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TEACHING IS MAGIC
A Blog about Teaching
Teaching is Magic serves as a vessel to project my passions, and clue in my loyal readers as to what inspires me in this crazy world. So, sit back, relax, and read on.
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Let Them Think They are Driving
Who remembers sitting on someone’s lap and playing with the steering wheel of the car? If you were really lucky, you even got to...
Melissa K. Giddis
May 21, 20212 min read
The Gossip Line
Everyone has had that person. The one that you just don’t know how to deal with and really want advice and suggestions for. The problem...
Melissa K. Giddis
May 18, 20213 min read
I'm Losing My Marbles
So, you have tried every strategy, jumped through every proverbial hoop, and you still feel like you cannot reach one or more of your...
Melissa K. Giddis
May 14, 20213 min read
Know What is Required
As we approach the end of the school year, there are many things that will be required to wrap up the year. As I hear the newer teachers...
Melissa K. Giddis
May 11, 20212 min read
A Student's Perspective
What things are the mark of a good teacher? There are books, articles, blogs, and so many things that give ideas and tips on how to be a...
Melissa K. Giddis
May 7, 20212 min read
Burnout Blues
In a previous post we talked about how to make it through to summer vacation. For some teachers, it goes deeper than a need for a summer...
Melissa K. Giddis
May 4, 20213 min read
Math Can Be Magic
Math is one of those subjects that people seem to either love or hate. That is the class that I hear the following phrase the most: “Why...
Melissa K. Giddis
Apr 30, 20212 min read
Is school out for summer yet?
How many days until summer vacation? I would be willing to bet that you have a pretty good idea. My students asked for a running count...
Melissa K. Giddis
Apr 27, 20213 min read
Teachers as ... Salesmen?
Commercials, those never ending sales pitches that interrupt your show of choice. Sometimes they are neat to watch, and sometimes they...
Melissa K. Giddis
Apr 23, 20212 min read
People are People
In the movie, The Muppets Take Manhattan, the owner of the diner is often telling the other characters that, “peoples is peoples.” My...
Melissa K. Giddis
Apr 20, 20213 min read
Why I Don't Grade Everything
We all know how it feels, that moment when an assignment comes back and the icky red number makes you want to cry. Now as teachers we...
Melissa K. Giddis
Apr 16, 20213 min read
Melt Down, Build Up
So, your student is having a melt down. They just told half the class where they can get off to, and they used language that your...
Melissa K. Giddis
Apr 13, 20214 min read
Who's Your Favorite?
Let’s be honest, everyone has their favorite students and those students that really get on your nerves. There are students that when...
Melissa K. Giddis
Apr 9, 20214 min read
We Just Had a Long Break, Help
Everyone looks forward to long weekends, but then comes the day you must return to school. Hopefully you made the most of the extra...
Melissa K. Giddis
Apr 6, 20212 min read
If You Get a Break, Take the Break
So, you are lucky enough to get a break from school. It may be for a holiday, or just a day off to aid the mental health of the staff in...
Melissa K. Giddis
Apr 2, 20212 min read
Fellowship of the Masks
In The Lord of the Rings, Frodo Baggins laments to the wizard Gandalf that he wished the ring of power had never come to him. He wished...
Melissa K. Giddis
Mar 30, 20214 min read
The Leaders of the Pack
The Principal’s office, the one place no kid ever wants to be summoned to. Just the mere threat of a trip to the principal’s office has...
Melissa K. Giddis
Mar 26, 20213 min read
For the Dream to Work, the Team must Work
I always hated group assignments growing up. There was always that kid that didn’t want to do any of the work. They expected everyone...
Melissa K. Giddis
Mar 23, 20213 min read
Around Every Great Teacher...
No one exists in isolation. We live and work with so many people all around us. Even if we choose to ignore those around us, they are...
Melissa K. Giddis
Mar 19, 20213 min read
No One is Unimportant
As teachers, there will be many people we interact with during this incredible journey. There are so many people that help make the...
Melissa K. Giddis
Mar 16, 20212 min read
REACHING OUT
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