As educators, it is easy to get wrapped up in the day- to- day, neverending, "to-do" list of lesson planning, photocopying, cleaning, organizing materials, creating new supplies and manipulatives, and e-mailing parents, community support individuals, and school staff.

How many of you have thought to yourselves, "Why do I write lesson plans? I know what I'm doing; I've been doing it for 20 years." "My mentor teacher doesn't write them." "My administrator never asks to see them." Whether you're a first year teacher, have been teaching for years, or are re-entering the teaching profession, writing lesson plans is an imperative element of su

Who dreads parent-teacher conferences more? I would be willing to bet that it is the parents..and not for the typical "I"m going to kill my son for doing that" reasons! Parents often feel that they are being graded moreso than their children. Time after time in monthly conferences with my families, I hear a frustration and panic of feeling ill equipped for this job that we cal

I had lunch recently with a lovely woman whom my family has known for many, many years. She is a retired elementary teacher who has never had children of her own, but considers herself a “grandmother” to my kids. With so much experience (over 35 years) in teaching, I value her insight as an educator. I love hearing her stories, as they are all usually inspiring and full of hope.

How many of you educators have hosted a beginning of the school year open house and received the question, What field-trips will the kids take this year?

For years and years, laughter has been thought to relieve stress and promote general well-being. It makes sense when we consider that the resolution of extreme stress can be the defeating syndrome of surrender or depression from anger and rage that is turned inward. On the other end of the spectrum of extreme stress, unresolved stress is rage -- anger turned outward, often unleashed wi

Barack Obama made history in June 2008, when he became the first African American to head a major party ticket in a presidential election. He edged out Sen. Hillary Clinton in the race for the Democratic presidential nomination after a long and often bitter primary season. He ran as the candidate of change and made hope the center of his campaign. He's to face Sen.

Whether it's your first day or 500th day as a substitute teacher, stepping into an unfamiliar classroom with kids whose names you don't yet know can be an unsettling feeling. The job of a substitute can seem like the perfect set up for stress that induces a little bit of "crazy."