As an educator who loves to share tips for teachers both inside and outside the classroom, you can follow this page to find all my education-related posts. You will find tips, tricks, lesson plans, inspiration, and more.

I recently read a book entitled Normal Sucks by Jonathan Mooney where he offers a harsh critique of the public school system. He says outright that school is toxic. That might sound alarmist and unrealistic and there is a lot to unpack in what he writes. Let’s do that, shall we?

Extraordinary Parenting by Eloise Rickman The way kids behave give us vital clues to how they are feeling and what they are thinking. By paying attention we can help our children communicate with us in ways that they aren’t quite…

“If your top priority for your child is soaring academic excellence, then you’ll need to invest him [or her] with the drive to learn.” Kids have a natural curiosity and teach themselves all sorts of things. Parents act as coach…

There are a lot of misconceptions about the Montessori method of education. While I knew the name, I must admit I knew little else about it. After doing a considerable amount of research, I am completely sold on it and…

I often find it hard to sleep the night before school starts every year. Even though I have spent countless hours setting up my classroom, writing lessons, and organizing resources, my mind races with possibilities. Today, my mind is racing…

Normal Sucks: How to Live, Learn, and Thrive Outside the Lines by Jonathan Mooney This book title seemed to fit with my view of the world. I embrace my weirdness and do my best to think creatively and live outside…

Don’t Waste Your Time Homeschooling 72 Things I Wish I’d Known by Traci Matt The title of this book is a bit tongue and cheek but the author is definitely correct about all the time wasted as we try to…

Jeff Tweedy, of the band Wilco, has this advice for people who want to write songs. I think it can apply to any creative endeavor and would even work to help motivate our students. Be Okay With Bad “It’s going…

The Homeschooling Handbook how to make homeschooling simple, affordable, fun, and effective by Lorilee Lippincott I have decided that I will be homeschooling my son. As an educator with 18 years of experience in the classroom, I think I have…

I Hear You: The Surprisingly Simple Skill Behind Extraordinary Relationships by Michael S. Sorensen Do you ever read a book that just drags on and on. This one doesn’t do that. “As you’ve no doubt noticed, this book is pretty…