To succeed in the ELA classrooms of today, teachers must possess the ability to go way beyond subject area knowledge.

Here is some helpful advice for educators just beginning the long journey to establishing a successful, effective technology classroom.

I have lost count of the number of times I have been told that rules without relationships lead to rebellion. Yet today, relationships with students seem to be feared instead of embraced. Over the years, quite by accident, I have discovered that this precept from days gone by is critical to classroom rules and to learning itself. Relationships are an essential part of learning, especially relationships between teachers and students.

As an educator, my classroom isn’t just a space for reciting facts and figures. It’s a dynamic environment where learning extends far beyond the curriculum.

After teaching at an alternative middle school for the past 4 years, the one thing I constantly hear from new students is: “We can move around in your room and not get in trouble?

"Why read when you can watch the movie?" In my eight years as an educator, no other sentiment has been quite so crushing to hear from children.

Your time at school will be essential to your teaching life. From my personal experience, I believe the most important part of your teaching program is to do well in your practicum placement.

I believe it is vital for some form of investment education, along with the other elements of financial literacy, to exist in every school. In every classroom.

As curriculums move away from an emphasis on content to skills, the time is right to use that move as an opportunity to better serve introverts in school.