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ACE Blog

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ACE Teachers posing before So-Cal Marathon 2026

Running Through Discomfort

I feel great. Granted, I’m only 3 miles into my 13.1 mile journey, but I feel better than ever. It’s hot, but I’ve run in this weather countless times. After...

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High school students from Cleveland Central Catholic sit next to their elementary school prayer partners from St. Stanislaus during our Ash Wednesday Mass.

We Are Dust: Reflections on Teaching and the Lenten Journey

“Remember you are dust, and to dust you shall return.” This Ash Wednesday anthem, spoken as our foreheads are marked with a smudgy black cross, is a reminder of our...

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sheiladoyleblog_1

We Have A Situation!

Procedures, procedures, procedures! As new teachers, we hear this word repeated over and over. "Make sure you have procedures ready to go for day 1!" "What are your procedures for...

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And Just Like That...There Were 2!

I'm not sure how it happened...but it is fall in South Bend, and the University of Notre Dame has renewed energy. People are walking to and from class and events...

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The Triple D Protocol

When I think of Triple D, I am reminded of my favorite show nicknamed Triple D (aka Diners, Drive-Ins, and Dives.) This culinary show is hosted by the immeasurably enthusiastic...

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Creating a Welcoming Classroom Culture

"Ms. Eby, you've never had Tajín?" "You just HAVE to try Wingstop!" "Do you have Starbucks in New Hampshire?" During my first year with ACE at Our Lady of Guadalupe...

hplsocialemotional

Blended Learning and the Social-Emotional Connection

A growing body of thought emphasizes the importance of blended learning as a complement to social-emotional learning. The Christensen Institute recently wrote about how blended learning can build relationships between...

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Becoming Holy Heroes

One of the most incredible journeys of my short but wild teaching career began on a day when only half of my class showed up. It was a day where...

hpl-pro

Go Back to School Like a PRO!

It is hard to believe that the lazy days of summer are coming to an end. School supplies and backpacks have replaced summer toys, and teachers are planning schedules, procedures...