Philosophy

Creating Wild Readers!

I am a huge advocate of making students passionate about reading and writing on their own, not just in the classroom. They should be readers and writers for life, not just forced to do what they dislike in the classroom because they "have to." I do minimal rewards because research shows this actually lessens the chances of kids reading on their own in the future. For more information on this philosophy and others to which I adhere, check out the following texts:

• The Book Whisperer by Donalyn Miller
• Reading in the Wild by Donalyn Miller
• Disrupting Thinking by Kylene Beers and Robert E Probst
• Passionate Readers by Pernille Ripp

Flexible Seating

My classroom has what is known as "flexible seating." Research has shown that comfort and choice are two of the biggest indicators for academic achievement. For this reason, students start their time in my classroom by choosing their seat from a variety of options: stability balls, circle table, bungee chairs, couch, rug, and regular desk seating for those who prefer a more traditional seating option.

For some research and opinions on flexible seating and academic success, see the following links:

• Edutopia article
• Psychology Today article
• Mind/Shift article
• EdTech article