If you know me, you probably know I love teaching science. It is my thing. I wish I could teach it all day long! I mean, I made my whole classroom theme a mad scientist lab one time.   Because science isn't allotted much time during the school day, I try to bring in science as much as possible.  One of my favorite ways to incorporate more science is through little references/commands during the day. We will call it sneaky science . This, of course, does not replace formal science instruction; it is a fun way to reinforce concepts all year!  Mrs. R's Seven Sneaky Science Tips: 1. Open the circuit. Teach a quick lesson about circuits using a circuit stick ( Amazon link ). How many times a day do you ask someone to turn off/on the lights? I challenge you to no longer allow that phrase in your room. You and your students must say "open the circuit" or "close the circuit."  2. Straight lines.  You may know that light travels in straight lines. Do you know what ...

'Twas the Night Before the MAP Test by Whitney Randolph 'Twas the night before the MAP test. A teacher lies awake. Wondering if her kids are prepared for the test they’ll soon take. The students will come into the room bright in the morning, some filled with doom. She'll pass out some snacks, notes, smiles, and spirit In hopes they’ll crush it rather than fear it. How do 9 months come down to 3 sessions? There was so much more to our work—our lessons. The important things...you'll never be able to measure Yeah, the kids learned a lot this year—so much to treasure. We laughed, joked, sang, and cried If she said she didn’t love them, you’d know she lied. As that teacher lies awake, wondering if it’ll be rough... She comes to peace with the year. She is enough. The thing she hopes we all remember the best? We are more, so much more, than just one test . Be at peace, teacher-friends. You are enough. -Whitney

  The Problem. In my first year of teaching, one of the biggest stressors for me was the end-of-year state assessment. It was self-inflicted stress; my district never caused the pressure. I just really wanted my kids to do well.  We did a few practice tests, and I realized something. My kids were uncomfortable. Bad. They struggled with what to do when they didn't know an answer.  I said what most teachers say: "It's okay. Just take your best guess. Do the process of elimination!" Crickets followed. Blank stares ensued. Students were still stressed and refused to guess and move on. There were even tears . I went into research mode. I decided to test their elimination skills. I wanted to make a question they would be uncomfortable with--something we didn't learn. I drew the craziest shape I could on the board. Then, I made a multiple-choice question. It looked like this: As you can see, the shape was entirely made up. However, the only answer it could have been was ...

  Have you ever heard the phrase, "Easy to spot a red car if you're always looking for one"?   Literally speaking, it is true. I never saw white 2019 Toyota Camrys until I bought one. Now they are everywhere . I'm sure there were plenty of them before. I just never noticed because I wasn't looking for them. I have found it to be true in life, relationships, and especially in the workplace. I know because I've been there. I went through a time period where everything was so negative around me, all I saw were red cars (bad things) in my workplace. Maybe you've been there too. I promise if you slow down and look for the yellow cars (good things) in education, you'll find they are there. If you're having trouble spotting them, I have a few tricks that can help! No matter your current mindset, here are 7 tips to help you find the yellow cars! 1. Look for good things in your room. When things start getting hectic and it feels like all the kids are going...