“The learning should be its own reward.” This is a common refrain told to new teachers. It is mainly used to discourage giving students rewards for meeting expectations, a practice known to many as bribing. I stop just short of calling it bribing. I typically opt for the term incentive or rewards; however, the general…
Unless you live under a rock, you know school districts across Indiana are closing for the Red for Ed Action Day on Tuesday, November 19, 2019, which is the same date as the start of the legislative session. That’s what I hate. Schools are closing including my sons’ school. Children should not be a bartering…
I have a confession to make. I want to confess something that I have kept to myself for a while. I did not want to share it because I know it can be a little controversial in the world of education. Grades are grades, and honestly, when you are an adult, no one remembers or…
One of the biggest hurdles for low-income families is childcare. Lack of childcare presents problems for working families. For example, if you are a single mother, it is hard to hold down a job if you don’t have anyone to watch your children. Yes, you can pay for daycare or something similar, but that…
“BELIEVE THERE IS GOOD IN THE WORLD” Today is World Kindness Day. On this day, we celebrate the kindness and what is right in the world. Today, people are encouraged to spread kindness. There is no such thing as a small act of kindness. Those small acts of kindness have a ripple effect that spreads to…
Preparing students for college is a focus of schools across America. College is one of the three options students can choose. School districts such as Indianapolis Public Schools focus on the three Es: enroll, enlist, employ. Veterans Day is a day to thank military men and women for their service, but it can also be…
“We did not disappear. We did not die out. We are survivors.” – Chief Glenna Wallace, Eastern Shawnee Tribe of Oklahoma In the Indiana State Museum, you can find the words of Chief Glenna Wallace displayed on the wall surrounded by pictures of Native Americans from present day and from the past. Present day was…
Following a nationwide trend, Indiana teachers are calling for action from their policymakers. Thousands of Indiana teachers have pledged to descend on the statehouse for a rally on November 19. Normally, this would place a strain on area schools, but many schools have canceled classes in anticipation of the day. Indianapolis Public Schools has canceled…
As I look back, there are so many aspects that I wish I had known as a teacher. For some reason lately, I have been reflecting a lot on my teaching career. I have been trying to go back to my toolbox and determine what made me a successful teacher to capture that same magic…
In recent years, Eastern Star Church, located on the city’s eastside has invested in the Arlington Woods community by offering childcare and affordable housing and even a grocery store. So, it came as no surprise to me when I heard that Eastern Star has partnered with Rooted School – Indianapolis to bring another education option…