Category: Instruction
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The Real Difference Between “Turn and Talk” and “Think-Pair-Share”
This week, I was reflecting on a couple of strategies used often in the classroom: ‘Think-Pair-Share’ and ‘Turn and Talk’. Many educators use these terms interchangeably, but they are not the same strategy. It’s a common point of confusion, one I’ve even caught myself in. What if that small difference…
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Press Pause: Turning Passive Video Watching into Active Learning
This week, I had the pleasure of walking through classrooms and seeing some fantastic curriculum resources in action. But it also got me thinking: having great materials is only half the battle. How do we ensure those resources translate into deep, lasting student learning? The chai is ready and so…
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How to Navigate the October Slump in Your First Year
If you know me, you know October is my favorite month of they year: the State Fair, Dallas Stars Hockey, Halloween, my birthday…However, October is also the time of the school year when things start to go a little off the rails especially for first year teachers. Time to pour…
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Keeping Pace By Mastering Classroom Time
Pacing is a skill that can take time to refine. In this post, we’ll explore how one of the simplest tools—the timer—can become your most powerful ally in managing lesson flow. I have my cuppa ready. Why Timers are a Teacher’s Best Friend One of the most common issues I’ve…
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From Overwhelmed to Empowered
Although my work involves supporting new teachers primarily, some of the ideas I am sharing in this post about getting the most out of required Professional Development may be helpful to experienced educators. I will be referencing Malcolm Knowles’ Adult Learning Theory, George Siemens’ Connectivism Theory, and the Learning Forward…
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The Hero’s First Steps: A Survival Guide to August & September
As your Fairy Tea Mother, I plan to continue discussing the Phases of a First Year Teacher compared to the Hero’s Journey. I will post at the beginning of each phase throughout the year. In between will be regular posts about other topics. The tea is ready, so let’s start…
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The Teacher’s Quest: Charting A Course for the Adventure of the First Year
School is back for many people, and as someone who supports new teachers, it is important to me that they understand what is in store for them this year. One of the best things I ever came across is “Phases of First-Year Teaching” by Ellen Moir of the New Teacher…
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Welcome to The OWL’s Perch: My New Community for Educator Mentorship
In my last post, I shared the journey of my Google Innovator project, a journey that began with a simple but powerful question: How might we invest in Gen Z educators to help them engage their Gen Alpha students? Today, I’m thrilled to introduce the answer I’ve been developing: The…
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Educational Cup of Tea | When a New Resource Sprouts Right In Front of You
For the first newsletter I sent out to teachers in 2024, I wanted to share information on Motivation to see how they could pump students back up for learning during the second semester. While clicking through many recommended videos, I came across Sprouts on YouTube. I found this video fun…
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Educational Cup of Tea | Thinking About Presidents' Day
It’s Presidents’ Day! During my morning drive to work, I listened to my favorite morning radio show play a trivia game about U.S. Presidents. I enjoyed a few laughs and learned some new things. The trivia reminded me of a podcast series I love called Presidential. In this post, I’ll…
An Educational Cup of Tea 