I avidly recall a second grade class that would excitedly huddle around my rocking chair for story time. Students scrambled around sliding chairs to the carpet where I read heartwarming and sometimes zany tales, they reminded me that story time was counted among the most meaningful and cherished moments of a child’s day. Story time is a child’s portal into endless worlds, kingdoms, and dimensions.

I, among other things, define myself as a rapper, and it’s a fact of which my students are all too aware.

The topic of awe couldn’t be more timely. I’ve never seen such an urgent need to address social-emotional issues in and out of the classroom as I do now.

The first steps a student takes after graduation are as critical as graduating itself. While some students have a clearly defined plan and purpose, many others do not.

Many substitute teachers like me can teach a different grade every single day, from K–12. It can be challenging, to say the least.

When I first learned about The Mentoree, it immediately resonated with me. I was eager to connect with someone who had relevant experiences and could help answer the many questions I had.

On paper, the students I was teaching had a solid grasp of grammar, vocabulary, and reading comprehension. Yet, when it came to speaking, they froze.

Over the years, I’ve developed the following steps to help myself remember the names of my students. These tips can be used by any type of teacher at any grade level.

When our school received the news that our principal had passed from a private battle with brain cancer, it shook the staff, students, and entire community to the core.