Notes from the classroom and from home.
I'm Sumrana — an assistant teacher and a mom figuring it out one day at a time. This is where I write down the small things that actually worked.
Public Education in the U.S. — 2023–24 • Source: NCES / NEA
Missy Testerman
Elementary Reading Specialist — Richlands, Virginia
"Every child deserves to learn to read. My focus is on those who struggle the most — the ones who need someone to sit beside them and stay."
Testerman has spent her career working one-on-one with early elementary students who need foundational reading support. Her approach centers on patience, repetition, and building the kind of trust that lets a struggling reader take risks with words. She was named 2024 National Teacher of the Year by the Council of Chief State School Officers.
✏️ The kind of teacher every child deserves.
From the blog
How to give feedback that doesn't crush confidence
Specific techniques for giving young learners feedback that actually helps them improve — without the kind of correction that makes a child stop trying.
The 3-2-1 exit ticket: the simplest daily check I use
A quick daily assessment that tells you who got it, who almost got it, and who needs you tomorrow — in less than five minutes.
What the research actually says about brain breaks
An honest look at what the studies actually show — and what they don't — so you can use brain breaks on purpose instead of just filling time.
What parents wish teachers knew (and teachers wish parents knew)
A warm, balanced look at the things each side rarely says out loud — written from someone who is both.
Setting up a reading corner kids actually want to use
Practical, inexpensive ideas for a classroom reading corner that children actually choose during free time — not just a shelf of books nobody touches.
Five phrases that work better than "pay attention"
When "pay attention" stops working — or never really worked — here are five specific redirects I actually use in the classroom.
What I do on the mornings I can't be patient
Honest notes on the days when I've already used up my patience before the kids are even dressed — and the small resets that keep the morning from going sideways.
Three low-prep morning activities that actually settle a young class
Short, repeatable rituals that help early-elementary students arrive, settle, and focus — no laminator required.