The Responsive Classroom

The Responsive Classroom

Equipping Every Teacher to Reach Every Student

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  • 8 Questions to Bring Student Growth

    8 Questions to Bring Student Growth

    As you can probably guess, one of the main aspects of being a responsive educator is knowing your students, and then planning instruction accordingly – but what exactly does this mean? As I work with teachers, after we go through alignment (you can catch that on the next blog), the next question I ask is […]


    November 29, 2022
  • 3 Phases of a Crisis – Where are your teachers?

    3 Phases of a Crisis – Where are your teachers?

    So before I jump into the content of this blog, I want to acknowledge that teaching is hard right now. I, in no way, want to negate the difficulties that educators are facing. I do, however, think it’s important that we are always being reflective. The talk that I heard that led to this blog […]


    November 17, 2022
  • 6 Ways to Gain Academic Ground NOW!

    6 Ways to Gain Academic Ground NOW!

    It’s no secret that education, and so many of the sweet students in our education system have been seriously affected by the events of the past few years. While there was already a significant achievement gap for a number of our students, that gap has only widened since 2020. No matter your opinion of how […]


    October 6, 2022
  • The Responsive Mindset: 4 Ways the Classroom Environment Can Lower the Affective Filter

    The Responsive Mindset: 4 Ways the Classroom Environment Can Lower the Affective Filter

    In the last blog, we discussed how to create a responsive physical classroom environment that focuses on both cultural and academic features. If you missed that one, you can find it here. But what about the feeling of the classroom? What? Classrooms have feelings? Well, not exactly, but students certainly do. We all have an […]


    September 19, 2022
  • Responsive Teaching Mindset: Setting Up a Physical Classroom Environment for Learning

    Responsive Teaching Mindset: Setting Up a Physical Classroom Environment for Learning

    The year has started! Hopefully you (or your teachers) have already fallen in love with your students! I hope you have the kid that makes you laugh, and the kid that makes your heart bleed, and the kid that is trying to please you so badly. I’m sure you have the kid who is already […]


    September 7, 2022
  • Reteach or Refresh? 2 Strategies to “fill the gap” quickly!

    Reteach or Refresh? 2 Strategies to “fill the gap” quickly!

    As the 2022/2023 school year gets underway, the academic gaps that we know have been deepening over the past few years will begin to surface quickly. Out of the goodness of their hearts and their passion for teaching, many teachers will be tempted to want to reteach the entire last year! While I completely understand […]


    August 30, 2022
  • The Need for Teacher Clarity, and Why It’s Missing In So Many Classrooms…

    The Need for Teacher Clarity, and Why It’s Missing In So Many Classrooms…

    Like in all aspects in life, when there is a clear target to hit, we are much more apt to make progress. If you simply set out to “get healthier”, there is a much lesser chance that you will actually make sustainable progress than if you were to say, “I want to lose 10 pounds, […]


    July 16, 2022
  • 5 Ways Parents Can Keep Students on Track this Summer!

    5 Ways Parents Can Keep Students on Track this Summer!

    I originally wrote this blog during the COVID shut down, but the practices are absolutely true for summers as well! I know it’s hard to keep students engaged during summer, but it’s worth it! There are 5 things I want you to remember that will keep your students moving forward during this time: Read to […]


    June 13, 2022
  • What is a Responsive Classroom?

    What is a Responsive Classroom?

    And why is it so very important? As we are finishing up the 2022-2023 school year, and starting to think about the next school year, we can’t deny that this year was incredibly hard, for teachers and students alike. Did you feel like you were constantly putting out fires this year? As you are trying […]


    May 27, 2022
  • We are Changing Our Name to (……drumroll PLEASE!): The Responsive Classroom!

    We are Changing Our Name to (……drumroll PLEASE!): The Responsive Classroom!

    Right now, we are in the process (the very slow, tedious process) of shifting our name from Pressing Onward to The Responsive Classroom. I’m so excited about the change, and I know that the name is much more descriptive of what our passion is. When we were brainstorming the name change, the term ‘clarity’ came […]


    May 3, 2022
  • 6 Ways to Care for Teachers Now!

    6 Ways to Care for Teachers Now!

    As this year comes to a close, it’s a great time to leave a lasting impact on teachers. Let’s be honest – it’s been a heck of year. Many of them are tired, overwhelmed and not sure how they’re going to make it to the end of the year, much less start the next school […]


    April 11, 2022
  • BICS, CALP and STAAR? What?

    BICS, CALP and STAAR? What?

    If you are a teacher in the south, Spring Break is right around the corner, so I sincerely hope you get the rest and recharge you so desperately need and deserve! But with that being said, if you teach an assessed grade level and subject, the big fat elephant awaits you when you return from […]


    March 1, 2022
  • Three problems, and solutions, for Tackling TELPAS Calibration (Part II)

    Three problems, and solutions, for Tackling TELPAS Calibration (Part II)

    In the last blog, we talked about the importance and incredible impact the teachers’ understanding of the proficiency level descriptors can be towards students’ linguistic growth in the classroom. If you haven’t read that one, I encourage you to go back and read it, and if are in a position to work with teachers, share […]


    February 1, 2022
  • Tackling this Dreaded Time of Year…TELPAS! (Part I)

    Tackling this Dreaded Time of Year…TELPAS! (Part I)

    With everything else that is going on in the education world right now, TELPAS is probably the LAST thing you or your teachers are wanting to tackle in the month of February. But it’s here. And it’s actually really important. I want to take the next couple of blogs to talk through a few of […]


    January 25, 2022
  • 5 Things All Good Academic Coaches Should Know…

    5 Things All Good Academic Coaches Should Know…

    We all have our wheelhouses so to speak – that desire zone where you feel really comfortable.  For me, one of those areas is coaching. As instructional coaching is becoming a more widely accepted and needed practice in public education, we have to make sure that coaches know how to coach! Working with students is […]


    October 12, 2021
  • Have a T-A-C-O and get kids thinking!

    Have a T-A-C-O and get kids thinking!

    Teachers have the unique challenge of meeting kids at so many different levels! This strategy is one of the best ways to get students talking and thinking – and the best part is…it’s very little work on the part of the teacher! Try a T-A-C-O! TACO is the simple abbreviation I’ve given to an easy-to-implement […]


    September 7, 2021
  • To Refresh or Reteach? 2 Efficient Ways to “Fill the Gaps”

    To Refresh or Reteach? 2 Efficient Ways to “Fill the Gaps”

    As the 2021/2022 school year gets underway, the academic gaps that we have been so warned about will surely start to surface. Out of the goodness of their hearts and their passion for teaching, many teachers will be tempted to want to reteach the entire last year! While I completely understand where they are coming […]


    August 24, 2021
  • What Your Teachers Really Need: 6 Things to Consider Going into the 2021/2022 School Year…

    What Your Teachers Really Need: 6 Things to Consider Going into the 2021/2022 School Year…

    What your teachers really need: 6 things to consider going into the next school year…


    August 17, 2021
  • Our Purpose, Message and What We Believe…

    In a time when terms suddenly have multiple meanings (and at times, very emotionally charged meanings), we thought it important to be very clear and transparent on where myself and my team at Pressing Onward stand, and on the message that we are projecting. There are 1000 different fights that we could be apart of […]


    August 10, 2021
  • How Will You Lead Instructionally in 2021?

    How Will You Lead Instructionally in 2021?

    The school year is about to begin, and as you finalize schedules and teams and duties and all things logistical, I want to ask you -How will you lead instructionally? While the coming school year will look a whole lot differently than last year (I’m speaking it out there), there will still be a lot […]


    August 3, 2021
  • Welcome back, Administrators…

    Welcome back, Administrators…

    How are you feeling? Are you excited? Still tired? Anxious? Ready? The last year and a half have been unspeakably hard, and you weathered it. I sincerely hope that you took some time this summer – if only a week or two – to turn your brain off and rest! But now it’s time to […]


    July 26, 2021
  • My Son Killed it On State Assessments – Let Me Tell You Why…

    My Son Killed it On State Assessments – Let Me Tell You Why…

    Yep, that’s right. I’m going to brag for a minute. My 11-year old son, Tate, scored “Masters” on all 3 of the state assessments he took this past year – during the 2020/2021 school year. In Texas talk, that’s the highest level. That’s an improvement over his scores from the previous year! Now, as much […]


    June 29, 2021
  • 5 Ways to Re-Engage Long-Term ELs

    5 Ways to Re-Engage Long-Term ELs

    I was discouraged today. And bored.  I sat in an ELA classroom of 11th graders, and was bored.  So were the kids.  They weren’t challenged.  They didn’t learn.  They weren’t disruptive.  But they were bored.  They were on their phones.  They were sleeping.  They were copying.  But they weren’t learning. And then there was Jose.  He […]


    June 8, 2021
  • The Crucial Concepts of BICS and CALP

    The Crucial Concepts of BICS and CALP

    If your district is blessed with a lot of English Learners, then you are probably more than familiar with BICS and CALP, but if not, I encourage you to keep reading! There are two basic types of language that teachers need to be familiar with – social and academic, or BICS and CALP. BICS stands […]


    June 1, 2021
  • The Plan (to start now)for Engaging Parents (next year)…

    The Plan (to start now)for Engaging Parents (next year)…

    First of all, take a deep breath. You are either finished with students for this school year, or you are probably finishing in the next week or two. You deserve a pat on the back, a drink of your choice, and probably a nap. You fought for your teachers and your students. You balanced academics […]


    May 25, 2021
  • The Power of an Alliance: Equity in Personal Regard

    The Power of an Alliance: Equity in Personal Regard

    How do we become culturally responsive as a teacher? For the past two articles, we’ve been diving into building alliances, specifically using the TESA interactions put together by the Los Angeles County Office of Education. Building alliances is a key foundational component, and in my opinion, the first step towards becoming culturally responsive. There’s no […]


    May 18, 2021
  • The Power of an Alliance: Equity in Feedback

    The Power of an Alliance: Equity in Feedback

    This week, we are going to continue our discussion on building alliances. One definition of an alliance that I really love from dictionary.com definition is “a merging of efforts or interests by persons, families, states, or organizations.” I think that beautifully describes what we want to accomplish between teachers and students and teachers and their […]


    May 11, 2021
  • The Power of Alliances: Equity in Responses

    The Power of Alliances: Equity in Responses

    How do you feel when you know that you and your boss are on the same team, working towards to the same goal? Are you inspired? Do you work harder? Do you push through even when you’re tired or worn down? Do you stay positive, even when the work is difficult? Do you give grace? […]


    May 4, 2021
  • 4 Steps for Creating Independent Learners

    4 Steps for Creating Independent Learners

    4 Steps from Creating Independent Learners through Culturally Responsive Teaching.


    April 27, 2021
  • Cultural Competency, Culturally Responsive Teaching and Equity, Oh My!

    Cultural Competency, Culturally Responsive Teaching and Equity, Oh My!

    Bringing Clarity to the 2021 “Buzz Words” As we are moving into the planning phases of the 2021/2022 school year, cultural competency, culturally responsive teaching, and equity have all been “buzzwords” floating around. While each of these concepts is extremely important, the question remains: What do each of these mean? I wanted to take a […]


    April 20, 2021
  • Re-Engaging Strategies #3: Connecting to Students

    Re-Engaging Strategies #3: Connecting to Students

    Another week closer to summer, and another week less with your students! We’ve been talking about ways to finish the year strong by re-engaging your students. The first blog was entitled Get Movin! and the second blog was entitled Connecting to Relevancy in Content! Please check those out if you haven’t had a chance to! […]


    April 13, 2021
  • Re-Engaging Strategies: #2 – Reconnecting to RELEVANCY!

    Re-Engaging Strategies: #2 – Reconnecting to RELEVANCY!

    We are another week closer to summer, but again, there is still quite a bit of school left! If you’re finding yourself or your students shutting down, don’t give up! Although there may need to be a shift in focus, you can do this! In the last blog, we talked about the first strategy of […]


    April 8, 2021
  • Re-Engaging Strategies: #1 – Get Movin!

    Re-Engaging Strategies: #1 – Get Movin!

    You are on the downhill slide of the 2020-2021 school year, and it has been exhausting! Unfortunately (or fortunately – depending on how you look at it), you still have a few weeks to go! This is a very pivotal time in the school year. You have two ways to finish the year up: weak […]


    March 30, 2021
  • Questions for Self-Reflection: Thriving through the End of the Year

    Questions for Self-Reflection: Thriving through the End of the Year

    Now is the time, historically, when teachers and students rightfully so start the “end of the year” struggle – now add in the 2020-2021 school year chaos. The problem is that there is still quite a bit of the school year left. The blog is going to look a little different this week, because there’s […]


    March 23, 2021
  • It’s 3rd Quarter! How do we finish out the School Year Strong?

    It’s 3rd Quarter! How do we finish out the School Year Strong?

    Re-Engage and Re-Connect Ya’ll – this time of year is STRESSFUL. You are tired.  The students are tired.  You are feeling pressure of the state assessment- whether there is a accountability attached to it or not.  Your students are feeling the pressure.  If your district is like my son’s district and the last 3 I […]


    March 16, 2021
  • 7 Ways to Take Care of Teachers: Ideas from Our Admin Symposium

    7 Ways to Take Care of Teachers: Ideas from Our Admin Symposium

    The more I work with schools and school districts, the more I’ve realized how isolating it can be to be a campus administrator. The weight of implementing initiatives and taking care of staff and students is great, and sometimes there’s not a whole lot of support in the background. I also realized how many great […]


    March 9, 2021
  • My Story. My Passion.

    My Story. My Passion.

    I was recently challenged to figure out my story…not what I do, or what Pressing Onward does, or even what problem we are trying to solve, but why I am so passionate about that problem – and then put it into words. Sometimes I don’t feel equipped to have to have the conversations I’m having. […]


    March 2, 2021
  • I Mean…We Literally Just Had a Blizzard in Texas (and you want me to teach what?)

    I Mean…We Literally Just Had a Blizzard in Texas (and you want me to teach what?)

    As if you weren’t already stressed and overwhelmed enough, we just had a week of weather (in Texas and Oklahoma, and I know across the country) that left many people without water, power, and food. This morning was trash pick up day in my neighborhood, and the streets were littered with sheetrock, flooring, ruined appliances, […]


    February 23, 2021
  • Why I am FOR State Assessments This Year – (Hear Me Out, Teachers)

    Why I am FOR State Assessments This Year – (Hear Me Out, Teachers)

    When I first started teaching almost 20 years ago, I taught Special Ed. This was before STAAR, and we gave our students the SDAA test. Now, I’m going to preface this with the understanding that I really had no idea what I was doing instructionally at this time. I had 6th-8th grade levels all in […]


    February 17, 2021
  • How Will Your Students Look Back on This School Year?

    How Will Your Students Look Back on This School Year?

    Have you ever walked into a place – any place – and thought, “The people here really love their job!”? We were on vacation last year in Colorado, and we went in this pizza place. The guy standing out the counter calling out our name to let us know our food was ready was doing […]


    February 9, 2021
  • 4 Ways to Create Language-Rich Environments (Over Zoom)

    4 Ways to Create Language-Rich Environments (Over Zoom)

    A lack of language is one of the main hurdles the students we are targeting with culturally responsive have to face. Be it a lack of the English language (academic or social) as an English Learner, or a lack of vocabulary as a student living in generational poverty often experiences, this lack of language, and […]


    January 26, 2021
  • Filling the Gaps for Virtual to Face-to-Face Students

    Filling the Gaps for Virtual to Face-to-Face Students

    So without putting blame, pointing fingers, or feeling bad about yourself in any way, shape or form, data and experience is revealing pretty clearly that virtual learning (at least virtual learning planned in a matter of months or weeks -for some, days even) is not best practice for the majority of students -especially those who […]


    January 19, 2021
  • 5 Reasons to be a PROACTIVE Culturally Responsive Campus moving into 2021

    5 Reasons to be a PROACTIVE Culturally Responsive Campus moving into 2021

    Most of us started out 2020 with a lot goals. Having “2020 Vision” seemed to be a very popular theme, and we felt ready to take on the world. And then March hit. And 2020 became a year of reactivity instead of proactivity. Many of you within the education world barely kept your head above […]


    January 5, 2021
  • 4 Discussion Topics for Connection – and 2 to Avoid!

    4 Discussion Topics for Connection – and 2 to Avoid!

    I know that many of you hardworking, dedicated teachers will start thinking about your lessons towards the end of the week. Your brains will start turning again, your creativity will start to flow, and you’ll start thinking about how you can adapt lessons for virtual or face-to-face. You’ll be prepared. You’ll be ready. Because you’re […]


    December 29, 2020
  • Peace and Joy? Even Now?

    Peace and Joy? Even Now?

    Last year, I hit an adult milestone that I’ve been striving for for many years – two Christmas trees. A “Family” tree and a “Pretty” tree. I don’t know why this was such a goal, but it was, and it was achieved. (Small celebration here). So as I sit in my home office, where my […]


    December 22, 2020
  • 5 Things You NEED To Be Ready for 2021

    5 Things You NEED To Be Ready for 2021

    Most of you are in your last week of school before a much-deserved winter break. Many teachers claim that this week is one of their favorite weeks of the year, and I hope that you are able to find joy and holiday connection in this week, regardless of if you are virtual or face-to-face. But […]


    December 15, 2020
  • “How Can I Support You?” and other things I’ve learned this week…

    “How Can I Support You?” and other things I’ve learned this week…

    I have a podcast for a totally selfish reason – I get to pick the brains of administrators for 30 minutes straight. I get to hear, from their birdseye view of a campus, what the needs, wants, fears, inspirations, and successes are. I get to hear strategies, experiences, and and stories of students and teachers […]


    December 8, 2020
  • My 10 year old son had a root canal yesterday…

    My 10 year old son had a root canal yesterday…

    The photo above was his “before pic”. Here is his “immediately after” pic. I lost sleep over it. I had anxiety over it. I had everyone praying for him. I’ve never even had a cavity that I can remember, so my concerns were coming from other peoples’ horror stories. Clearly, from the picture at the […]


    December 1, 2020
  • Thank YOU for what you are really giving to students!

    Thank YOU for what you are really giving to students!

    This year.  What a year.  I know that phrase is getting a little cliché, but it really has been a year like none other.  Educators have been asked to go on the front lines for students like they’ve never been asked to do.  I’ve spoken to countless educators with health problems of their own, battling […]


    November 24, 2020
  • Scarcity Vs Abundance Mindset: Where are you?

    Scarcity Vs Abundance Mindset: Where are you?

    I was recently reading one of Michael Hyatt’s books when I was really hit in the face with this chart. Now, this is a mindset, meaning it seeps into all areas of our lives. I had to take a self inventory of each main part of my life and see where my mindset was resting. […]


    November 17, 2020
  • 3 Ways to Find Gratefulness in the Struggle

    3 Ways to Find Gratefulness in the Struggle

    I just got back from a run. It was hard today. If you run (or work out) regularly, you know that some days are just harder than others. I also did a pretty hard leg workout yesterday, so I felt like my legs were carrying an extra 10 pounds each. And it was pretty hot […]


    November 10, 2020
  • Which Teacher Are You in 2020?

    Which Teacher Are You in 2020?

    Let me give you two scenarios that I heard this past week in coaching: Coaching Meeting with Teacher A: Me: How’s it going? Teacher A: Great! I mean, I don’t really know what I’m doing, but my lessons are really planned out for me. I just spend my time on the phone with kids. I […]


    November 3, 2020
  • 5 Ways to Manage Expectations While Teaching in 2020

    5 Ways to Manage Expectations While Teaching in 2020

    The needs have changed for many. Therefore, the expectations have to change. Here are a few things to remember if you are teaching children in any capacity during 2020. This isn’t your students’ only year of school. Next year will come. More learning will happen. Yes, there will be a residual effect of 2020 for […]


    October 27, 2020
  • Impact vs Intent: What Message are They Receiving?

    Impact vs Intent: What Message are They Receiving?

    I learned a lot of valuable lessons while working with Dr. Shauna Sobers on our Cultural Competence in the Classroom course, but one of the principles that has stuck with me the most is the principle of impact vs intent. I think there is a misconception that people who hurt other people with their words […]


    October 20, 2020
  • Back to the Basics: Loving in Chaos

    Back to the Basics: Loving in Chaos

    This week in our life group at church, we were introduced to the 5 Love Language Quiz for children! I had taken the quiz many years ago for adults (My top 2 are Acts of Service and Quality Time – if you’re wondering), but I hadn’t thought to give it to Tate. What a great […]


    October 13, 2020
  • 4 Engagement Ideas I Heard This Morning…

    4 Engagement Ideas I Heard This Morning…

    In true COVID-19 style, our garage is currently turned into my husband’s studio so he can host “huddles” with students all day through his company, which raises funds for schools. While normally, his team would be on a campus hosting these motivational “huddles” in person, his team is currently furloughed and he’s doing the work […]


    October 6, 2020
  • Teacher Clarity for Student Success: Building Connections

    Teacher Clarity for Student Success: Building Connections

    One of the most challenging pieces that I continue to hear from teachers is that they are having trouble connecting to students in the midst of virtual learning and social distancing.  We know how important it is to give a student a smile, hug, high five, hand shake or pat on the back, and we […]


    September 29, 2020
  • Differentiation in Virtual and Socially Distanced Classrooms

    Differentiation in Virtual and Socially Distanced Classrooms

    We’re back! Unfortunately, we know that as hard as you are working, the way the education system is set up right now is not the best fit for many of our students. Now, more than ever, intentional differentiation is needed – and of course it’s at a time when your plates are already super full! […]


    September 22, 2020
  • Cooperative Learning Amidst Virtual Learning and Social Distancing

    Cooperative Learning Amidst Virtual Learning and Social Distancing

    Hi friends. Talk about a learning curve. Every day seems to be a new challenge for teachers, administrators and students…and parents for that matter. I know there must be a cloud of frustration hanging over your head as a teacher…knowing that you could do so much more with your students if there weren’t so many […]


    September 15, 2020
  • No One was Born an Expert…

    No One was Born an Expert…

    Hi friends, Today was the first day (again) of my son’s 5th grade year. In a way, I felt like I was sending him to kindergarten again. We’ve been together for oh so many days and weeks and months that I had a little twinge when as he walked to school. I’ll admit it was […]


    September 8, 2020
  • What’s Missing In Virtual Learning: 8 Ways to Build an Alliance Even Now

    What’s Missing In Virtual Learning: 8 Ways to Build an Alliance Even Now

    Most of us are 1-3 weeks into virtual or hybrid learning.  It’s tough.  I’m not going to lie.  I’ve written in some of my previous blogs about the positive aspects: more time with Tate, walking him through becoming an independent learner, seeing the way he learns, helping him navigate the responsibility of a schedule…but it’s […]


    September 1, 2020
  • Shifting the Goals of Virtual Learning: Let’s Set Us All Up for Success

    Shifting the Goals of Virtual Learning: Let’s Set Us All Up for Success

    Unmet Expectations = Frustration, Impatience and Shut-Down Hi friends.  “First of all, let’s all take a deep breath.” That’s the way one of the 50 emails that I got from my son’s principal this past week started.  Today is actually Tate’s 10th day of virtual learning.  It’s not easy. For anyone. He’s very energetic. Very […]


    August 26, 2020
  • 3 Suggestions for Online Instruction – and FREE Activities!

    3 Suggestions for Online Instruction – and FREE Activities!

    Here we go! Most of us have started school or are starting this week! Technology may or may not work. Kids may or may not stay focused. They may or may not get resources. They may or may not have help at home. It may or may not work. But we will persevere – parents, […]


    August 18, 2020
  • This Just Might Work…

    This Just Might Work…

    This whole school thing just might work… So, I’ve decided that my 5th grader is going to have a good school year this year – no matter what that looks like. If he’s home, we will have the opportunity to go on more family adventures, see the learning as it is happening, and have a […]


    August 12, 2020
  • Why Does My Family’s Decision Make Your Family’s Decision WRONG?

    Why Does My Family’s Decision Make Your Family’s Decision WRONG?

    I read a post yesterday on social media that really upset me.  I know – why am I reading posts on social media right now? Who knows, but I did.  The part that upset me was not that people have different opinions than me or are making different decisions in the midst of this COVID […]


    August 4, 2020
  • 10 Questions to Hearing Student VOICE

    10 Questions to Hearing Student VOICE

    Have you ever been in a conversation in which you really felt heard? People listened to your opinion, asked questions, and validated your response. They made agreement statements, and asked clarifying questions, and maybe even complimented you on your perspective or knowledge. How did that make you feel? I love this situation. Especially when when […]


    July 21, 2020
  • What Do You Do With A Problem? – and Lord knows we’ve got em’…

    What Do You Do With A Problem? – and Lord knows we’ve got em’…

    After scrolling through social media for a little while on Sunday and realizing the effect it had on my anxiety, I decided yesterday to hop on a FB Live and share one of my favorite resources. I decided it couldn’t hurt to talk through it here too, because I think so many of us are […]


    July 14, 2020
  • Awareness, Understanding, Respect

    Awareness, Understanding, Respect

    So it has been a minute since I’ve put my thoughts down in writing. Like most of you, I have felt that I almost had so many thoughts I was having trouble organizing them. But we have to start somewhere. When the race conversations sky rocketed to the front of everyone’s mind, my first thought […]


    July 7, 2020
  • To Teachers, Friends, Admin, and Most Importantly…My Students…

    To Teachers, Friends, Admin, and Most Importantly…My Students…

    A letter from a middle school teacher in Texas I don’t think I will ever forget leaving for spring break this school year‒confident we would return to our classroom a week later (because that’s what we always do) and continue our middle school journey together. However, the news coverage of the Coronavirus indicated that it […]


    May 26, 2020
  • Let’s Talk Through this Professional Development Problem Right Now…

    Let’s Talk Through this Professional Development Problem Right Now…

    What makes professional development meaningful? From a teachers’ point of view? From an administrator’s point of view? From a consultant’s point of view? We all know that being a life-long learner is imperative if we want to continue to grow in any area of life.  Spiritually, professionally and personally. In fact, in Brendan Burchard’s research […]


    May 19, 2020
  • 3 Ways to Prepare NOW for Your Students Coming Later

    3 Ways to Prepare NOW for Your Students Coming Later

    It’s hard to believe this school year is coming to a close. It seems so anti-climactic on one hand, and yet we’re all so exhausted on the other. So before we jump into the meat of the blog, let me say this: Finish strong. Get rest. Invest in yourself. And then be ready! Because (hopefully) […]


    May 12, 2020
  • “But Aren’t the Flowers Pretty?”

    “But Aren’t the Flowers Pretty?”

    My husband’s sweet Grandma passed away last week.  She had been sick with pneumonia, but was seemingly on her way to recovery, but then quickly took a downhill turn last Thursday, where I have no doubt that angels came and personally delivered her to God.  She was a precious woman, and impacted so many. She […]


    May 6, 2020
  • 4 Ways to Engage Students Remotely

    4 Ways to Engage Students Remotely

    Image: Mixetto/Getty Images Invariably, if your students are like my kid, the novelty of digital learning has worn off, and there is no longer a lot of interest in the video chats. Unfortuneatly, we still have about a month of “school” left! While now is the typical time we start losing kids when we are […]


    April 28, 2020
  • An Important Message to Parents AND Teachers…plus 5 Tips for Online Learning

    An Important Message to Parents AND Teachers…plus 5 Tips for Online Learning

    So let’s face it…online teaching and learning is hard…for everyone.  I think we can agree that most of us are doing our best.  Teachers are doing their best to get relevant content to the student in manageable ways, parents are doing their best to manage life right now and keep their kids motivated, engaged and […]


    April 21, 2020
  • Your Gift of Time during COVID-19: 3 Ways to Make It Count

    Your Gift of Time during COVID-19: 3 Ways to Make It Count

    What are you doing with your gift of time? We have all been forced to stop – whether you are still working, or teaching your kids at home, or working overtime, there are still probably going to be gaps in your time. With no church, restaurants, clubs, sports, parties, etc…you’re bound to have a little […]


    April 14, 2020
  • First 3 Steps to MOVING FORWARD: Turning your passion into profits

    First 3 Steps to MOVING FORWARD: Turning your passion into profits

    If you could do any hobby or passion, and make enough money to live on, what would it be? Do you have a solution to a problem? Do you have a way to make peoples’ lives better, easier or more effective in their craft? We are given a very rare opportunity (probably one we will […]


    April 7, 2020
  • 6 Key Things to remember that will move your kids forward academically…

    6 Key Things to remember that will move your kids forward academically…

    …even if you don’t know what you’re doing! Being a teacher is hard. Being a parent is hard. Being an automatic “home-school” parent while trying to figure out the technology and assignments from the teacher is even harder – especially if you are working from home, maybe even still working outside of the home, or […]


    March 31, 2020
  • How You Can Actually FILL Gaps in your students’ learning…Right NOW!

    How You Can Actually FILL Gaps in your students’ learning…Right NOW!

    It’s hard to know what to say during these times, except to share my own thoughts. And to stay true to culturally responsive teaching (because that is my deep help beliefs), I just wanted to throw out a couple of thoughts now, especially when it comes to the new way of learning for students. There […]


    March 24, 2020
  • Ways to still be a culturally responsive teacher…from a distance

    Ways to still be a culturally responsive teacher…from a distance

    I’m not sure any of us saw this coming.  We were trucking a long, focused on STAAR or state assessments, and then BAM!  Random virus pandemic and every thing changes.  Everything. So if you were anything like me, you froze for minute, gave yourself a little time to process, and then pivoted. We need to […]


    March 17, 2020
  • BICS, CALP and STAAR? What?

    BICS, CALP and STAAR? What?

    If you are a teacher in the south, inevitably you are either on Spring Break, or you are headed to Spring Break next week (YAY!), so I sincerely hope you get the rest and recharge you so desperately need and deserve! But with that being said, if you teach an assessed grade level and subject, […]


    March 10, 2020
  • It’s 3rd Quarter! How do we finish out the School Year Strong?

    It’s 3rd Quarter! How do we finish out the School Year Strong?

    Re-Engage and Re-Connect Ya’ll – this time of year is STRESSFUL. You are tired.  The students are tired.  You are feeling pressure of the state assessment.  Your students are feeling the pressure.  If your district is like my son’s district and the last 3 I worked for, your students already have a pretty solid understanding […]


    March 3, 2020
  • Writing – To Think…or Not to Think…

    Writing – To Think…or Not to Think…

    Writing is power for me.  It is literally the pathway to my best thoughts. I’ve been recently recording some videos for a mini-training we are launching on state assessments (coming in March!- shameless plug). I typically write out a script to the trainings, and then chunk it down and record it bits at a time, […]


    February 25, 2020
  • The ART and PAIN of writing…and why the struggle is so real…

    The ART and PAIN of writing…and why the struggle is so real…

    I had a realization while working in some middle schools in South Texas recently. I was working with several writing teachers, and I kept hearing the same things: “The kids are not developing their ideas”, “The kids are not able to state a claim and back it up with reasons,” “The students aren’t able to […]


    February 18, 2020
  • “Scaffolding Isn’t Spoon-feeding”

    “Scaffolding Isn’t Spoon-feeding”

    I would venture to say that one of the biggest “misnomers”’ of culturally responsive teaching is that it is solely, or even mostly, built on understanding different cultures and building relationships, and that it has little to do with instruction. This couldn’t be further from the truth, which is one of the reasons why I […]


    February 11, 2020
  • My lessons from working with my friend, Jacob, and others like him…

    My lessons from working with my friend, Jacob, and others like him…

    When I met Jacob Chastain, he was a middle school ELA teacher at a Title 1 school. He was eccentric, and clearly brilliant, and he loved his job. He was a high level thinker all the time. He asked great questions of his students, and expected great things from them.  The problem was not all […]


    February 4, 2020
  • A few ways to reach Long-Term ELs…

    A few ways to reach Long-Term ELs…

    As we continue to look at our targeted students in culturally responsive teaching, we have to look at a population where the gap is growing significantly – our Long Term English Learners. These are the students who have been in the US longer than 6 years, but haven’t exited the EL program, and there are […]


    January 28, 2020
  • Listening to Dr. King as He Listened to Others…

    Listening to Dr. King as He Listened to Others…

    I was recently asked to write a chapter on the importance of communication in leadership for a book on leadership and entrepreneurship…this was quite comical to me because at this time in my life, I do not consider myself a great leader and certainly not a great communicator within leadership – I’m a doer, and […]


    January 22, 2020
  • The Beauty and Struggle of Newcomers: 4 Things to Remember

    The Beauty and Struggle of Newcomers: 4 Things to Remember

    I love newcomers.  If you ever have the opportunity to work with them, you will too. But they will probably stress you out first. These are the students that teachers who are not newcomer teachers lose the most sleep over when these kids first arrive in their classroom.  These are the sweet kids who often […]


    January 14, 2020
  • Building Language = Building Learning

    Building Language =  Building Learning

    Who are our students? In jumping back into culturally responsive teaching, I want to continue our conversation on who our targeted students are.  Before the holidays, we touched on our students of poverty, and how their brains are wired a little different for learning. I want to move into our English Learners. The topic of […]


    January 7, 2020
  • Make my life easier? Yes, Please!

    Make my life easier? Yes, Please!

    4 Steps to Building Autonomy in your Students. What is autonomy?  I found a few definitions that I really like. Merriam Webster gives one definition as a “self-governing state.” Another definition described autonomy as “the capacity to make an informed, uncoerced decision”. When I think of being autonomous, and the importance that autonomy has on […]


    December 17, 2019
  • Learned VS Hardwired Traits, and Why it Matters…

    Learned VS Hardwired Traits, and Why it Matters…

    Today I was driving to a school.  The school is in a high poverty rural school located on a country highway – a fairly busy road.  It was 35 degrees.  On the other side of the road, I passed two kids, probably 10 and 12, or around there.  Neither had coats.  Walking to school. Late. […]


    December 11, 2019
  • 4 Steps to Meeting the Needs of Students in Poverty

    4 Steps to Meeting the Needs of Students in Poverty

    I spent last week laughing with friends with family, stuffing my face until I couldn’t eat anymore, buying Christmas presents and sending over lists, and relaxing by the fire at the end of the day. But how many of our students did not have that kind of a week? Over the next few weeks, we […]


    December 3, 2019
  • Because of Tate, I am Thankful…

    Because of Tate, I am Thankful…

    Ah – the week of Thanksgiving.  I definitely try to live with a grateful heart all of the time, but Thanksgiving definitely makes me a little more intentional about thinking about the blessings that may not be in the spotlight all of the time. After Tate’s kindergarten year, I became very intentional about praying for […]


    November 27, 2019
  • 4 Steps to Influence the Underperformer – Part II

    4 Steps to Influence the Underperformer – Part II

    As we move into the depth of November, colder temperatures, the promise of Thanksgiving, boredom in school, and burn out in teachers, these are leading to some pretty ineffective classrooms.  Many students have absolutely shut down.  As I continue to work with these really good, but really tired teachers, I’m reminded of this podcast and […]


    November 13, 2019
  • A few laughs and a little inspiration…

    A few laughs and a little inspiration…

    Teachers are awesome. We just wanted to take a minute and appreciate what you guys do…and also maybe give you a little laugh. Sometimes you have to find humor in things to make it through the next day. Teaching seems to be harder now than ever before, but you guys are rock stars. Please enjoy […]


    November 8, 2019
  • You’re so TIRED…so fix a T-A-C-O and Make It Easy!

    You’re so TIRED…so fix a T-A-C-O and Make It Easy!

    Hi!  We are taking slight break from talking about independent and dependent learners because there is a more pressing issue happening right now: TEACHERS ARE TIRED. And overwhelmed. And understandably ready for a break. I’ve had the privilege of working in several schools lately, and this seems to be a very prevalent feeling going around.  […]


    November 5, 2019
  • 5 Skills I use as an Independent Learner – and how these can be transferred to students

    5 Skills I use as an Independent Learner – and how these can be transferred to students

    I’ve been thinking A LOT about independent learners, and this week, I’ve really been focusing on how I’ve seen independent learning benefit my personal life.  Whenever I try to really dissect a new skill that I want to teach, it’s helpful for me to connect it to myself and my own learning. So I’ve been […]


    October 29, 2019
  • 5 Ideas for Creating Independent Learners

    5 Ideas for Creating Independent Learners

    The name of my book is Building a Bridge from “I Can’t” to “I DID!”, which if we think about it in terms of the classroom, the theme is pretty evident.  However, what does this actually mean?  How do we move students to success?  How do we actually build that bridge? Well, the subtitle of […]


    October 23, 2019
  • Individualist Vs Collectivist…what does that even mean and is it important?

    Individualist Vs Collectivist…what does that even mean and is it important?

    YES! Here is a section from my book, Building a Bridge from “I Can’t” to “I DID!”. “It is what it is.” Traffic, other peoples’ actions, the weather, the way dinner comes out of the oven sometimes. Using this phrase is appropriate to many situations we encounter in life to help us accept the things […]


    October 16, 2019
  • WHY Culturally Responsive Teaching and WHY we are hurting our students if we are not aware…

    WHY Culturally Responsive Teaching and WHY we are hurting our students if we are not aware…

    Culturally Responsive teaching is starting to become a more prevalent conversation in the world of education.  Although I think it is often misunderstood as a relationship building or classroom management idea, it is absolutely about moving our students, no matter their background, ethnicity, socio-economic status, or language proficiency level to be their absolute best.  It […]


    October 10, 2019