TL;DR: Curriculum design teams should begin with the end in mind. Empower curriculum design teams by providing time for them to become crystal clear about the standards before debating essential skills, key concepts, content, or assignments. When a district team identifies transfer goals, it will support teachers across schools. Formative assessments will support decisions about teaching and learning. Make sure … Read More
Effective Tools for End-of-Year Student Conferencing
TL;DR: Make sure to purposefully include time for student conferencing in your plans. During a conference, the student is able to monitor their progress and get clarification about assignments. The teacher is able to guide the student to use individualized study strategies. They can also monitor the students’ progress and help them set attainable goals. As we go into the … Read More
Picture Perfect
TL;DR: The dilemma with social media regarding mental health is that we post the best of us. Life isn’t picture perfect. Let’s take care of our mental health and take care of each other. Social media has turned us into seekers of picture-perfect moments. Some parents, including myself, have had some sort of social media since before their children were … Read More
5 Thought-Provoking Questions About Assessment
TL;DR: Teaching and learning should be framed around a desired set of learning targets. Identify how teachers will measure student understanding. The classroom should be a safe place where students are receiving feedback from their teacher, peers, and own reflections. 4 key reflection questions to consider before and after a unit are shared. Find ways to celebrate small wins in … Read More
The Empathetic Leader
TL;DR: An empathetic leader breaks down walls, deepens relationships, and inspires others. They promote collaboration and help others feel valued. Empathetic leaders listen and create opportunities for others to share. The conversation about empathy is trending. In the last decade, #GoogleTrends indicates that interest in empathy has grown more than 75%. The world is discovering that empathy is a power … Read More