I created this video for a back to school kickoff event in the Union R-XI School District. I want it to inspire, motivate, and encourage our staff to reach beyond their level of comfort in an effort to take learning and growth to the next level for Union R-XI students... If you are interested in creating a similar video, please email me ...

I can multitask really well. The number of items on my “todo” list is usually quite high, and I love it that way. I thrive in demandingwork environments that require a fast pace, and lots of action. That’s why Ilove production work; that’s why I love teaching school. Observant studentssometimes ask me how I am able to juggle all of my ...

This post focuses on decisions that are made outside of the classroom that can make us unhappy little bunnies. Motivation: if they’ve got it, you’re laughing; if they don’t, forget it. An enjoyable part of my job at present is the research that some colleagues and I are conducting into student motivation and, [...]

Read this article written by my mentor: Hiring and Motivating Teachers when Test Scores are all that Matter

Recently, Scott Mcleod, blogged a very thought-provoking post, Are We Edubloggers too Harsh on Our Kids’ Teachers? My initial thoughts…. As a teacher, I remember throughout my career parents who griped at me about something I didn’t do to their standards. It’s part of the job and I believe this will continue to happen throughout my career. [...]

As the new school year begins, there are plenty of rituals that teachers observe: the trips to office supply stores for those things that we “need” in the year ahead, the faculty meetings to welcome everyone back, and the inevitable classroom preparations that we look forward to every fall. When that first bell rings, I want to be motivated, ...

It’s that time of year again. The months between winter break and spring break can feel like the longest days of a teacher’s life. But don’t despair! Here are some ways to snap yourself – or your students – out of that slump. Read Top 12 Ways to Snap Out of a Teaching Slump

My new favorite word is “edusomnia.” I first encountered this word on one of my daily blog reads: Principals Page. I think it’s genius. Teachers are odd creatures. We love our jobs. We hate our jobs. We feel energetic and fulfilled in our classrooms. We are consumed by dread as Sunday comes to an end and Monday approaches with the promise of ...

I don’t know about you but I’m buzzing with back-to-school excitement.Last night, I attended a faculty meeting for adjuncts at the community college where I teach. There were 10 new adjuncts in our department (apparently the media isn’t lying about community colleges booming during the recession).During the meeting, we had some free time to ...

I will now write about a subject that is none of my business: retirement. I want to appeal to those who are close to the end of their teaching career, anyone with over 30 years experience, to strongly consider making this their last year of official public service. In California, as in much of the country, the budget issues are humongous. In about ...