Read To Your Students (No Matter How Old They Are)

Teach Better TeamBlog, Engage Better, Lesson Plan Better

TL;DR: All students benefit from being read to. All content areas can find engaging books to read. Connecting the book to your content makes your subject area AND reading fun! I am a former middle school science teacher. I taught 8th-grade physical science and earth science. Even though I was not an ELA teacher, I read to my students almost … Read More

Carrying Heavy Things: Support Students

Teach Better TeamBlog, Connect Better, Self Care Better, Teach Happier

TL;DR: We all have a lot going on and are carrying a lot of heavy things. What does that look like at your school with your students? Communicate with stakeholders to help carry the weight. Provide school-based support for students. Assist staff with self-care by practicing collective care and supporting boundaries. Carrying Heavy Things: Support Students “I’m afraid I won’t … Read More

The Uncomfortable Truth About School

Teach Better TeamBlog, Engage Better, Grade Better, Innovate Better, Lesson Plan Better, Mastery Done Better, Reflect Better

TL;DR: Students forget most of what they “learn” in school. Acknowledging this gives us the freedom to focus on powerful learning experiences. Wrestling with the impermanence of some school “learning” challenges our core values as educators. What is Learning, Really? Educational thought leader Will Richardson loves to invite teachers to share their definitions of learning. His observation: most of us … Read More

Cutting Through Generational BS (Belief Systems)

Teach Better TeamBlog, Connect Better, Engage Better, Innovate Better, Lead Better, Reflect Better, Self Care Better

TL;DR: Sometimes we do things because it is all we know rather than what is best or necessary. We all come with different belief systems that influence us. Take time to reflect on belief systems and how they may be impacting you and your school community. There was a mother that was teaching her young daughter the family secret to … Read More

One Simple Strategy to Teach Better: Ask for Feedback

Teach Better TeamBlog, Connect Better, Engage Better, Innovate Better, Lead Better, Lesson Plan Better, Reflect Better

TL;DR: Teenagers are not bored, disengaged, and unhappy by nature. Teachers can improve rapidly if we ask students to give us feedback. It can be scary to ask; we need to train ourselves to depersonalize the feedback. A healthy feedback loop produces happier students AND a happier teacher. One Simple Strategy to Teach Better: Ask for Feedback One of our … Read More