Communication is the most important thing I’ve ever learned. If you think about it, there would be no way to function in society without it. Everything would be chaotic. Everyone usually learns how to communicate in their early childhood, but few ever notice the importance of it. I learned the importance of communication about three years ago. My best friend … Read More
Living for Grandpa
When I was in 6th grade, I had a life changing tragedy that taught me what I would come to believe as the most important lesson in my life. I learned to live everyday like it’s the last. My grandpa was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease. His Alzheimer’s eventually took over his life. Since he couldn’t take care of himself nor … Read More
Love and Mammaw
The day I was old enough to know about my grandmother’s death, I believe I was about ten years old. I had just turned ten in September, and it was now October. I remember waking up to hear my mama crying in the bathroom. Naturally being curious, I asked what was wrong, and she told me that Mammaw, my grandmother, … Read More
Regret
I once had an amazing grandmother who practically raised me but, like all great things, she had to go. When I was young, I spent every day at her house, but, as I got older, my visits became few and far between. I spent my time with friends and sports so I thought of that as an excuse not to … Read More
Life Lesson
When I was young, I learned that everything happens for a reason. I was seven when my mom died from cancer; that bit of information might lead you to be puzzled as to how her dying taught me this great life lesson but I promise – it’s not as morbid as it sounds. A few months after my mom was … Read More
kids say the darndest things
Most people learn through experience and more often than not it’s not a pleasant experience. People are put into circumstances that allow their peers to be the teachers. A lesson in manners is important, as is being taught that everyone should be held accountable for what they say. I’ve had such a lesson. Middle school happens to be an ideal … Read More
It's all about the kids!
I had the opportunity to work with a group of teachers in their Professional Learning Community group. As we poured through the data it became apparent that what we needed to do was differentiate the grade level for math and have the teachers share the students with the student intervention teachers. As we looked at each other around the table … Read More
Learning Independence
I remember the first time I learned that I could control what I learned. It was a sudden burst of freedom unlike anything I had experienced. In first and second grades, my school limited the library to a small section of books that were deemed appropriate. I was bored with the selection of books. I wanted access to the rest … Read More
Mean Girls – Turning Point
This is a story of middle school where I learned that mean girls existed. I never knew anyone could be mean for really no reason. I was at my second year at Martin Lurther King Middle School in Northern Virginia. I saw some of my friend in class and prepared to sit next to them. They said that seat was … Read More
My Poems
I am a high school English teacher. The learning communities that I have been a part of that were most powerful were my graduate classes in literature. In most of them a group of 15 or 20 people who loved literature sat in a circle and discussed novels and stories and poems. We batted about ideas, we interpreted and reinterpreted, … Read More
