Category: reflection

• Designing for Redemption: Rethinking Grading and Growth in the Classroom

  Jul 27

  There’s something profoundly human about allowing a student the chance to redeem themselves—but redemption can’t be accidental or symbolic. It must be deliberately built into how we teach, assess, and… more ›

• What Teaching Used to Be —and What We’ve Lost Along the Way

  Jul 26

  There was a time—not long ago—when teaching was built on short readings and long conversations. Classrooms echoed with curiosity. Students asked questions. Teachers asked even more.And the best days? The… more ›

• Someone asked me today how I was doing.

  Jul 26

  I am tired…. …of being strong. …of feeling sad. …of not having answers. …of needing a break. …of this continuing heat. …of not enough sleep. …of feeling tired. But, I… more ›

• What Drives Me

  Jul 24

  Over the course of my life, and career as an educator, I’ve been asked these questions more than once.I remember one time clearly—it was during a workshop on student resilience.… more ›

• Built By Hand

  Jul 20

  There’s something to be said about working with your hands. The whole DIY thing—patching a leaky faucet, sanding down a splintered door, fixing the fence before it falls over—doesn’t get… more ›

• Sunsets in the Valley

  Jul 19

  I’ve said it before, and I’ll keep saying it—there’s nothing quite like a sunset in the Imperial Valley. Clouds or clear skies, summer heat or winter chill—it doesn’t matter. The… more ›

• More Than Words: How Quotes Spark Conversation and Learning

  Jul 17

  There’s something powerful about a well-timed quote. Maybe it’s a line from a movie that lingers long after the credits roll, or a phrase that echoes from history books. Quotes… more ›

• More Than Just a Writing Lesson…

  Jul 17

  As a teacher, I made sure my students wrote every single day. It didn’t matter what subject I taught, or how much they wrote. What mattered was the act itself… more ›

• Echoes of Our Heritage

  Jul 17

  Some of my favorite memories aren’t found on big stages or at fancy events. They’re in backyards — folding chairs circling around a grill, kids chasing each other barefoot on… more ›

• It All Starts with a Question… and Not Just Any Question

  Jul 17

  It all starts with a question — and not just any question. Not the kind that seeks the right answer. Not the kind that checks for recall or makes sure… more ›

• No Tricks, Just Routines: A Thought on Classroom Management

  Jul 17

  While flipping through an old journal, I came across a question I once jotted down — likely something I heard at a conference: “What is your best classroom management trick?”… more ›

• More Than a Lesson: The True Impact of Teaching

  Jul 17

  Today, as I was accepting invitations to the annual professional development opportunities offered to educators at the start of each school year, I remembered a quote I heard at one… more ›

• Coloring Inside the Lines… and Knowing When to Go Beyond Them

  Jul 17

  “Color inside the lines.” It’s one of the earliest rules we give children when they’re learning how to draw. And in many ways, it reflects a larger idea in how… more ›

• Start with the Right Question: A Reflection on School Discipline and Parental Support

  Jul 17

  It’s never easy getting called into school because of your child’s behavior. As a parent, it can feel frustrating, embarrassing, or even unfair. But in those moments, the most powerful… more ›

• Our Shared Path, Our Individual Journey

  Jul 15

  There’s a quiet truth we all live with — one we may not often voice, but feel deeply in our moments of reflection: While we may share a path with… more ›