Access to free public education is the cornerstone of a shared belief that every child can learn and succeed, a shared belief that our situation at birth doesn't determine our future. This is why I teach, and why most teachers choose to come to the classroom day after day. We provide quality education no matter… Continue reading Access to Learning

Students have missed eleven school days. Many of them have likely been at home for 15. This is a major change for all students and teachers, and we deal with major changes in stages. It took me awhile to identify my main emotion during this school closure as grief. My friend Caroline sent me this… Continue reading Distance Learning

The success of progress monitoring within an RTI model relies on a number of factors. First and foremost, each school's culture of urgency, accountability, and attention to detail shapes how RTI plans look and how regularly they're updated. Some schools are swift to provide support to classroom teachers that matches their expectation, including additional work time… Continue reading RTI & progress monitoring

As February sets in Response to Intervention feels more urgent and classroom teachers begin to raise more serious concerns about student work or growth. At this point in the year I know my students very well and I communicate with their families regularly. As a classroom teacher I knew them even better. I knew their siblings… Continue reading Ebb & Flow

As we return to school in brand new January, it's easy to feel sleepy and shocked by the early buzzing of the alarm clock, especially because of the pitch black sky. However, as I stood with a colleague this morning at 7:10am and watched students clamor off the bus and into their friend groups, sleepiness is not what I felt.… Continue reading First day back