Recently, I became aware of how deeply I fear not having enough time to do all that needs to be done at school along with fulfilling responsibilities at home. This fear creates tension in my soul, wearies me physically, and is, plain and...

I have long been fascinated with Booker T. Washington and his methods of education as displayed at the Tuskegee Institute in the late 19 th century. Washington firmly believed that education, especially for the African American race at...

“Who is my neighbor?” When the lawyer tempting Him asked this question, Jesus responded with the story of the Good Samaritan. A man was robbed, beaten, and left for dead. A priest and a Levite passed the injured man, but were unwilling to...

“A charge to keep I have… to serve the present age, my calling to fulfill. O may it all my powers engage to do my Master’s will.” (Charles Wesley) Who am I working for? If I’m working for God I should be doing my best to work diligently...

Photo by Ena Marinkovic from Pexels Whether it is in a book that we read, news that we hear, a label that we read, or in a conversation with another, each one of us encounters words in our world that we are not familiar with. What are your...

If you have missed Part 1 , you may want to read that before delving into this post. Within that post, we looked at the differences between the way American parents and educators seem to view outdoor play for children in contrast to the...

My first-graders enjoyed hosting a Reading Café where, instead of serving food, we served stories! This was a fun culmination to our reading classes. Each first-grader was to choose three stories that they could read to our guests at the...

Who of us hasn’t dealt with the “it’s not fair” syndrome? I mean personally, not just hearing from students. I was thinking of this recently when I got bit by the bug – again. It is a sickness worse than the flu bug. And highly contagious...

I once climbed Mt. St. Helens to the rim of its crater. The picture above, taken from the rim that day, should give you an idea of what an exhilarating experience it was. You could print this picture, but if you have an old black-and-white...

Image by Sharon McCutcheon via Pexels School is out. The students have closed their books and taken the last tests. The books have all been sent back to the school house. It’s time to forget math and language and reading for a few months!...

I love being out of school! A more flexible schedule ranks high on my list of joys. What delight to encounter the many things that could and and should and would (want) to be done with the freedom to choose which to prioritize! For a brief...

“These girls are just not getting along. I think at one point each one has felt left-out or bullied. I don’t know how to help them!” worried a new first-grade teacher. “Teacher, they won’t let me play with them.” “They ran away when I came...

I have to wonder at what point in history the raising of hands for permission to speak became such a ubiquitous part of the classroom. It’s really a bit odd when you think of it, yet it is a helpful signal that can serve us well if we use...

Being organized is often an indicator of a student’s success in school, and it certainly does help a student function better. When everything is in its right place, all assignments written down, and student activities directed in an...

The cold wind persistently blowing makes being outdoors miserable. The gray skies cover up the sun for days at a time. Absences and coughs are as common as the dandelions in a springtime lawn. The enthusiasm of the first half of the school...

Photo by d0n mil0 from Pexels Social media and news outlets seem intent on convincing us that COVID-19 is either a) an overblown, politically saturated, economy ruining bad joke or b) an unprecedented, deadly health threat that way too...

One of the greatest gifts I have been given is the input of other adults into my children’s lives. Many adults give a little to them (extended family members, pastors, professionals, family friends), but their teachers give a lot. I...

Photo by Alicia Jones on Unsplash A question I asked for a long time is, “Does God laugh?” He sings. 1 He loves. He feels anger. He feels compassion. He mourns. Does He laugh? I’m not talking about derisive laughter, which God is said to...

Our history tests are littered with questions like this: Alexander the Great’s decisive victory at the Battle of _____ led to his conquest of the Persian Empire. Bucephalas Chickamauga Gaugamela Artaxerxes Let’s be honest—who cares? In...

After several years of teaching, I compiled a list of basic classroom management survival tips. They have served me well, helping me to have order and respect in the classroom, and helping me avoid many troublesome problems that could have...