Discipleship & My Lighthouse
“I thought God just wanted me to be a Christian.” That is what one little girl told me on Friday of last week. Let me back up. Last week … Continue reading
The Truth About Our Public Schools and Education Policies
I stumbled upon this TEDx Talk: Toxic culture of education: Joshua Katz at TEDxUniversityofAkron This is a must-see video. It is one of those that when you watch it you … Continue reading
What Teachers Really Need to Hear : Inspirational/Motivational Video Collection (Follow Up from What Students Really Need To Hear Post)
This is a follow up collection to the the previous post, “What Students Really Need To Hear.” Sometimes we (teachers) are the ones who need the inspiration and motivation to … Continue reading
What Students Really Need to Hear : Inspirational/Motivational Video Collection
I stumbled upon this inspirational video and I just had to share it. So many truths can be heard in the words from Chase Mielke! Below are a few more … Continue reading
The Struggle for Relevancy by Teacher1
Originally posted on From Under the Teacher’s Desk: Teachers are constantly being pressed to create curriculum that is ‘relevant’ to their students. We must make lessons that connect to ‘real … Continue reading
Team building activities for middle to high school students
“Now we’re not encouraging that you try the same activity, because honestly, it can be a little dangerous, but we did look around for some team building activities or games … Continue reading
ANIMOTO: Have You Used It With Your Students Yet?
As you know, I have a passion for learning and discovery new technologies that can be infused into both instructional and student assessment practices. Although old hat to some, I … Continue reading
Without Content Mastery, The Teacher is a Goner
Originally posted on Diane Ravitch's blog:
After reading about the Match “graduate school of education,” this reader shares the wisdom born of experience: As a high school classroom teacher…
Summer Teacher Tech: 7 Tools For Your Toolbox
In my quest to build my own Teacher Toolbox I have been getting rid of outdated tools and collecting new shiny ones. Now, why would I bother? What is wrong … Continue reading
New Teacher Survival Guide
That first year teaching is a daunting one. It has been said that one should not underestimate the days you drive home in tears because of the sheer overwhelming intensity … Continue reading
You answer: What were you like as a teenager?
I was an 80’s teen…’nuff said. 😉 This is actually a TED Talk Blog that I recently stumbled upon. And although it was published in September 2012 it is still … Continue reading
Flocabulary – Figurative Language LESSON CREATED BY LAURA DIAZ USING VIDEO FROM FlocabularyYT YOUTUBE CHANNEL
Once again TED Ed has provided me with a simple way to make an introduction Lesson. this time for a Figurative Language Unit. Let’s Begin… In this song, Flocabulary defines … Continue reading
STOP STEALING DREAMS: Seth Godin at TEDxYouth@BFS
STOP STEALING DREAMS: Seth Godin at TEDxYouth@BFS LESSON CREATED BY LAURA DIAZ USING VIDEO From TEDxYouth Let’s Begin… What do you think school is for? No, really! This is a very valid question! If you … Continue reading
The (not-so) Secret Ingredient to Helping Students Learn: Growth Mindset
The (not-so) Secret Ingredient to Helping Students Learn: Growth Mindset LESSON CREATED BY LAURA DIAZ USING VIDEO FROM CRAfT Educational Videos *Access the Lesson on TEDEd by clicking this link—>Helping Students Understand Growth Mindset Challenges … Continue reading
How to Build Your Fictional World~ Another TED Ed Flipped Lesson
How to build a fictional world – Kate Messner LESSON CREATED BY LAURA DIAZ VIDEO FROM TED-Ed YOUTUBE CHANNEL Let’s Begin… Why is J.R.R. Tolkien’s Lord of the Rings trilogy so compelling? How about The Matrix or Harry … Continue reading
April Fools Math Class Shadow ~and~ How to make them for your own classrooms!
The first time I watched this the thought that zoomed through my head was, “How do you do this? I have got to figure this out!” I am just itching … Continue reading
A Dozen Inspiring Ideas for the Multicultural Classroom
I have done some initial footwork for you and this article is the result of my gleanings. Here you will find a collection of great resources, articles, ideas and links … Continue reading
FREE!~ 7 Cool Google Apps for the Classroom !
There are so many apps and technology tools available now for educators that the task of wading through all of them can be daunting. Yet, Google has made the task … Continue reading
What’s your New Year’s Resolution …and WHY?
Recently, a friend asked me my plan for a New Year’s resolution. Well, here’s my confession. I don’t have one. Yep, that’s right. See, I have never been one to … Continue reading
CHILL, IT’S ALL GOOD! WHAT SO WRONG WITH SLANG?~
Chill, It’s All Good! What So Wrong With Slang? By Laura Diaz original article published for BlueSuit Mom Magazine 2010 One rare and lazy Saturday afternoon, I parked myself at my … Continue reading
WWW: Latin@s in Kid Lit
Originally posted on Vamos a Leer:
Latin@s in Kid Lit is a unique new blog created by kid lit authors and dedicated to Latino/a children’s literature. The site was created…
A Magic Recipe for Multicultural Children’s Books?
What was the first book that got you really reading, and why? As a little girl I was a heavy book series reader. One of these series was the Little … Continue reading
Review: My Big Greek Family by Maria Constantine
If you’re looking for a book full of hope, humor, romance and speaks on second generation cultural differences this is the book for you! Summary: A warm-hearted, humorous, family saga … Continue reading
The art of the metaphor – Jane Hirshfield
LESSON PLAN FOR TEACHING 6TH GRADE FIGURATIVE LANGUAGE The art of the metaphor – Jane Hirshfield Lesson created by Laura Diaz using Video from TED-Ed YouTube Channel Let’s Begin… … Continue reading
Shakespearean dating tips – Anthony John Peters.LESSON CREATED BY LAURA DIAZ
Let’s Begin… Beyond giving the world dozens of English language masterpieces and inventing countless words (including the word countless), William Shakespeare, ever the overachieving bard, especially had a way with … Continue reading
Speech acts: Constative and performative – Colleen Glenney Boggs LESSON CREATED BY LAURA DIAZ
VIEW THE LESSON IN ITS ENTIRETY BY CLICKING THE ABOVE LINK. Let’s Begin… When are words just words, and when do words force action? Linguist J.L. Austin divided words into … Continue reading
I just made a new Voki. See it here: VOKI for the Classroom!
What is Voki? Voki is an educational tool that allows users to create their very own talking character. Voki is created by Oddcast and is located in New York City. Voki characters … Continue reading
The 2 most powerful flipped classroom tips I have learned so far
Originally posted on Turn to Your Neighbor: The Official Peer Instruction Blog:
Stealth Flipper’s class, Fall 2012 (blur purposeful) Won’t students skip my class if my lectures are available online?…
What’s the definition of comedy? Banana. – Addison Anderson Flipped Lesson created by Laura Diaz
What’s the definition of comedy? Banana. – Addison Anderson Flipped Lesson created by Laura Diaz Click the above link to access the entire flipped lesson. Let’s Begin… In our study … Continue reading
The punishable perils of plagiarism – Melissa Huseman D’Annunzio LESSON CREATED BY LAURA DIAZ USING TED Ed
The punishable perils of plagiarism – Melissa Huseman D’Annunzio LESSON CREATED BY LAURA DIAZ USING TED Ed Let’s Begin… Fighting plagiarism is serious business. From brainchild-snatching to wholly quotables, plagiarists … Continue reading
Language Arts- editing sentences LESSON CREATED BY LAURA DIAZ
Language Arts- editing sentences LESSON CREATED BY LAURA DIAZ Let’s Begin… Kathleen Cali~FIFTY YEARS OF RESEARCH INTO GRAMMAR INSTRUCTION CONFIRMS what many teachers have long suspected: when it comes to … Continue reading
Twitter In the Classroom ?
In this weeks article review, 10 Ways Twitter Has Added Value,teacher andblogger,Edna Sackson, carefully and with a splash of humor, lays out for the reader why Twitter should be a … Continue reading
Mining literature for deeper meanings – Amy E. Harter LESSON CREATED BY LAURA DIAZ USING VIDEO FROM TED-Ed YOUTUBE CHANNEL
Let’s Begin… Writing a great English paper can be tough because literature doesn’t always reveal its deeper meanings immediately. You might not know Mr. Darcy’s true feelings for Elizabeth Bennett … Continue reading
Defining the Connected Learner
Defining the Connected Learner Review of “The Connected Educator”. Click the Above link to view the presentation and the accompanying links. Then chime in on your take of what technology … Continue reading
My love for just the right words……
Anyone that knows me, is familiar with my passion for quotes and proverbs, be they inspirational or funny. And of course, as a visual learner also, if the quote is … Continue reading
The Controversial Video: Why I Hate Religion, But Love Jesus || Spoken Word by Jefferson Bethke
No matter what your viewpoint on the issue, Jefferson Bethke’s little YouTube pebble has stirred an overwhelming hurricane and has been viewed ( as of 5/27/13) 25,023,180 times since it was first … Continue reading
Not so Mexican
Originally posted on Beans | Rice | French Fries:
I wrote this nonfiction piece in January of 2012 for my creative writing class. It’s a longer post, but I hope you take…
More Beautiful by Jonny Diaz
I really love this music video! And no, it’s not because this music artist shares my last name! 🙂 We all know that “Diaz” is as common as the Anglo … Continue reading
WP DP…can I give you a little piece of advice my blogger bro?
Originally posted on ACT. REACT. or just THINK about it!:
Life doesn’t come with an instruction booklet… Parenting doesn’t come with an instruction booklet… Blogging… well…DOES come with an instruction…
SpanglishBaby: The future of Spanish – should we worry?
Click the above link and read more from this fantastic and well-established blog!:)
Famous Rejection Letters
“Editors/agents are quite human. So they make mistakes. But it’s not just about that, like one publisher wrote Frank Herbert while rejecting Dune ( I might be making the mistake … Continue reading
Email to God~
Email to God Dear God, I’m tired. Life sucks. Or is that sucketh? You know what I mean. You’re God, right? Today was such a tough day. Everything that could … Continue reading
~ Future Window Cleaner ~
Future Window Cleaner (Imaginary) Email Messages between a grown daughter (WATZ1MOR@igotthis.com) and her mother (cheerful2@woohoo.com) ________________________________________________________ (WATZ1MOR@igotthis.com) Hi Mom. Okay, remember when I used to spout those pretty crazy idealistic … Continue reading
Christian Parenting~ Our lives are not our own
So did your B.C ( Before Children) dreams or expectations of being the perfect parent work out the way you planned? Okay, remember those B.C. days when you used to … Continue reading
Chill, It’s All Good! What So Wrong With Slang? A study of my use of slang and snorting when I laugh
One rare and lazy Saturday afternoon, I parked myself at my local Barnes and Nobles/Starbucks, and happened to hear from a nearby table, “Chill! It’s all good, Ellie!” And then … Continue reading
Christian/Multicultural/Young Adult/Fantasy fiction~ Is that even possible?
Christian/Multicultural/Young Adult/Fantasy fiction~ Is that even possible?. Check out the above link and open your eyes to the kind of multicultural Christian teen literature that our multi-ethnic world needs.:)
The Lie Of Consumerism Church Shopping~
“Let us not give up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but let us encourage one another.” (Hebrews 10:25 English Standard Version) “No dejando de congregarnos,como algunos … Continue reading
24 Interludes of Life~ Author Unknown
24 Interludes of Life This is dedicated to my wonderful friends who enrich my life with the treasure of their being. May your soul decisions always be made with your … Continue reading
A Soldier in the Army of God ~ by B.J. Morbitzer
I Am A Soldier In The Army Of God I am a soldier in the army of God. The Lord Jesus Christ is my commanding officer. The Holy Bible is … Continue reading
Laura A. Diaz __ Teach Write 