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Accountability OR Well Rounded??

Accountability. Teachers feel it. Students feel it. Parents feel it. We are living in a time where students, even in elementary school, feel the pressure of school, social media, society, and personal family matters. While social media has some advantages, it has created a world of isolation for our children. Communication has been limited to text messages, Instagram likes, Snapchat messages, etc. We have become more accustomed to typing our feelings instead of expressing them face to face. Finding self-worth through technology platforms is an unintended negative consequence that impacts our children. Everyone has the need to belong. We are not made to function in isolation. Emotional health requires that we all have a “nitch” where we feel accepted and loved – a place where we are challenged and experience success. When our emotional cup is filled, we are more likely to focus on our school work, see the benefits in meeting standards, and feel more comfortable in ...
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More Guns is Not the Answer

This issue has a variety of different opinions. Everyone has the right to their own views, and I certainly respect other perspectives. However, here are my thoughts from the discussion of allowing teachers to carry guns inside schools. Education has always been a reflection of society. The paradigm shifts and issues in society find their way into our school doors across the nation. School violence is on every parent's mind. Each day, parents drop off their most prized possession to schools, either private or public, and expect that their child will spend the day in a safe, non-threatening learning environment. When an event happens in our country that is as devastating as the Florida shooting, doubt, uncertainty, fear, worry, and an abundance of other emotions flow. We feel helpless. We want to do something to assist. We want change. We want assurance. And....we want it NOW! So what happens? Many jump to knee jerk reactions of what will solve this issue. What is the "m...
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Embracing Mistakes

I love my kids with all my heart. There is literally nothing that I would not do for them. Rarely do you meet parents who feel otherwise. We want what is best for them. We always want to be there for them. If we could give them a gift that would almost ensure success, wouldn’t we do it? Mistakes. We all make them. We all dread them. We have all suffered consequences for them. As parents, we have all watched our children make them. Our responses vary: ·       We become frustrated with our children and lecture (sometimes rather boldly) on how their decision was a terrible one. ·       We attempt to come to their rescue. They mess up and it becomes our responsibility to fix. We maneuver and manipulate to relieve our children from feeling pain or consequences in the name of “loving” our children. ·       We issue swift consequences in hopes to prevent another mistake. ·     ...
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The Great Equalizer

I come from a family of educators - my Mom was a teacher, and my Dad was a preacher. They both taught different content, but taught nonetheless. Both came from challenging upbringings in their own way. My Dad was raised in poverty, and Mom was raised working in tobacco fields. Through very creative means, my Dad managed to work and pay his way through college without a car. He knew that education was the key to breaking a cycle of poverty. I was raised with the foundational belief that "Education is something that can never be taken from you." School was always a priority in our house. Upon reflection, that is probably why I made my life's passion about working to provide a solid elementary education to children. Every morning, a variety of situations and backgrounds accompany students who walk through public school doors across our nation. Education is "the great equalizer." A solid education and the ability to think critically/analytically opens doors for ...
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