Search

I used to tell my art students that some of the best art comes from mistakes. It seems the same is true for teaching. If we can be flexible enough to recognize the lesson in mistakes, we can go a long way with our students.

Think Mix It Up can’t work at your school? This counselor at a school for students with a variety of special needs says it can.

A new literacy landscape has emerged that is whispering farewell to the clothbound books of my childhood. Classrooms today are moving away from traditional print-based texts to incorporate digital media, often referred to as “new literacies.” Elementary school classrooms now come equipped with Smart Boards, computers and even iPads.

My curls tickle my face. My fingers feverishly sort though papers. I make last-minute decisions for the day. A former student, who stops by every day, chats by my side. It’s 7:30 a.m., and I’m depending on Folgers to usher me into a coherent state when I hear this student say, “Mrs. Yahn, ever since your class last year, I just can’t stop talking. I used to say nothing in class, but now I talk all the time. You taught me that.”

The Kyrene school district is one of the top performing districts in Arizona. We serve approximately 18,000 students in 19 elementary and six middle schools. The student population is quite diverse in background and academic needs.

With all the talk about Cam Newton’s celebrations—and less than a week to go before Super Bowl 50—educators can take advantage of this teachable moment.