Michigan Teacher of the Year

Meemic congratulates Kelley Cusmano, the 2024-25 Michigan Teacher of the Year. Candice is an English Language Arts teacher at Rochester High School and will be entering her 20th year of teaching in the fall. “Kelley is passionate, nurturing, and relentless in her efforts to support our students,” said RHS principal Joshua Wrinkle. “Some of the most inspiring work that I’ve witnessed in education includes Kelley’s ability to encourage and support students who may be struggling, have disabilities or are not excited about the course work. She is always looking for ways to motivate her students to achieve more than they ever thought they could. She seeks ways to not only better her own instruction, but to also support her colleagues in their growth. The future of education is strong because of dedicated teachers like Kelley.”

The Power of ​Read-Alouds in Elementary & Secondary Classes

March is one of the most exciting times during the school year. It is the month we celebrate reading in every elementary classroom in the nation. We spend an enormous amount of time transforming schools into extraordinary places where vibrant storybook characters come to life. Sheer passion and sparkle bring life to the many marvelous texts we have grown to love and emulate in our daily practices. ​Reading Month elevates literacy into an electrifying championship where students compete and celebrate the remarkable experiences that text and teachers provide them. One of the most powerful literary opportunities we provide to children is our ability to make a read-aloud become something magical. In elementary schools, read-alouds are part of daily practice. A shared, meaningful literacy experience often awaits students as they return from afternoon activities. Teachers can use text to morph classroom rugs into dynamic literacy- and language-rich experiences as students ride magic carpets throughout the classroom during a read-aloud.​ Reading Month​ provides opportunities for us, as teachers, to magnify these experiences into brilliant and memorable activities; however, we shouldn’t let it stop at the elementary level any longer.

12 Teachers Share Their Most Important Books

When The Meemic Foundation offered a grant for teachers to spend on Scholastic books, the main question on the application was: “What books impacted you the most – as a child and as an educator?” We got some great responses. And in honor of National Reading Month in March, we’re sharing some of our favorites.

Meemic Educator Celebrates Music in Our Schools Month

Music is fundamentally different from any other subject we’re taught in school. Unlike many other course types, you can’t cram for a musical performance like you can a written exam. You can't stay up the night before a concert practicing like you can pull an “all nighter” for an English essay. There’s a built-in mechanism where diligent, consistent effort is needed to sound proficient – and I think that’s a terrific thing. In a society that tends toward instant gratification, music helps students learn the lesson of persistence while working toward a goal.

Got Kids? Work Play into Your Exercise Routine to Stay on Track

Exhausted. Tired. House is a mess after our kids pull out every toy that we own. Kids are a tornado that can hit at any moment without notice. Not only do they destroy our house, but they suck up all of our energy and time. Of course, we still love them, right?

Meemic Volunteers Add More Flair to OLHSA

The Head Start is operated in a former corporate building for one of the auto manufacturers. When you walk in, the walls are decorated with posters advertising the many services OLHSA offers to families. As you continue through the building, you’ll notice that there are stretches of beige, sterile walls in between clusters of students’ artwork. Last year, to make it more kid-friendly, we painted murals on some of the walls. This year, we decided to add more color to the halls to continue to brighten up the spaces.

Spring Fever: Maintain Work-life Balance When Life Is “Life-ing”

Spring Fever is in full bloom, and teachers everywhere are looking forward to the end of the school year. Educators shape the future, but the demands of lesson planning, grading and classroom management can be exhausting. Balancing teaching with family obligations means meticulous planning, effective time management and prioritizing self-care amidst the profession’s demands.

Finding SEL In and Out of the Classroom

In this month’s blog, 2023-24 Michigan Teacher of the Year Candice Jackson talks about the three important ways students can pick up essential social-emotional..

Making the Community Your Classroom

In a video blog, 2023-24 Michigan Teacher of the Year Candice Jackson talks about using the community as a “laboratory of learning.” Planning field trips and making...

Open Letter to the Introverted Teacher: You're a Natural Leader

While I am only one teacher voicing one humble teacher’s opinion, this open letter is intended for introverted teachers everywhere and the extroverted teachers they work with.

Hard Reset: Reclaiming Your Classroom by Reinforcing Expectations, Routines and Learning Goals

Ready or not, winter break is approaching fast. The holidays provide a necessary break for students and teachers, allowing them to rest, reflect and prepare for the upcoming semester.

Building Trust and Community with Parent-Teacher Home Visits

As teachers, students and parents all over Michigan get back into the swing of things, the Parent Teacher Home Visit Program (PTHVP) kicks off National Parent Teacher Home Visit Week on Sept. 18, 2023.