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What matters in the end? Identity.

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The diversity represented at this social justice march in Grand Rapids this spring reminds me of the diverse and beautiful experiences of this year.   This is the end. And, yet, it's only the beginning! We celebrate the end of our formal years of schooling with a ceremony that is synonymous with beginnings, and I have come to the end, or rather, the commencement of having served as 2016-2017 Michigan Teacher of the Year. After 15 school visits, 27 speeches or presentations given, 57 professional learning opportunities that I either facilitated or participated in, more than 90 meetings with fellow educators, or others interested in education throughout the state and across the country, as well as learning from students about how they learn best through the National Board Certification process, I've probably learned as much in the past 12 months as I have in the past 12 years! I now reflect on the learning experiences that have helped me grow and think about how I will a...
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Play Piques Curiosity in Students & Educators From Detroit to Dallas

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A teacher is naturally going to be curious when students are lying under a table on a classroom floor. I noticed a couple of preschoolers doing just that, so I investigated. I discovered they were creating masterpieces like Michelangelo; instead of using paint on the plaster ceiling of the Sistine Chapel, their medium... water markers on chart paper taped to the underside of a table. These under-the-table artists are students at the Wayne State University Early Childhood Center (WSUECC) where royal scientists were also in attendance. I met the head queen scientist who declared that everyone there was a king, queen, or princess. They discussed the best way to wash dishes and the importance of brushing our teeth.  In addition to exploring various identities through creative play, students imagined the experiences of the characters in the book  Bubble Gum, Bubble Gum  by Michigan author, Lisa Wheeler. Kelisa Wing, Department of Defense Education Activities' Teacher of th...
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A Typical Day Unlike Any Other

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Walking by Mr. Glass' classroom, you probably wouldn't take notice of much at first glance. Kids at desks. Teacher asking questions. LINKS mentors share reflections. If you were to slow down to observe more closely, you might be intrigued by the posters covering the walls. You would notice pictures of students smiling and laughing . . . happy to be at Hudsonville High School. Words like "family" stand out and cue you in to the bond between the students in the photos. Staying in Mr. Glass' classroom long enough, you'd hear a student's voice from the podium at the front of the room: "We're different; yet, the same." Mr. Glass asks one of a few questions of each student who takes a turn at the podium:  What did you learn about yourself?  How will this experience help you in the future?  What have you learned about the students you've worked with? The students' responses to Mr. Glass's questions are anything but typical...
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Teachers as Learners in Kenowa Hills

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Teacher: Annie, what's the chemical formula for water? Annie: H I J K L M N O. Teacher: What are you talking about? Annie: Didn't you say it's H to O? This joke reminds me of an exchange that took place at a well-child visit for my three-year-old son. The doctor asked him to count “one to ten.” My son answered, “One, ten.” Naturally, my job was to better explain the doctor’s expectation. The thinking in my son’s mind should match the thinking in my mind and what I assumed was in our doctor’s mind. This simple task should have one right answer.  As I was about to explain what the doctor was  really  asking my son to do, Doc said, “That’s the best answer.” This gave me pause. Was it really the “best” answer? That could be argued I’m sure; nonetheless, the answer was not wrong. If it wasn’t wrong I suppose it didn’t stand for being corrected. It was simply different; certainly more efficient. I laughed it off. I thought it was cute and funny and  when we get ...
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Consider Kids' Food Basket

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"I love sack supper because it gives me more energy for school." -Eric I am inspired by the work of Kids' Food Basket! Engaging West Michigan community members of all ages in opportunities to share their time, talents and resources is a sustainable, inclusive way to combat childhood hunger founded by Mary K. Hoodhood––recipient of the Governor George Romney Lifetime Achievement Award for Volunteerism. Adding personal touches such as uplifting messages or artwork to paper bags, packing the bags with what will serve as an evening meal, or delivering sack suppers with care are simple, meaningful ways to nourish the body, minds and souls of young people. Check out the link above if you're interested in learning more about how you might support this organization that serves 40 schools, 7250 children and engages 240 volunteers daily. Thank you, Michigan State Board of Ed. members for decorating bags!
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Ganiard Gators' Guide to Continuous Improvement

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When I first walked in,  Mrs. Pietranttonio, also known as Mrs. "Peach," and her third graders were getting ready to perform the Tablecloth Trick to explore Sir Isaac Newton's First Law of Motion. Not only were they focused on the "what" of science, they were also learning how to think and act like scientists. The students valued the opportunity to experiment, and they believed that everyone should be included in the experience. Right after they met me, they shouted, "You should try it!" I was a little nervous as I approached the table, but the third graders' excitement was contagious. I couldn't pass up the opportunity to experiment alongside them.  Mrs. Peach smiled and coached me on how to successfully pull the tablecloth out from under the dishes (and the water contained within those dishes). The kids chanted, "You can dooo it! You can dooo it!" It brings a smile to my face as I recall this moment. Thanks to all of the supp...
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Being Awesome; One Day at a Time.

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"I scream. You scream. We all scream for the Big Red team!"  Coach & her kindergartners cheering on a classmate. Most people probably remember screaming for ice cream, but our Union High School cheerleading team incorporated our own version of the 1920's ditty into the cheer that helped us reach the top ten at the State Finals about 70 years after the song was written. Investing our energy into creating and performing something together, and experiencing a positive outcome as a result of our shared work, generated an unmatched sense of satisfaction for our team. Making decisions that played off of each others' strengths, reflecting on what was working and what needed to be revised, gave us all a sense of ownership and pride. We were focused on each other and what we could each do to continuously improve as a team. Cheryl Hutchings, the coach who lead our team more than two decades ago, is pictured here cheering on one of her kindergarten students at Stone...
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