Let me tell you a story- Every August since 1984 there has been a day filled with excitement, nervousness, and hope that has propelled me forward with a sense of what could be another year. Back in 1984, Westmore was different. It was very large, old building. I remember my kindergarten room having a large red carpet, tables off to the side, and toys that I wished I could take home.  I remember making peanut butter in class, could you imagine that now? I remember gluing cotton balls onto paper to make a lamb, and letter people. I remember feeling like my teacher was so old she could be m ..read more

Recreating the Space- Our New Learning Place Then... Don't forget from whence you came. This was my classroom in August of 2016. You'll see a more traditional set up to start the school year. Notice the desks, blackboards, bulletin boards, and standard issue rug. We expanded to more flexible seating, but the students maintained their own desks. Our team was already well versed in 1:1 technology and wading in the ocean of personalized learning. Now... With collaboration and communication as top priorities, flexible seating took precedence in developing a new classroom design. Tables ..read more

Getting Stronger Everyday! For those of you who are unfamiliar, the breakout sessions at Model Schools are delineated in many ways, but I found the "How-to's" to be the most informative. In today's post, I plan to share some of the ideas I use and some of the many cool ideas with which I came away. This is a small sampling of ideas that I have broken up into three categories. Please comment with unique ideas that you use, I am definitely interested! Building Culture-I market many of these as Life Skills with my students, others are just ways to build community and culture. Shock ..read more

I teach...because while I was growing up my family instilled upon me that education was the way to financial security and success. My greatest teachers were my grandparents and parents who taught me to work hard and play hard. I didn't have a teacher whose class I really loved learning from until high school, until high school! School was just school, and I liked it, but I didn't love it. I want my kids to love school. I teach...because I want my students to love coming to school. I want them to know that I care because I really do! I care about their baseball games, soccer games, and dance r ..read more

A sincere and special thanks to everyone who made my/our visit to the Model Schools conference possible, especially...the DuPage School District 45 Board of Education and Foundation, Superintendent Tony Palmisano, Assistant Superintendents Chris Collins and Patti Volling, Principals John Gibbas and Shawna Chambers, additional staff from Central Office who all have their own cool titles- Donna Reboletti, Bru Greco-Lenzey, and Beth Slusher.  The opportunity to attend this event with all of you, and entire gaggle of fellow like-minded teachers from our district and several thousand from our ..read more

This short week at the Model Schools conference in Nashville, Tennessee has been truly monumental. Not only did I take away specific skills and strategies to direct my new students towards Quadrant D, it left me feeling excited and ready for the new school year. It also affirmed that I am on the right track. Please click here to help me acknowledge my village who made this professional development possible. I am truly thankful to be doing the job that I do. I really, really don't mind working during the summer. Being a champion for my students (and daughter) is important to me. I ..read more

Working with architect, Pat Callahan, from Studio GC, has been a terrific experience. In the early planning stage he brought the knowledge from both good and bad attempts at 21st Century classrooms. Meet the Ruckus Chair from KI. I appreciated his professional insight and positive attitude as we navigated new and exciting territory. We visited the Chicago Merchandise Mart, and I was admittedly overwhelmed by all the possibilities..and thrilled! They're not kidding when they say the Merchandise Mart was designed to be a city within a city. I really did not even know the sheer amount o ..read more

The last several months have included planning, collaboration, reading, among other things like teaching, planning, and report cards. It sometimes feels like I have two jobs that I love, and a family at home too!  Summer is here, it's a random Wednesday night in June, and here I am...working! (To be fair, R is in bed, and Dave is delivering our oldest to the airport.) Planning- What's going on? Well, we've been planning for our prototype classrooms since early February. Curriculum design and implementation have been at the forefront of all of our discussions. After all, the physical des ..read more

Fast forward to December, the grant application is (finally!) available! With Winter Break only hours away, I knew I would tackle that bad boy as soon as the Christmas festivities concluded. In a week, the rough copy was done. In writing the grant I had accomplished two goals: applying for EPCOT and writing my own book! Right here, I need to give a shout out to my fabulous husband, Dave, for being my first editor. He meticulously poured over my novela, asking questions, posing revisions, making suggestions. Not only is he an amazing husband and father, but he could also have a post-teaching ..read more

Picture it: Back to school teachers institute. It's hot, stupid hot for August, and you're cooling off with your comrades in moderately AC'd gym of Jefferson Middle School in Villa Park, Illinois. Okay, maybe you're not at Jefferson, but I know that any teacher or administrator can relate to that first back to school professional development day. Everyone is eager with the anticipation that a new school year brings. You chat with your friends, say hello to the colleagues and friends you haven't seen in three months. Finally, you settle in with your school group, to be inspired, lifted, and en ..read more