I spent a big portion of my life working in barns and doing manual labor. I always marveled at how people stayed so clean at horse shows or at the barn. I always came home covered in dirt and you knew where I had been; by the eau’d horse perfume. When I was dating my…
My nine-year old stepson declared some years ago, “I want a beyblade!” I wasn’t too inclined to comply with his request as he and his brother already had six of these spinning battle tops. But instead of saying ‘no,’ I told him he needed to sell me on his pitch. Zach sat and thought and…
School is back in full swing. With that comes a whole host of new engagement ideas. Some of the hottest trends right now are flipped classroom, backwards by design, and ideas centered around community engagement. Whatever your preferred method may be, there is no doubt that the face of education is changing as fast as innovation itself. (Do…
Are you ready for some football? The NFL season kicks off this weekend. It should be fun! With the Broncos being so popular, it’s hard to think of a school in Colorado that won’t have at least a few hundred students wearing the orange and blue on Fridays. Let’s hope they can have a good…
Conventional wisdom has us believe that homework needs to be done at a desk in a quiet room in one sitting until finished. Does it really? Homework can be a daily struggle for many families, especially those with students that have trouble getting started and sustaining focus. Let’s face it, for most kids homework is…
Fall might be in the air, but winter is coming. You know it, your friends know it, and there’s a good chance your students know it. With all the buzz about the hit HBO show, why not take the opportunity to infuse some great references in class? Really, there’s nothing more fun than making pop culture…
The beginning of a school year is an exciting time, with a ton of activity. In addition to building goals, it’s also super important for setting clear, crisp communication guidelines. Purposeful communication makes the beginning of the school year so much easier for everyone involved. A smooth beginning might not guarantee perfection, but you can…
It’s baaaaaaack. School, that is. There’s going to be a few moans about that, but honestly, how great is it to get back with your friends, your favorite teachers, and a solid, successful routine. And with classrooms opening already around Colorado, now’s a great time to start helping improve your child’s education through realistic goal-setting. When…
Teaching is the art of making students believe in themselves. Motivating students to believe is often at the heart of a student’s success. Show me a student who believes in themselves, and I will show you a student who is in charge of their learning. Ultimately, when a student believes in themselves and finds success,…
John Hunter is a fourth grade teacher, and he’s one of the best around. Watching his Ted Talk, I was in awe at how he expertly communicates with children. He truly believes that informed parents, engaged communities and better schools arise from high quality communication. If you haven’t watched it yet, it’s well worth your…