Phillips is a Core Knowledge school, so in fourth grade, we always spend time learning about the American Revolution. For the past two years we completed a webquest, researching and writing about the causes of the revolution and the impact it had on families. This year we took a whole new approach. I always integrate [...]

I have not been doing very well keeping up this blog this year.  My last post was on October 25th.  That’s because we have been so busy.  We have already completed our first Core Knowledge Unit about mountains, and we are now learning about the American Revolution.  I started writing this post about our Mountain [...]

This summer I’ve been reading the book, Focus:  Elevating the Essentials to Radically Improve Student Learning, by Mike Schmoker.  It was given to each of the teachers on our staff by our principal for summer reading.  Schmoker advocates Simplicity, Clarity and Priority.  By this he means we need to simplify our curriculum by cutting the number of [...]

One of my goals for this school year was to learn how to make a Glog. I had heard about them, and seen a few, from others on Twitter, which is where I get most of my technology ideas. It took me a while to get around to doing it, though. I have been gradually [...]

Phillips is a Core Knowledge School. We are also a public school, so we teach the regular school district curriculum, and in addition we teach most of the Core Knowledge Content. Core Knowledge is based on the writings of E. D. Hirsch, author of Cultural Literacy. You can learn more about it by visiting the [...]

There have been some big changes in my school district this year.  One of these changes,  is an early dismissal every Wednesday.  During the past few years, we have had an early dismissal once or twice a month for professional development.  It was sometimes hard to remember the schedule, but it concerns me that we are giving up [...]