Shortly after I returned home from school, I noticed that my good friend @ShanaVWhite tagged me in a post shared by @PedroANoguera. Upon opening the tweet, I immediately got a sinking feeling in my stomach. I thought: Not this again? By ‘this’ I mean the…
Category: The Daily Teacher Grind
IEP Accommodations: What so many get wrong
Special Education and IEP accommodations for students with disabilities are a recurring topic in several online teacher groups. Most recently, a teacher posted a list of ‘problems’ plaguing classroom teachers, with one being ‘too many IEPs and accommodations’. My response was short and simple: “Too many…
How Paperclips Changed My Classroom Management
Teachers who believe students are not supposed to be “managed” are correct. The manner in which they carry themselves in our classrooms; however, must be. I cannot (effectively) teach and the students certainly cannot learn if everyone is talking at the same time or vying…
Teacher Crisis: How Did I Get Here?
It’s almost Springtime. Teachers have to ‘make it’ another month before our week long Spring Break. Well, maybe just the real ones who are ok with admitting to needing, enjoying, and looking forward to time away from the schools/classrooms in which we work. I know…
I hate what’s become of Special Education
Today is Thanksgiving. We are spending two short days with immediate family in Indiana, after touring four colleges with the middle child. On top of being mentally exhausted before the start of the week-long holiday, I am now physically exhausted. As a Special Education Teacher,…