I turn the calendar page to December and sigh. My rather grinch-ish thoughts begrudge the unsettledness that the next month can bring to the classroom. My well-established routines, the lessons moving along like clockwork, the...

It began on a Sunday morning. A first-grade lad sat on a church pew and listened to the minister speaking. His ears perked up when he heard the minister make a lesson application just for children. He heard him explain about...

Last year a group of us met at a youth camp in West Texas to view the 2024 solar eclipse. One of the features of the camp was a long zipline. However, to sail down the zipline, one first needed to scale a rock-climbing wall or...

The teacher’s guide occupies a space in your desk drawer or on your bookshelf, or at least, I hope you have a teacher’s guide available for your use. A teacher’s guide is a valuable tool—especially for less experienced...

A beginning teacher, the first weeks of school, and a common question, “Do you feel like a teacher?” How does one answer that? What does being a teacher feel like? Is it showing up every morning, presenting lessons effectively,...

In the land beside the sea, the Great Teacher taught the multitudes. In His teaching he used stories, he asked questions and demonstrated with objects. He was also a Master of metaphor or comparison. He said, “Men do not light a...

Once, long ago and in a faraway place a group of men stood, continuing an argument that had consumed their thoughts. “Which would be counted the greatest in the kingdom of God?” These men approached the Great Teacher, for they...

A group of men clustered on the temple floor. In hushed tones they discussed their problem. There was a teacher among them who had many followers. Their position and authority were threatened by this teacher’s wise teachings....

Once, long ago in a land across the sea, there lived a Great Teacher. To this Great Teacher there came a young man of an influential family. This young man sat down with those who surrounded the Great Teacher. He listened to the...

The search began in mid-August. First, I scoured the fencerows and field edges for milkweed plants. The farmer had cleaned up and this year the plants were difficult to find in the regular places. The one good stand of milkweed...

We continue our look at a few myths teachers can buy in to. Myth: Last year we could… I’ve seen unsure beginning teachers fall into the trap of allowing students to dictate how the classroom should be run. Students will say,...

New teachers want their students to like them and to enjoy school. New teachers do not always know the best way to accomplish this. Older teachers can also find themselves buying into the following myths. Myth: I’m capable of...

Our school year is over. The report cards are filled out the last time and the permanent records are back in the file cabinet. The seniors have graduated, and we’ve had our last day of school celebration. The classroom has its...

Bright sunshine, balmy breezes, stuffy classroom, worn workbooks, antsy students, dreamy teacher—it’s springtime and the end of school is beckoning. The countdown is getting lower but there are still some weeks left until the...

A first-grade teacher in a classroom somewhere in the world is approaching the middle of February. Her beginning students are nearing the end of Learning to Read and will be soon graduating to their “big” readers. If this teacher...