Blog

February 3, 2020 Making Advances Toward Equitable Funding in Arizona

It was on my holiday wish list that the Arizona governor and legislature would take steps toward equitable funding this year so that our students could get what they require to be successful regardless of their unique needs. Teachers like me know that different populations of students have different...

February 3, 2020 We Must Address the Issue of Teacher Attrition

“How did class go?” asks my principal as we cross paths on our way back to our offices. Before she can finish her question, the tears come. I want to tell her how overwhelmed I am this semester. Instead, I just look at her, wipe away the...

January 24, 2020 Applying Growth Mindsets in Math Class

"I don't know. I'm bad at math." This phrase, when uttered by a student of any age, can be a considerable hurdle for teachers. But it doesn't have to be. While some students may pick up on specific math skills quicker than others, every student is capable of...

January 16, 2020 Early Literacy Instruction As A Tool to Increase Equity

According to the American Academy of Pediatrics, more than 1 in 3 American children start Kindergarten without the skills they need to learn to read. Children introduced to reading early on tend to read earlier and are more likely to excel in school than children who are not exposed...

January 2, 2020 Growing Student Networks in Order to Expand Opportunities

A few years ago, I found myself at a luncheon with Reid Hoffman, the owner of LinkedIn, as the keynote speaker. He talked about how our education networks open so many doors for professionals in the field. As connected and constant learners, we have huge networks, meeting new people...

December 20, 2019 Debunking the Myths of High-Quality Curriculum Adoption

As a veteran educator of over 25 years, I know that curriculum can make a monumental difference for teachers and students. There have been many reports in recent years that revealed that educators are increasingly using their own instructional materials, often finding resources and lessons...

December 16, 2019 Wyoming’s Call to Action in Literacy and Reading Can Increase Student Achievement

In a recent post from the Collaborative for Student Success addressing recent NAEP results in reading and literacy, multiple organizations have issued a unified call to action for a focus in five areas: embracing the science of reading; pushing for use of high-quality, standards-aligned curriculum...