I distinctively remember during in my first year of teaching; a colleague telling me: “Hey, your first year of teaching…just blend in and fly under the radar to get through it.” I also remember nodding my head and smiling as I thought, “WHY?” I made the decision, then and there, that I wasn’t going to take the well intentioned advice of … Read More
5 Ways To Waste Your Summer Break
Ok, I know it’s the end of the year and all you can think about is sleeping in, maybe getting your feet in the sand, and finally having a little time to relax and eat a meal without having to complete it in under 10 minutes as you grade stacks of papers or help a student in your classroom. As teachers … Read More
3 Ways to Finish The Year Strong in Your Classroom
It’s almost here! As the days grow longer, the students in your classroom get more volatile, and the smell of Summer break is in the air, I want you to STOP. Right now, as you decide not to finish that lesson plan and just play Kahoot with your students tomorrow, I want you to consider the opportunity being wasted. The opportunity to … Read More
3 Reasons Educational Initiatives Fail
Whether it’s Mastery Learning, open schedules, maker-spaces, or problem-based learning, innovative instructional methods and educational initiatives tend to work amazingly well in some cases, but fall flat in others. Regardless of the initiative we’re talking about, there is most likely robust research to back up its effectiveness and legitimacy. So why do they fail? Working with teachers, schools, and districts all over, we have found … Read More
5 Simple Classroom Management Tips
Classroom Management is something all teachers worry about. Whether I’m helping a school or district with Mastery Learning, or presenting at a conference, the topic of classroom management never seems to go away. This is for good reason, especially because if your classroom is not managed well, it’s hard to create an environment where learning can thrive. Classroom management is … Read More