussing all kinds of data. We look at test scores for English Language Arts, as well as Math. We dive into behavior data, attendance information, and so on. Another topic that gains our attention as educators is the overall well-being of the child.…

This past summer, I spent a great deal of time typing away in my Writing Cabin (and sometimes napping in the bed in the back). During this time, I started to notice all of the wildlife living right outside my cabin walls. While I enjoy my solitude from other people, I’ve started to appreciate, and…