Naming school supplies 

Preparing classrooms

Marker 01

Year-long Pre-K

Jill Schams, president of the La Crosse Education Association (LEA), joined heading into the first full week of school. We discussed how teachers prepare their classrooms — often at their own expense — and touched on the rollout of all-day pre-K in the La Crosse School District.

We opened the conversation, though, about how teachers build connections with parents.

Then had some fun getting Schams reaction to this story from another teacher: “Giving human names to glue sticks in my classroom has been revolutionary. Does a student care if a glue stick goes missing? No. Do they care if DEREK the glue stick has not been returned? ABSOLUTELY. It’s like a manhunt until Derek has been returned to his rightful spot.”

On classroom preparation, Schams noted that nationally, teachers spend an average of $400 a year out of pocket. She added that schools don’t provide much time or resources to get rooms ready, so teachers often use their own free time and money. We also discussed how teachers find creative ways to fill the gap — from Amazon wishlists to support from community groups.

On pre-K, Schams said the union had little involvement in the decision, which was largely driven by state budget changes.

Jill Schams, president of the La Crosse Education Association (LEA), joined heading into the first full week of school. We discussed how teachers prepare their classrooms &mdash; often at their own expense &mdash; and touched on the rollout of all-day pre-K in the La Crosse School District.
We opened the conversation, though, about how teachers build connections with parents.
Then had some fun getting Schams reaction to this story from another teacher: &ldquo;Giving human names to glue sticks in my classroom has been revolutionary. Does a student care if a glue stick goes missing? No. Do they care if DEREK the glue stick has not been returned? ABSOLUTELY. It&rsquo;s like a manhunt until Derek has been returned to his rightful spot.&rdquo;
On classroom preparation, Schams noted that nationally, teachers spend an average of $400 a year out of pocket. She added that schools don&rsquo;t provide much time or resources to get rooms ready, so teachers often use their own free time and money. We also discussed how teachers find creative ways to fill the gap &mdash; from Amazon wishlists to support from community groups.
On pre-K, Schams said the union had little involvement in the decision, which was largely driven by state budget changes.

WIZM's LaCrosse Talk. News and talk about the issues of the day for Western Wisconsin.

WIZM's LaCrosse Talk. News and talk about the issues of the day for Western Wisconsin.

WIZM - La Crosse  Talk Interviews

WIZM’s La Crosse Talk brings you the voices shaping Western Wisconsin.
Broadcast live weekday mornings on WIZM News Talk 92.3 FM, 106.7 FM, 1410 AM, and streaming at wizmnews.com and on the WIZM app, La Crosse Talk dives into the headlines, local politics, community issues, and conversations that matter most to listeners in the Coulee Region. Hosted as part of the La Crosse Talk Morning Show, each episode features in-depth interviews with newsmakers, elected officials, experts, and everyday citizens offering real perspectives on the events and decisions impacting La Crosse and surrounding communities. Whether it's breaking news, civic discussions, or community stories, La Crosse Talk keeps you informed and connected to the place you call home.

WIZM&rsquo;s La Crosse Talk brings you the voices shaping Western Wisconsin. Broadcast live weekday mornings on WIZM News Talk 92.3 FM, 106.7 FM, 1410 AM, and streaming at <a href="https://www.wizmnews.com/">wizmnews.com</a> and on the WIZM app, La Crosse Talk dives into the headlines, local politics, community issues, and conversations that matter most to listeners in the Coulee Region. Hosted as part of the La Crosse Talk Morning Show, each episode features in-depth interviews with newsmakers, elected officials, experts, and everyday citizens offering real perspectives on the events and decisions impacting La Crosse and surrounding communities.&nbsp;Whether it's breaking news, civic discussions, or community stories, La Crosse Talk keeps you informed and connected to the place you call home.