Dear Teacher, 

Our curriculum this year uses only 3 novels to teach everything my 6th grade students need to know about ELA. It has been an interesting experience and I have been exposed to some new texts and authors. 

We have just completed reading Two Roads by Joseph Bruchac and my students enjoyed the book a lot! 

Dear Teachers, 

Happy Wednesday!  Can you believe we made it to the middle of the week? It is cold and the snow is piling up high outside which I think is making the week seem even longer. 

I have given a lot of thought to this website and about whether it should stay or go. My journey from Think, Wonder, & Teach (previous site) to here has been a tough one. I think I finally figured out why...

Dear Teacher, 

Are you ready to celebrate Valentine's Day? It is just around the corner and my students have already begun whispering about all the fun they are expecting at the annual Valentine's Day party. 

Party planning is not high on my priority list with state testing looming in the close future. This is where my "simple classroom traditions" save the day! 

Dear Teacher, 

January flew buy us and it is already time for February! My students are loving all of the books we have been reading and it is giving us a lot of examples to reference back to. 

Remember, picture books don't have to be read only once and you don't have to read the whole thing. You can read just a piece of it and focus in on a particular skill or strategy you are teaching. 

Dear Teacher, 

Happy 2021! I have never been so happy as to see 2020 disappear. Who would have guessed the year that we had? School closings due to a world-wide pandemic, teaching remotely, a toilet-paper shortage, curb-side delivery, wearing masks, hand sanitizer galore, and the blessing of lots of family time! 

Last year I began the one-word tradition instead of resolutions and both my students and I loved it! 

Dear Teacher, 

Have you heard of the book a day challenge? I heard of this several years ago and have thought a lot about bringing it to my classroom. I have tried and failed many times.

Why can't I make this work?  My students love this and it is encouraging them to read more! 

Dear Teacher, 

Classroom management is hard. Let's just be real for a second. Even when we think we have  a solid plan, there is always that one thing that could be better. 

Three Before Me is that problem in my room. Why am I always answering questions for the same group of students?  Why are they wondering the room looking for answers again? 

I found a solution and you are not going to believe how simple it is!

Dear Teacher, 

We are nearing the end and I have honestly enjoyed every presentation so far. Each one has had a nugget of information that I desperately needed to hear. 

The fact that this is a free annual summit each December and that I can get PD credit for this only makes it better. Downside, Illinois teachers have to pay $36 for PD credit but it was well worth the cost. 

Dear Teacher, 

For many year we have been told that we need to integrate technology better. Once a week, I would pull out the Chromebooks and we would (check to see if they still turn-on) use an app to assess review skills. Our curriculum really did not lend itself to technology use so I didn't.

Fast forward to Pandemic Teaching and I have no alternative. I am learning quickly but there is still so much to learn!

Dear Teacher, 

I thought finding an hour in my day would be easy. I can take the time to watch the videos but I forgot something. 

Quarter End.  Semester End.  Winter Break.  Report Cards. Holiday Baking. The list goes on and on. What was I thinking? 

​I was thinking that this is important for me and my students. I need this to be a better me.