#Whatsup Wildcats - Classroom Edition

Happy Friday, my friends! As the weeks wind down and we gear up for summer break, many of us teachers are trying to keep our students engaged and motivated. Not an easy task. Not only are they extremely eager for a break, but they are also very, very distracted. Distracted by normal high school issues - relationships, events, homework, and so forth - and distracted by their #BFFs, the little devices that tend to dictate and publicize their every move: their cell phones. If you're like me, you have probably seen an increase in cell phone usage in the classroom. In addition, I have more and more students trying to keep their headphones in during class. It is getting out of control....and don't forget, I am a fan of technology. But I am not a fan of it when it distracts students and keeps them from being present in various situations. In addition, I was finding that the time I was giving students to complete their work in my class was wasted...just completely wasted...as they

My goal with this blog has always been to share out the awesome things happening at Neuqua Valley High School. Every classroom I visit, teacher I talk to, meeting I attend, student I observe...I write it here in order to document why this place is so special. As I'm sure you're aware, it is Teacher Appreciation Week, and we have been celebrating our wonderful staff all week long. As the week comes to a close, I want to share some of my reflections about this week, when we celebrate educators all over the world who work diligently to make a difference in their students' lives. This year, our school provided an option for students, staff, and parents to share their appreciation with staff members at the building. There were a few options, but the most popular option - by far - was for students, parents, and staff to send a nice note to a staff member that would go directly to their inbox. I am excited to share that over 1,100 emails were sent to staff members in our build