“For A Minute” Series

This wonderful video series is designed for the learner on the go! Enjoy and watch the others 🙂 Continue reading →

Seeking a better substitute teacher

We know how it works with substitute teachers.  Most of the time…it’s a gamble!  Maybe there’s a better way! Continue reading →

This tool turns your students into saints!

By Oscar Cielos In teaching, I believe success comes from a combination of skill, experience, an openness to learn something new, and community. This time, I’d like to talk about one aspect of community: parental support. But even more specific, I want to talk about a tool that made parental support strong in my classroom. … Continue reading →

The Wonders and Urgency of Strong Teacher-Family Collaboration

Do you ever stop and reflect after a few years of teaching what or who’s influenced you the most? Has it been the hours of staff development behind you? Your mentors, colleagues or your cute students? Has it been the methodology your school has drilled into your head? Maybe the many hours of planning and collaboration? Have the long after school meetings influenced you to become the teacher you are today? One of my biggest career influences has been a non reading second grader by the name of Reyna and her wonderful family that came to the rescue because I asked nicely.

Reyna was a beautiful smiling child who was social enough at the appropriate times and always polite to her classmates. Although her clothes were sometimes tattered, they were always clean and ironed. She came to school with a perfect pink bow in her immaculately brushed long hair. If you peeked in my room, she wouldn’t stand out as anything other than a cute kid. Continue reading →

Make free stuff for teachers!

By Oscar Cielos With good reason, everyone’s thinking about the big buck these days.  If you’re in public education, you know we’re a persistently broke species.  But I’m here to complain about all the for profit materials on line, marketed at the time starved, money starved and patience depleted public school teachers.  Hey, well to … Continue reading →

Teachers are the lowest forms of life in the white-collar professional world

Maybe lower than the amoeba struggling to crawl out of the primordial soup, which at least had evolution to look forward to. Teachers are those who bow their heads in compliance as the Master often barks commands, reasonable or not.  With passing years of experience, they further cower into submission until the dark fog of … Continue reading →

Evaluate teachers on scores or technicalities?

Governor Jerry Brown has kicked STAR testing to the curb. A major legal decision has been made affecting California educators.  This is testing that, for over 10 years, required the drills and pressure teachers and parents have constantly complained about.   Controversy always surrounds teachers being evaluated on test scores.  There are always circumstances beyond their … Continue reading →

There’s a Silicon Valley genius in my classroom OR Why I fell in love with education

I’ve worked as a teacher in elementary schools where resources are low, families don’t see education as a priority, hours are long and grueling and administration is unconcerned.  I asked myself why I have stayed in this business… The reasons always evolve on why I’ve now dedicated the last 15 years to teaching elementary age … Continue reading →

Teachers without computers and i-devices: Love them or leave them?

I read online not very long ago that technology may be the great equalizer in classrooms.  Although that’s a strong current I’d like to ride in the sea of educational affirmations, I would timidly decline.  Does that mean kids with no access to internet and i-devices are being left behind? I would hope they are … Continue reading →