TL;DR: Presenting at an education conference or district professional development day can be scary. You are the only one who can tell your story. You can design professional learning that informs, inspires, and invites change. I still remember the first time I led a teacher professional development session. My district had done a call for presenters for a teacher institute … Read More
Food for Thought: Shrimp Scampi and Standards-Based Grading
TL;DR: Standards-based grading is like shrimp scampi: great when done right, frustrating when done poorly. It is essential to understand what stands-based grading is if we are going to use it to make a difference. Insist on quality professional learning and ongoing support to make sure SBG is implemented with integrity. One of my wife’s favourite dishes to order whenever … Read More
Food for Thought: Menus and Tidying Up
TL;DR: Giving others choices can be a great tool, but it can also become overwhelming. It isn’t enough to just tell students to do something; we need to show them how. Using a structured method to guide decision-making can bridge the gap between what students want to do and what they can do. Menus and Tidying Up I have a … Read More
Food for Thought: Brussels Sprouts and Change
TL;DR: Just as Brussels sprouts changed, so can people and ideas. Don’t be so quick to dismiss something or someone because of one bad experience. Give grace to students, staff, parents, and the community. It isn’t very often that I can pinpoint, to the exact day, the very first time I tried a particular food for the first time. But … Read More
Peanut Butter and Jelly Sandwiches and Getting In a Rut
TL;DR: Routine and order don’t mean doing the same things the same way every day. We can provide voice, choice, and possibility within established structures. Going back to basics is just as important as pushing the envelope. I love peanut butter and jelly sandwiches. Nearly every day of elementary school, my lunch consisted of the same basic elements: a peanut … Read More