Author: Kate (6 posts)


Classroom Culture: “Pulling” Toward Your Goals

Have you ever experienced a desire to accomplish something tremendous?  It’s a feeling I can relate to! To continue the September theme of “What are they Pulling?” I want to talk about goal setting and tracking. 2024 Iditarod mushers have varied goals about the upcoming race. Canadian musher Rob Cooke says, “The goal is to …

“What are They Pulling?” Personal Narrative Writing

By now teachers are back in the swing of the school year. We are diving into curriculum, analyzing data, working with coaches and mentors, and planning with our teams. We have our routines established.  Our lives have returned to the rhythm of the school year.  One thing we do here in Texas is a silent …

“Houston, We Have a Connection”: The Importance of Training

A roaring noise rumbles overhead. Suddenly a jet screams through the sky, followed right behind by another one! This is a common sight and sound in my area of Houston—it is the excitement of astronauts in flight training with T-38 Talons.  You may not exactly be training your students using high-powered aircraft, but teachers everywhere …

Classroom Culture: Volunteer Jobs Board

As teachers, we know that it’s extremely important to set the tone and the expectations for your classroom. One of the areas where you can do this is with your classroom jobs. Some students love passing out papers or lab equipment, some are great line leaders or attendance-takers, some prefer non-social jobs like sharpening pencils. …

“Harness Up!” Reading Stamina: August Lesson Plan

When was the last time you got completely lost in a book? I confess—for me that was yesterday. I love to read! I recharge by being alone and quiet, so I grew up filling my quiet time with amazing texts describing travel, adventure, and wonderful characters. As we enter the fall training period for young …

“Houston, We Have a Connection”: Tang on the Iditarod

Welcome to my very first “Houston, We Have a Connection” post! The title calls to mind the famous line from Apollo 13 alerting mission control to the fateful explosion aboard the spacecraft. I live ten minutes from NASA’s Johnson Space Center, so this year in my role as 2024 Teacher on the Trail™, I wanted …