Engaging Curiosity

TPT STORE YOUTUBE BLOG Hey there Reader! As the end of the school year approached I was always very focused on what I wanted to accomplish during the summer (not too much, but something), and my goals for the following year. Each year I taught I looked for ways to tweak my curriculum and classroom management based upon what I had been successful, and what had not been. Initially I was very keen on rewards, and then I realized that, evidence-based or not, I had better ways to spend my time....

TPT STORE YOUTUBE BLOG Hey there Reader! And with the rain comes Spring! We are officially there folks!! Spring is here. We here in the Okanagan are on a storm warning for the rest of Spring Break (our two week break). Fortunately, I love the rain.☔️ I have other quirkinesses (like sometimes inventing words because I love words), and one of my other quirks (other than liking storms⛈️ and inventing words 😁) is I enjoyed successfully managing students with behaviour challenges in my classroom....

TPT STORE YOUTUBE BLOG Happy Spring Reader! My photo doesn't seem very springlike, but we have been getting more snow the last two weeks than we have all week. I love snow, but I am also excited for crocuses. However, Spring is also when the kids get antsy in the classroom. All that Spring Fever everywhere. This is the time of year to really dig into the social-emotional instruction to support strong classroom management. This blog post and video are a rerun from last year, but they are fan...

TPT STORE YOUTUBE BLOG Hey there Reader! This morning I had a thought, and I decided it was best kept to myself. It wasn't rude, or unkind; just unnecessary. I decided it would not progress the conversation. This, as I am sure you know, is impulse control. Impulse control has been a work in progress in my life, and I am glad that I can control these areas of my life way better than I once did. Blurting is another form of impulse control, and we can teach our students self-control. This will...

TPT STORE YOUTUBE BLOG Hey there Reader! Have you ever had an Educational Assistant (EA) give up in frustration? A student who was so hard to get to focus that is seemed even one-on-one support would not help? When I was the Special Ed Coordinator at my school I remember greeting an EA in the hallway, only to ask her why she was not working with her assigned student. Her reply; she could not get him to focus on the work in front of him. Although this did support the teacher's determination...

TPT STORE YOUTUBE BLOG Hey there Reader! This Friday I am doing something that I dread. I don't like to, I don't want to, but I will. What am I doing you may wonder? I am going to a Newcomers Dinner. I am friendly enough, and I know how to make my way when there are random table assignments, but still it is tough to go to anything on my own. Yes, I like to have a friend, my security blanket, with me. But on this particular occasion that is not an option. At Christmas I had a similar adventure...

TPT STORE YOUTUBE BLOG Happy Valentine's Day Reader! The countdown is now! If you missed it last week, my courses are coming. If you have ever wrestled with the challenges of active, distracted students, or with students with ADHD in the classroom, then I hope you will check in for the next few weeks as I share the progress as I prepare to launch. The workbook is done, and I am reviewing the draft copy for each video. Soon I will be ready to video. More updates to come . . .!...

TPT STORE YOUTUBE BLOG Hey there Reader! February is the month of love ❤️. My daughter was actually born on Valentine's Day, so we don't celebrate Valentine's Day. We are too busy having a birthday party! 🎉 But . . . I loved all of the special Valentine's Activities. However, before I dig into more about that, I have an announcement to make! Drum roll please! 🥁 _________________________________________________ Coming Soon Have you ever looked in the mirror in the morning, and felt too...

TPT STORE YOUTUBE BLOG Hey there Reader! You know, I love teaching. And just plain hanging out with kids. But the challenge and responsibility of teaching students who are so far apart in their current abilities can certainly be overwhelming. I messaged with one teacher this week who had absolutely no classroom support, and a classroom composition that would be laughable because of the ridiculousness of it if it weren't so tragic. I set high expectations for my students. All of my students....