AP Alex Garcia, M.Ed

Elegant @washingtonpost visual shows what won't surprise most Wisconsinites: the post-college-grad pipeline to MN and IL is real. #5SJGBYPQ4JD4NOVDWZHTTX43XM-2" target="_blank" rel="nofollow noopener">washingtonpost.com/business/2022/…

Students should be made to think, to doubt, to communicate, to question, to learn from their mistakes, and most importantly have fun in their learning.

If your syllabus includes, "Cheating or plagiarism will not be tolerated and will result in in an automatic failure of the assignment," please don't send home a teachers pay teachers assignment as the first thing you ask my child to complete. #parenting #teaching #education

Building Capacity ❤️

I started every new class by telling them I had heard so many good things about them and I was lucky to have them. Every class, Every year! It makes a difference.

If I have a concern about something at my kid’s school… I should: A. Post about it on social media OR B. Contact someone at the school who can actually do something about it (I’m gonna go with B!)

We each wrote a poem based on George Lyon’s poem “Where I’m From” and then picked our favourite line to make a whole-class poem. This is where we are from!

New teacher advice: Ensure your first communication home is a positive one. You should make positive contact with every family before the end of the first two weeks. Consistent positive contact will make the tougher conversations easier and better received.

You need to learn your content. You need to learn how to differentiate, accommodate and modify. You need to learn how to collaborate with colleagues and families.

Dear new teacher, You do not need a teacher tiktok, IG, and Twitter. You do not need to open a TPT store. You do not need a specialized handshake for each student or a song and dance for each lesson.+

Not all your students come to class wanting to learn… but they all come wanting to belong. And when they feel like they belong… they’re much more likely to learn.

I may be naive, but if I was a parent I would trust the person (teacher) who spends 180 days with my child, cares about my child, nurtures my child, and who would take a bullet for my child, and NOT a politician or news pundit who doesn’t do ANY of the things I listed.

When I started calling parents to tell them what their kids did well, rather than always what they did wrong, my entire classroom dynamic changed for the better - and parents were happy to hear from me.

Friendly back to school reminder: When kids show up late for school, they still showed up. Thank them, not scold them. “I’m happy you’re here" goes a very long way.

*when the villain in the movie has a PhD* Viewers without a PhD: Ah, they are just saying he’s a smart villain. Makes sense. Viewers with a PhD: Ah, grad school and academia drove him to madness. Makes sense.

There’s no reason family members should be texting & calling children during school hours. IF it is real emergency (life/death) go pick them up or call the school. What do you want for dinner? Where’s the TV remote? Do you want to go to the fair Saturday. Are not emergencies!

If you see beauty & magic in someone, tell them. They may not see it yet and your words may be what unlocks their vision of themselves. Just walk around unlocking magic. I have decided that’s how I want to live. Inside or outside of the classroom. Unlocking magic #Ratchetdemic

As the new school year kicks off remember that high achievement is usually attained in the context of high expectations. Admin, expect the best of your staff. Teachers, expect the best of your students. Then give your best to get their best!

Wise words.