By, mid-afternoon yesterday, we heard of more local universities moving classes to an online platform due to the COVID-19 virus. While we understand this move, moving a course (or, worse – part of a course) online is not as easy as it sounds. While I’ve never taught online, I do have digital course experience. In…
Yesterday, Sunday, my son took another exam in his AP Stats course. He is taking the course online. It’s been a bugger, to say the least. Let’s just say it’s not just plug and chug, there is an expectation of understanding. He’s working on it. There are advantages to online courses. And, there are disadvantages,…
Almost nine years ago (I cannot believe that much time has passed), I started a parent group for those families with children that had been identified as talented and gifted (TAG) in our school district. I did it out of great respect for our TAG teacher, who I asked if I could be of help…
I am no stranger to committee work. When we moved to Wisconsin, over twenty years ago now, I immersed myself in our local school system. I had a boy entering kindergarten within a year and was expecting my second son. Getting involved in our school district was one of the most fulfilling and important jobs…
“No one ever talks about it,” said the mom. “It is frustrating and lonely.” She insinuated that she did not know what to do or how to parent her son, whose needs were beyond the scope of “normal.” “My girls,” she stated, “are so different, so easy.” “Once you find resources, and supportive people, it…
Today is Slice of Life Tuesday and since many participants in this weekly forum hosted by TwoWritingTeachers.org are educators, my blog today focuses on an educational topic. It is also a post that applies to parents and offers encouragement to allow your student to find their strengths, whether or not those strengths fall within the…
The following was written after in December of 2012, following a Garden Club unit on Conifers. I recently came across this saved piece of writing and decided to share. I found something this morning that caused me to have an “aha” moment! It was a recent copy of National Geographic Magazine with a story about…
If you read my middle of the night post, you know I was visited by my unwanted friend named Insomnia. Fortunately, I am able to arrange my work schedule to fit my needs and was able to leave at 11:30 a.m. today. I napped from 1:30 – 3:00 p.m.. So, although I feel tired, I…
For the last few years, our school system has been refining grading policies. It is time well spent, in my opinion. We have been residents in the same school system for nearly twenty years. During nineteen of those years, I have had a child in the system. I’ve seen a lot of changes come and…
What is transparency? Throughout my involvement in different educational systems, institutions of higher learning, and other types of business ventures such as health care or non-profit entities, I have learned that transparency is something I highly value and look for when involved in a system. It is also something I aim to be part of…