This is a long one…but I promise I have a point. As I jumped off a boat into the water, I felt prepared and ready for anything…until I didn’t. Wearing my neoprene wetsuit, swim cap, and goggles (yes, I looked as cool as you are imaging) I surfaced to one of the most traumatic and chaotic 10 minutes of my … Read More
Start Strong Without the Sunday Scaries
Start strong without the Sunday Scaries! For many educators, the excitement of a new school year is accompanied by a familiar but unwelcome visitor: the Sunday scaries. This term refers to the anxiety and dread that bubble up on Sunday evenings as the reality of Monday morning—and all its responsibilities—looms large. While students may worry about homework and social situations, … Read More
Is Your Homework Meaningful or Just Busy Work?
The homework debate continues to divide educators, parents, and students. Some advocate for practice at home, believing it solidifies learning, while others argue that homework places unnecessary stress on students and families. Before I go further, I want to note that many educators question the equity of homework in general, because we simply cannot control what students go home to, … Read More
The 5 Things Every Professional Development Should Include
Planning PD for your staff can be stressful. You want to make sure that the time and resources are well spent, your teachers are getting actionable value from it, and that you’re getting what you asked for from your PD provider. Working with schools and districts across the country has allowed our team to create and develop high-quality professional development … Read More
The Hidden Gaps in Your Professional Development Plan (And How to Fix Them)
Let’s be honest: Professional development planning is tough. You’re juggling state mandates, teacher needs, budget constraints, and dozens of competing priorities. So, it’s no surprise that even the best school leaders sometimes overlook critical gaps that quietly undermine their PD efforts. Here’s the good news: Once you uncover these gaps, you can fix them. What we’ve found is that most … Read More