#HamstraHighlights

Leadership · Curriculum · Lifelong Learning

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Category: NCSSE 3-Cultural Leadership

HappyGram!

What’s a HappyGram? I believe that a HappyGram is a short, handwritten, positive note. Receiving a HappyGram is powerful. Our childcare gave us this HappyGram about our then-23-month-old son. This Read more…


It’s Time to Dance!

I had a bad day today. Have you ever had one of those? Especially in 2020, I’m finding it hard to fake it when everything’s not okay. It’s hard to Read more…


What’s in Your Wake?

First times are special, and I’ll never forget this one. As part of a professional development opportunity through the North Carolina Center for the Advancement of Teaching, I got to Read more…


How Do You Measure Student Learning?

Throughout my administrative internship, I had the honor of experiencing interviews from both sides of the table. In general, an interview can be dynamic, featuring deep insight into the applicant’s Read more…


Dear Netflix

Dear Netflix, Greetings to you from an inquisitive educator. With COVID-19 circulating the globe, the world will never be the same. I’m wondering if now is the time to embrace Read more…


Upon Reflection: The Best PD

The very last thing anyone wants in the year of all-things-2020, and when trying to reopen schools amidst a global pandemic, is to add… One. More. Thing. So let’s not. Read more…


Standards-Based Grading Changes Feedback

In a recent twitter chat, I was asked: “Some districts have transitioned to standards-based grading. What are some pros/cons of this shift?” There’s no way I could possibly answer that Read more…


Today is for Us: Daddy! Hold My Hand!

There’s a lot going on. Honestly, I haven’t taken a break in… years. I just completed my MSA journey, and the very certain uncertainty of one global pandemic has held Read more…


Book Review: White Fragility–Part III

Blogger’s Note: This is Part III in a series of personal reflections on the book: White Fragility: Why It’s So Hard for White People to Talk About Racism. While it’s imperative Read more…


Are You an Instructional Leader?

The phrase “instructional leader” can mean a lot of things. Like many titles, it can take on different meanings, given our unique perspectives. Yet, the perception begins to contrast sharply Read more…


Microteaching for Macrolearning

I just got out of another district training and I can’t wait to share this one thing from our study today. While diving deeper into the PLC+ Model, we explored Read more…


Book Review: White Fragility–Part II

Blogger’s Note: This is Part II (here’s Part I) in a series of personal reflections on the book: White Fragility: Why It’s So Hard for White People to Talk About Read more…


Halfway Through #MyOneWord2020

“Oh my… I can’t believe how much has changed.” That’s how I began #MyOneWord2020 post… on December 31, 2019. At the time, I was reflecting on the many changes over Read more…


Anti-Racist Next Steps?

What a year! So far. Over four months ago, the Corona Virus infected a few. And it spread. Over four hundred years ago, racism infected a few in the would-be Read more…


The Wonder Years

This was one of my favorite childhood memories. I’m watching The Wonder Years for about the 12th time in the last 30 years. The whole series. This time, on Hulu. Read more…


Edcamp Remote Learning

Just a few months ago, our world was turned upside-down. To say the least, COVID-19 changed the way we did life. As always, physiological and safety needs must be satisfied, Read more…