Being an Example… Kids Discover Blog Post: Healing Broken School Communities 25 Sep 2025 You would think that educators – highly trained in creating functional, supportive classroom communities – would naturally build equally healthy school and district communities. You would think. And yet, across…
Collaboration… Kids Discover Blog Post: Effectively Communicating with Families 19 Sep 2025 I don’t know about you, but I wasn’t too far into my first year teaching before I found myself thinking, “Why didn’t anyone teach us this in college?” I’m talking about how…
Collaboration… Kids Discover Blog Post: Eclipse Preparation 101 3 Apr 2024 The eclipse is coming! The eclipse is coming! On April 8th, a solar eclipse is going to be visible to ALL the states of America, and fifteen states will have…
Classroom Management… Kids Discover Blogger 7 Feb 2024 I am excited to announce that I am now a blogger for the amazing teacher resource, Kids Discover! I have enjoyed Kids Discover for DECADES. I read their wonderful, educational magazines as…
Collaboration… Mistaken Identity: Teaching Is Not Lacking Thanks, It Is Lacking Support 29 Jul 2019 “Teaching is a thankless job.” Time and again I have heard my occupation referred to as being “thankless.” I have always been hesitant to agree. Some of my students have…
Collaboration… Place-Based Education: Field Trips with a Long-Lasting Focus 5 Sep 2018 Did you know that Christa McAuliffe was also known as “the field trip teacher?” This was because McAuliffe understood the value of place-based education. But, what exactly is place-based education?…
Collaboration… Coast Encounters of the Best Kind 2 Aug 20172 Aug 2017 Who doesn’t enjoy a good tide pooling excursion? There are so many fascinating and unusual creatures to be found existing solely at the rocky shore. Kids and adults alike find…
Collaboration… Rocky Shore Curriculum Release Date – Friday, April 14th! 31 Mar 201731 Mar 2017 It is ALMOST complete! The Rocky Shore Marine Science Curriculum: An Ecosystem Unit for Elementary Educators will be accessible to anyone, for free, on April 14th. I met with Kirsty…
Collaboration… Tuning the Unit – The Rocky Shore Ecosystem Curriculum is Almost Ready for Instruction! 24 Mar 201724 Mar 2017 When members of an orchestra tune their instruments before a big concert I imagine there is a high level of anticipatory excitement. That is exactly how I felt yesterday at…
Collaboration… Friday was Sci-Day 11 Mar 201711 Mar 2017 Yesterday was chock full of science! Thanks to Kevin Johnson, the Hillsboro-Deering School District’s Curriculum, Instruction and Assessment Coordinator, I had the privilege of working with his district’s Vertical Science…
Thom R. Smith 