Dear Teacher, 

The Ditch Summit has inspired me to shake the dust off of Matt Miller's books and start reading. I am hoping to discover some additional information that I can add to my growing list of tech skills that I have gained thanks to the COVID pandemic. 

The first book I grabbed was Tech like a Pirate. This is a short 124 pages that was easy to read. Ready to join me? 

Dear Teacher, 

We have all been dreaming of bigger salaries and with the first check of the year coming in on Friday, this has been on my mind a lot.

It is true, teachers are not paid enough. It is also true that we knew this when we pursued our careers but that doesn't mean that it is right or it should stay this way. However, we all know there is no money to pay teachers more. 

We know how to think outside the box. How can we pay teachers more without paying them more? 

Dear Teacher, 

After COVID-19, everyone of the students in our classroom will have faced trauma. They will have a piece of the puzzle that makes them whole missing. There will be some students with only one missing piece while others will be missing a lot. As we look forward toward the fall, I wanted to be ready to embark upon a journey to be better prepared to meet the social-emotional needs of my students. 

My local ROE is hosting a book study over the course of the next 8 weeks where we will be digging deep into how we can better serve students with trauma in our classrooms. Each week I will add my thoughts to this post. Who is ready to join me this summer? 

Have you ever wonder what makes a school worth of 5 stars or that elusive A+ rating? Dr. Connors asks us to take a different look at our schools. Picture a 5-star restaurant. How does it make you feel? Why would you pay top dollar to eat there?

Now compare this your local school. How does it make you feel? Why would you want to go here? What makes it special and unique? 

As we contemplate these questions we begin to see not only the problems in our schools but also the solution on where to begin to correct it. 

I started with Daily 5. I have really struggled with my ELA instruction this year thanks to the implementation of a new curriculum that I am still not sure I like. 

Anywho...

Imagine my surprise when inside the book I discovered the Above, Pause, Whisper technique. I use this somewhat in my classroom but never knew it was a technique or where I learned it from. This is one I need to implement as soon as classes resume. 

Dear Teacher,

Today our audiobook-loving district librarian challenged us to read Jason Reynolds' Stamped: Racism, Antiracism, and you. Her reasoning: each day we challenge our students with the text that we present to them but when was the last time we challenged ourselves.

Okay. I'm in. I am always up for a challenge. 

Racism is a problem in the United States but not everyone is racist. I am hoping for a solution to the problem, for a better understanding of the issue and not more whining without resolution. 

Our district librarian has finally worn me down. She LOVES audiobooks and listens to them in the car all. the. time. I am more of a give me a book to curl up with and read type of girl. I am not so sure I want to listen to someone read to me. I want to read to myself. 

However, my book purchasing budget is limited. When she said the magic word of FREE books every month. I was sold. I can try this. Maybe I will like this. Free books is always something I enjoy. 

​Leveled ELA Groups are (were) THE way to teach. I learned this in college. Watched mentor teachers demonstrate their skill in the practice and have used it in my own classroom. It is estimated around 90% of elementary teachers use this practice. and I am one of them! 

But we are wrong. What could be worse than teaching it wrong? We are damaging students abilities to learn how to read by continuing to do it wrong despite evidence to the contrary.