Category Archives: Teaching Memos

Classroom Code of Norms, for students and by students

Posted on 2019/09/04 by

Last year, my sixth-grade team of teachers worked together with students to guide students to create a class-wide set of norms for behavior. The process was energizing and gave the students a voice in their own expectations, so I decided … Continue reading →

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Introducing Earth 2: 2019-2020’s Classroom Game

Posted on 2019/08/29 by

TLDR: Below, I’m posting a link to my classroom game (Earth 2) introduction and details. If you’re a regular reader, you know that gamification is the practice of adding game elements (e.g. game mechanics and theme) to non-game contexts, and you … Continue reading →

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It’s about the relationship…

Posted on 2019/08/28 by

We teachers are not mere content-delivery mechanisms. Instead, the most important part of my job as I understand it is to build a helpful relationship with the student. Over the years, this actually has been news to me. Honestly, I’ve … Continue reading →

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Why I Stopped Giving Zeroes as Grades

Posted on 2019/08/25 by

A year ago, I stopped giving any zeroes in my classes. Having adopted this policy and used it for a full academic year, I offer for your consideration the top three reasons I am continuing not to assign zeroes. TLDR … Continue reading →

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What Elementary Teachers can Learn from Academic Philosophy

Posted on 2019/04/09 by

One of the best parts about my career shift from the academy to elementary (middle-level, specifically) education is the level of support and enthusiasm offered when educators get together to discuss how to be better at what we do. When … Continue reading →

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