Blog

Tammy Ranger June 2017 Blog Post

MTOY Tammy Ranger discusses stepping outside her corner of the forest.

Stuffed Neurons and Growth Mindset (Feb. 2017)

Tammy Ranger, 2017 Maine Teacher of the Year

Stuffed Neurons and Growth Mindset

From A Child At Risk to a Teacher: How I Gained My Confidence

Fallyn Adams, 2015 Knox County Teacher of the Year

In that moment, I realized two truths: I was a child of poverty, and I had been homeless on more than one occasion. See full blog post here READ MORE

The Importance of Reading Aloud #ReadingChallenge

Shelly Moody, 2011 Maine Teacher of the Year

The Many Benefits of Reading Aloud There is a great body of evidence that supports the impact reading aloud can have on a child. A significant body of research shows that reading aloud can positively impact a child's language, literacy skills, and brain development. (http://www.nea.org/grants/facts-about-childrens-literacy.html) If a parent reads aloud to a child fifteen minutes a day for five years, it will add up to over 460 hours of reading! A study by Scholastic in 2014 reports that more… READ MORE

Students Need More than Curriculum to Succeed in Life

Talya Edlund, 2016 Maine Teacher of the Year

2016 Maine Teacher of the Year Talya Edlund talks about the importance of 21st Century Skills for our students. Read the full article here READ MORE

A Glimmer of Hope

by Brenda LaVerdiere, 2015 Franklin County Teacher of the Year, 2016 State Finalist

Imagine that you are a fourth grade teacher working in an economically deprived school in the foothills of western Maine. You teach in a small town where the factory and farming jobs that used to be the economic engine of your community no longer exist. In this once thriving community, many parents now struggle to find jobs that pay a living wage. Many parents struggle to buy school supplies and clothes for their children.

Peer Coaching: Building Capacity and Skills for Our Schools and Districts

by Andrea Beardsley, Hancock County Teacher of the Year 10th-12th Grade Science, Ellsworth High School

Several years ago, our then principal sent out an email requesting that anyone interested in becoming a peer coach should contact her and apply for the newly created position. Our school had recently been "awarded" (please note the irony of that statement) a School Improvement Grant (SIG) and as a stipulation of the grant, a dean of instruction and three peer coaching positions would be both philosophically and financially supported.

2015: Energized, Engaged, Patient and Prepared

by Kate Smith, York County Teacher of the Year Music and Outdoor Classroom, Central School

I can juggle. Not literally, unfortunately. That third ball really throws me off. But figuratively I am one of the best jugglers around. I have been known to manage three grant projects, numerous committee responsibilities, concerts, a full teaching schedule and my children's after-school activities at the same time. Recently, however, I decided it was time to do a little less juggling.

Increasing Parent and Community Involvement in Local Schools

by Ann Luginbuhl, 2014 Washington County Teacher of the Year 6th-8th Grade, Charlotte Elementary School

On December 5, 2104 Educate Maine held the Pipeline to Prosperity Symposium in Portland to honor Maine's best educators and business leaders. In addition, break out sessions were held to foster communication and collaboration between educational and business leaders. I moderated a session on fostering parental and community involvement in local schools. All of the participants agreed parental and community involvement in schools represents a win-win for all parties and many ideas to increase these interactions were discussed.

Using Backward Design to Improve Student Writing

by Jennifer Dorman, Somerset County Teacher of the Year & 2015 Maine Teacher of the Year 7th and 8th grade English/Language Arts and Special Education, Skowhegan Area Middle School

Today’s Common Core Standards require students to comprehend complex text across the curriculum. The Standards focus on the need for students to develop a deeper understanding of content knowledge. Likewise, the Common Core Standards demand a heavier emphasis on informational and argument writing. Students must convey deeper levels of understanding, and consequently must be fluent in using evidence from a variety of sources when writing.