Tag: behavior

• An Educator’s Love Letter to Liquid Sanity

  Jul 31

  Let’s get one thing straight: coffee isn’t a luxury for teachers. It’s a survival mechanism. A coping strategy. A legal form of self-medication brewed in Keurig pods and staff lounge… more ›

• What Writing Looks Like (for Me)

  Jul 27

  I’ve always been drawn to creating things—music, sketches, photos, splashes of color and sound—but writing? That one snuck up on me. I didn’t grow up thinking I’d be a writer.… more ›

• 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 ›

• 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 ›

• 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 ›

• 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 ›

• 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 ›

• Why Inkblotz?

  Jul 15

  Yesterday, as I was reviewing notes and drafts for future blog posts, my daughter came up to me and asked, “Whatcha doin’, Dad?” I answered simply, “Reviewing posts for my… more ›

• Solitude: Why It Matters and How It Helps

  Jul 14

  In a world that glorifies hustle, noise, and constant connection, solitude can seem countercultural—even suspect. But stepping away from the noise isn’t an escape; it’s an intentional return. Solitude is… more ›

• Mistakes Are Moments. Growth Is the Goal.

  Jul 1

  Rethinking Discipline, Accountability, and Redemption in Our Schools In every classroom, hallway, and lunch line, students are learning much more than what’s printed in textbooks. They’re learning how to be… more ›