Reading with your child does not have to be like pulling weeds.

Reading with your child can be and should be enjoyable all around.

The more you and your child can interact with the text, the more your child will be a cultivated reader.

Drop the red pen. You heard me. Do it. You did not like it when you were in school, and neither does your kid. It may help your ego that you know more than your child, but to a writer, the red pen can stomp dreams and self-esteem. 

May I make a suggestion? Grab a green pen, and yes your local office supply store sells boxes of them for a few dollars. I allow my students to use highlighters as well, and yes, you can teach them not to be “highlighter happy.”

Next, grab a comfortable spot for you and your student.

Finally, go ahead and fill up the cup of coffee or heat up your tea.

Ladies and Gentleman, it's time for a writing conference!

Whether you are a first year or 25 year veteran teacher, preparing for the new school year is all the same. Your tool belt includes a staple gun for the bulletin boards, tacks to pin up the over-the-table desk tags, label maker to mark those crayon and pencil bins, brand new sharpie markers to label the turn in trays and folders for the students, and the sticky tack to hold up all of those signs you just bought at the teacher store.

“Let’s Go Team!”

At the elementary school level, it was also very important to have a theme.

Not having a theme meant you were fair game in the teacher’s lounge.

“Did you hear the news? Mrs. O’Donnell doesn’t have a theme and the school year is set to start in five days!” GASP!

Do you know how many animals or sports teams a teacher can go through in a career?

I’ve been the frogs, owls, O’Donnell Slammers, and even the O’Dizzly Bears, just to name a few.

After all of the preparation, it was time to meet your students at Open House. Even though your body was sore and tired, it was ready to stand and meet your students and families and welcome them into your classroom and life for 180 days.

When I began my teaching career 13 years ago, my mantra was “Let’s do this!”

I was ready to conquer the world!

Help students achieve success!

Build student leaders!

Develop independent thinkers!

And I did…

After teaching in the brick and mortar setting for twelve years, I had conquered it all. I marked everything off my teacher bucket list.

Build relationships with hundreds and hundreds of students and families - check

Make a name for myself in my district - check

Write curriculum - check

Mentor student teachers - check

Serve as team leader - check

Chair committees - check

Win District Teacher of the Year - check

I should have been content, happy, satisfied, and ready to conquer more.

But I wasn’t…