TL;DR: It is crucial for instructional leaders to put the focus on student understanding. Ignite student understanding by developing common formative assessments, analyzing current levels of achievement, setting achievement goals, and sharing strategies. Igniting student understanding will happen when teacher teams create lessons to address the needs of learners. Instructional leaders focus on student understanding. Schmoker (2005) wrote, “It starts … Read More
Planning Plinko
TL;DR: Sometimes teachers plan lessons or units that are disconnected to their desired student outcomes, like the Plinko effect. It’s important that you consider the pegs and barriers that exist with your students. It’s better to look at individuals and groups of students, and determine how to remove barriers so that the chip can fall into the desired slot. The … Read More
The Time is NOW for Compassionate Hiring
TL;DR: During the interview process, teacher candidates deserve compassionate conditions through which their competence and character may be revealed. Some ways to show compassion are: provide details before the interview, set a welcoming and positive tone at the beginning of the interview, make it visible that you are listening, close the interview by asking if the candidate has any questions … Read More
Connect Better with Voxer
TL;DR: The diffusion of innovation is often used to describe the different phases of adoption of new technology. Voxer is not actually a social media platform but rather, a communication tool intended for a private group. You will learn how to get started with using Voxer. Tips and tricks on how to use Voxer efficiently will be shared. The Diffusion … Read More
The Value of Sharing
TL;DR: There is so much value in sharing that we can benefit from as educators. When we work together, we can be beacons of change to the educational system. From our earliest years, we have been taught the value of sharing. Our parents and our teachers have guided us on how to share with one another. For many of us, … Read More