How will kids learn right from wrong if we don't teach them?  How will they learn to be accountable adults? How will they learn to be responsible? If they are not taught, they will not learn.

Kids learn by watching and doing.  They imitate what they see at home. They imitate their parent's reactions using words their parents use.  If we are trying to break negative cycles (i.e. poverty or abuse) we have to model the behaviors that we expect them to use.
Sounds like a bunch of mumbo-jumbo, right?   In plain English: If we expect our students to become responsible and accountable we have to show them how.

If we want them to be productive, we have to model productivity and expect them to be productive classroom members.  If we want them to treat others with respect and consideration, then we have to be modeling those traits.  If we want them to take pride in their accomplishments, we have to expect them to do their best.

 Do you see where I'm going with this? Kids today are growing up with video games and television as an after-school program. They are learning from what they see and hear. They are absorbing the fairytale world of Hollywood and expecting it to be their reality.  Why shouldn't everyone like them? Why shouldn't they always make a top score?

Today kids are growing up with an attitude of entitlement. They are being taught that someone owes them something.  We play right into this mindset with our 'everyone wins attitude' and 'let's reward good behavior' programs.  Parents have a tremendous responsibility beyond giving birth.

It isn't the schools job to teach your child right from wrong. To teach your child how to behave in public. How to treat others. These are things that they should have been taught before starting school.  School is a place where the things they have learned (hopefully) are reinforced and practiced.   Parenting doesn't stop when they drop their kids off at school. Parenting enters a new season.  Parents and teachers become partners to help the child continue to grow socially and academically.  Teachers are not super-heroes who can magically change 4 or 5 years of bad behavior without the support of the home.

Raising a child takes years. In fact, it never stops.

Review ELA skills with this sneaky little resource!

ELA review



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This blog does not share personal information with third parties nor do I store any information about your visit to this blog other than to analyze and optimize your content and reading experience through the use of cookies. You can turn off the use of cookies at anytime by changing your specific browser settings. I am not responsible for republished content from this blog on other blogs or websites without my permission. This privacy policy is subject to change without notice and was last updated on May 25, 2018. If you have any questions feel free to contact me directly at kimberlyfrencken@gmail.com

It's a wonder I ever taught ELA (aka English, Communication Arts, Spelling, Writing,...).  My years in elementary and middle school did more to make me dislike ELA than they did to nurture a love for writing.  Oh, I loved spelling and vocabulary. Words fascinated me. But spending countless hours diagraming sentences nearly killed me. Figuratively.  All those red marks covering a story I had written in creative writing brought me shame.  Literally.

For years, I hid.  In other professions. Teaching other subjects.  And then I had a principal that hated diagraming as much as I did and said that they couldn't see the merit of placing the words of a sentence on random lines. Things started to turn around.  Then I taught Social Studies and incorporated literature and plays. And I began to come out of hiding. I began to find my own place. My own style. And that was okay.

I'm not here to argue that kids need to learn the difference between a noun and a verb. Or where to put commas. Or how to begin a sentence. There are some things that kids do need to learn in order to be good communicators. But shouldn't we spend more time focusing on what is right and how to improve sentences, rather than leaving a trail of red?

A good friend encouraged me tremendously. He told me to just write. When I was expressing myself creatively I could make my own rules ( up to a point- as a journalist, I'm sure he has his limits with my grammar).  So I did. I just starting writing. And free from the fear, I found fun.   And once I became free to express myself I became more aware of grammatical rules and more aware of the ones that I was breaking.  I learned more from my mistakes and felt brave for breaking some rules intentionally.

Yes, there are times when I more carefully consider my sentence construction- my resources, for example.  I edit and edit and edit. I'm not perfect. I've caught a mistake a time or two or three (after it was published) and corrected it (immediately). I've had students point out mistakes (I love that they 'catch' me) and I correct the errors. But isn't that the point. Life is all about learning.  We can all be learning together. Or we can weld our red pens like a scepter and replace the joy of learning with fear.



For years, I wrote lessons, units, curriculum. And I loved it.  Another friend encouraged me to start publishing.  Take a look.  I love this creative way to reinforce lessons!


 Boom Cards!


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This blog does not share personal information with third parties nor do I store any information about your visit to this blog other than to analyze and optimize your content and reading experience through the use of cookies. You can turn off the use of cookies at anytime by changing your specific browser settings. I am not responsible for republished content from this blog on other blogs or websites without my permission. This privacy policy is subject to change without notice and was last updated on June 5, 2015. If you have any questions feel free to contact me directly at kimberlyfrencken@gmail.com 
It's that time of year again. Time for spring conferences.  Time to arrive earlier and stay later than normal.    It isn't that we don't want to talk to parents. Quite the opposite in fact. We want parents to be part of their child's education.  We want to communicate with them.  We just want to function as a team. Adults working together to provide a child with the best possible educational experience possible.


All kinds of parents show up at conferences.  The lonely-just-need-someone-to-talk-to parent.  The I-can't-wait-to-tell-you-what-you-are-doing-wrong parent. Helicopter parents.  Kind parents. Curious parents. Concerned parents. Involved parents.

But, there is one type that won't show up. No matter what incentives are offered or how many phone calls made, or texts, emails, or notes sent. They won't show.   I'll just say what we're all thinking.... they didn't have time to change out of their pajamas and drive to school to talk about their child's progress. Harsh? Probably.  Yes. I'm not talking about the single parent that wants to be there, but can't get time off work to be there.  That parent calls or send an email or a note. They communicate. I'm talking about the ones that don't take any interest in their child's education.

And these are the kids that need their parents there the most. These kids tell you right up 'til the last minute that their mom or dad will be there. Then they make excuses trying to explain why their parent didn't show up. Their excuses sound flimsy, even to their own ears.  We smile and say that's okay, but inside we both know it isn't.

Personally, I'm fuming. I'm surprised smoke isn't coming out my ears.  How can an adult put a child, of any age, in such a position?   It isn't fair. Every child should have an adult that cares about their progress in life. An adult that takes a minute or two of their time and invests it in their child.   Every child.  And since we can't change the hearts of those who are too self-absorbed to give their kids a chance we'll keep doing what we do, hoping for the best, and giving those kids a double portion of our time and love.


An oldie, but a goodie. Ignore the tired, old cover and download for FREE to get some tried and tested teacher conference ideas!

Teacher Conferences



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Privacy Policy

This blog does not share personal information with third parties nor do I store any information about your visit to this blog other than to analyze and optimize your content and reading experience through the use of cookies. You can turn off the use of cookies at anytime by changing your specific browser settings. I am not responsible for republished content from this blog on other blogs or websites without my permission. This privacy policy is subject to change without notice and was last updated on June 5, 2015. If you have any questions feel free to contact me directly at kimberlyfrencken@gmail.com 
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