Wait a Minute! That was My Idea!
You know that moment when you sit through a professional development session, and the presenter excitedly introduces a “brand-new, research-backed strategy”—only for you to realize you’ve been using it for the past 20 years? But now, because someone...The Myth of the “Trick Question”: Reframing Test-Taking for Student Success
How many times have you heard a student say, “The test is just trying to trick me!”? It’s a common phrase in classrooms, often reinforced by well-meaning teachers who caution students to watch out for “trick questions.” While this advice is intended to...Really? Just Remember My Why? Really?
Have you ever been told to “just remember your why”? Perhaps you just received an angry email from a parent questioning why his/her child had to miss recess for a misbehavior. Perhaps a child refused to follow directions and that event turned into a full blown...The Passionate Teacher
An excerpt from Passionate Teacher – Virtuous Teaching by Dr. Laurie Ann Jones, 2006 Sophie Freud, the grand-daughter of the great Sigmund Freud, wrote of the transformation that teaching made on her life. She had a quite successful career as wife, mother,...Reach Beyond Your Grasp
Reach Beyond Your Grasp by Roy Purczinsky, April 4, 1976 I’m delighted to be here, and I appreciate the invitation for the opportunity to share with you a concept of life that I think is so important. You know, really the most important part of the success of...What Happened to Self Control?
What Happened to Self Control? I am a HUGE football fan – especially college football. I grew up in Nebraska and love the Cornhuskers. Living in Texas now gives me a large number of teams to choose from, but I love the Baylor Bears almost as much as the...Remember Your Power
I kept this powerful quote by Haim Ginott my desk and read it everyday to remind myself of the incredible power we have as educators. Remember your power! Use it wisely! I have come to a frightening conclusion that I am the decisive element in the classroom. It’s...