1. First you have to join.



Obviously, joining Twitter is the first step towards expanding your personal/professional learning network (PLN). What’s not so obvious, however, is that “how” you start is also important. Don’t be an egg. Put a picture in your profile. Avatars are fine, but educators like to see the actual person they might follow, so take a deep breath and choose a picture you like. Tell us a little bit about yourself in your profile. Who are you? What are your passions?… Continue

This is a guest blog by veteran educator, Deborah Wooleyhand.



I was recently asked to cover a class at a local elementary school during state testing. The teacher I substituted for was administering the assessment to a student with one/one accommodations. I quickly agreed. How hard could it be? I was a kindergarten teacher for 18 years, so covering a class for a few hours would be no problem.



I have been out of the classroom for 13 years. I forgot how children like to push… Continue

President Barack Obama recently announced a new initiative called Race to the Top-Equity and Opportunity. The aims of the program are admirable. The President wants to support states and districts in identifying and closing educational opportunity and achievement gaps (http://www.ed.gov/racetothetop-equity-opportunity). The President, like many politicians and educators, recognizes that we need to do more to ensure that all… Continue

The month of March signals the beginning of testing season for Maryland elementary schools. It’s an annual rite of passage that takes time away from instruction, disrupts the regular schedule, brings children to tears, and produces a general fog of stress to schools across the state. The schedule for testing in our school looks like this:



MSA Reading and Math Grades 3rd-5th March 4-18

MSA Science Grade 5th March 24-April 4

PARCC Field Test (PBA) One 4th grade class March… Continue