Recently there has been a lot of talk about the book Educated by Tara Westover. Many book clubs have been circulating this fascinating book. What I was most interested to learn about from this book, was how someone with limited preparation was still able to obtain a college education. However, the book revolved around how Tara's view … Continue reading Does The Book Educated Encourage An Education System Without Standards?
Explicit writing instruction is hard to come by. Historically, teachers have encouraged students to write and read more to become better writers. That definitely is true, but for a large portion of our young writers, they need more explicit or direct instruction. Telling students how to write is not considered explicit instruction. Explicit instruction is … Continue reading How To Create An Explicit Writing Curriculum or Unit
Dyslexia. Reading Disabilities. Learning Disability in Reading. Language disability. These names are all used to refer to students with a pronounced reading struggle that cannot be explained by lack of instruction or other cognitive difficulties. That means, by definition, dyslexia is NOT related to mental retardation. A student with dyslexia is just as intelligent as … Continue reading A Quick Guide To Dyslexia (Info Graphic)
Math has become an ongoing topic for our country. Whether you are a teacher trying to ensure your diverse students will be prepared for state tests, or you are a parent who is trying to work with a struggling child, math can be stressful. There is a current perception that math something you "get" or … Continue reading 5 Math Curriculums Every School And Homeschool Family Should Know
Traditional tests can be so boring with regular multiple choice tests. Helping kids show actual learning can help keep teachers' sanity, help foster creativity, and keeps kids engaged. The more students can show what they know with non-traditional testing, the more engaged students will be. Here are a few tips to increase engagement with assessments … Continue reading 10 Fun Ways To Assess Learning (InfoGraphic Included)
When I finally get a few minutes to casually scroll through my Facebook feed, typically I see several blog posts that discuss technology. Most of them are fear mongering blog posts on all the awful effects of technology. They speak to how we are ruining our children and adding negative social consequences for them. Don't … Continue reading Research Review: Dangers of “screen time” vs. teaching computing skills
This article is based on my knowledge as a licensed and experienced special education teacher and from the National Center of Learning Disabilities. Back in 2014, the center published an article called "The State of Learning Disabilities." Within, they published some alarming information about how many adults perceive learning disabilities. Here is How Our Nation … Continue reading Research Review: What is a Learning Disability and What Does it Look Like? Part 2 (Facts vs. Myths)