T.O.Y. Stories Blog

Using Every Tool in the Education Toolbox

Carol Detrick Garner Allegany County Teacher of the Year, 2013 The mighty Gymnogyps californianus was proving to be one tough bird. To make a long genetic bottleneck   ...Learn more

Teaching Kids, Not Classes

Sarah Desrosiers, M.Ed. Charles County Teacher of the Year, 2015-2016 Today’s children need so much more than we did when we went to school.  Society has   ...Learn more

Maintaining a Positive Learning Environment

Thomas Mills Dorchester County Teacher of the Year, 2014-2015 I teach chemistry and physics – two subjects which cause students to become intimidated and lose self-confidence.   ...Learn more

“Live, Laugh, Love & Learn”

Kimberly C. King Charles County Teacher of the Year, 2014-2015 Live.  Laugh. Love.  Learn. These words need to be at the heart of every teacher and   ...Learn more

We Are Teachers

Kelly O’Hara Elkton High School Social Studies 9-12 Grade Cecil County 2015 Cecil County TOY   During my first year of teaching, in the middle of an observation, a girl   ...Learn more

TOY Stories Blog: We Are Family – Thoughts on Teaching in an Open Space Classroom

By Dana Jo Reinhardt Open space school design gained popularity in the United States during the 1970s with the hopes of recreating the wholesome “one   ...Learn more

TOY Stories Blog: Connecting Students with the World Around Them

By Ryan Kaiser I come from a family of teachers. My grandmother taught elementary school and both my parents were teachers and educational administrators. It   ...Learn more

Be the Refuge for Your Students

  By Laura Ann Collins   No matter what you think you know, you simply don’t really know, so don’t assume you do. Always, always, always give children   ...Learn more

Creating Positive Student-Teacher and Student-Student Interaction

By Derek Berger Posing a thought provoking question to high school students is often met with the same result – the sound of silence. Even   ...Learn more

TOY Stories Blog: Positivity is the Key – Encouraging Parental Involvement

By Jodie Hogan What is the first thing on my to-do list on Friday mornings?  You guessed it!  It is to make one positive phone   ...Learn more

TOY Stories Blog: Problem-based Hands-on Learning is Key

    By Chad Shelly There is one huge challenge all teachers face.  We have to find a way to manage 25 or more student behaviors, while helping   ...Learn more

T.O.Y. Stories Blog: Students as Student Leaders in Classroom Instruction

  By Jon Cox In my co-taught math classroom, the instructional team often includes student leaders.  Students in this class typically collaborate in a small   ...Learn more

TOY Stories Blog: Parents are key to help struggling readers succeed

By Mary Bailey We’ve all heard the saying, “reading is fundamental.” As a Reading Recovery teacher who works with students who are already falling behind   ...Learn more

TOY Stories Blog: From Detaining to Restoring

By Sean McComb   Assign detention to raise achievement.  Really? Detention is usually considered a punitive and preventative “last resort” for most teachers.  Early in my career   ...Learn more

Adventures in ‘Close Reading’: A Teacher Prepares for PARCC

PARCC exams help teachers focus on instruction that builds students’ real-world skills By Christina Houstian   “All this?” asked Dana, a sophomore in my Advanced Placement (AP) U.S.   ...Learn more

TOY Stories Blog: On My Knees with Meter Sticks

Carol Detrick Garner   TOY Stories: An Education Blog Sharing Thoughts, Ideas and Strategies from Maryland’s Teachers of the Year.   By Carol Detrick Garner Why you might ask   ...Learn more

TOY Stories Blog: Using Project-Based Learning to Expand Student Success

  By Laura Shelton 8th Grade Science Benjamin D. Foulois Creative and Performing Arts School Prince George’s County Maryland   I want ALL of my students to do well in   ...Learn more

T.O.Y. Stories Blog: Facing the Challenge

  Anne Cross   T.O.Y. Stories:  An Education Blog Sharing Thoughts, Ideas and Strategies from Maryland’s Teachers of the Year.   Facing the Challenge   By Anne Cross You know the kid.    ...Learn more

T.O.Y. Stories Blog: A Teacher’s Best Practice for Parent Engagement is Positive Communication

T.O.Y. Stories Marlo Coppage   An Education Blog Sharing Thoughts, Ideas and Strategies from Maryland’s Teachers of the Year. Welcome to MSDE’s T.O.Y. Stories Blog.  The blog capitalizes   ...Learn more