TL;DR: Despite all of the obstacles educators face this year, they are still standing. Teachers are seeing the opportunities that lie among all of the challenges. School leaders should provide teachers with flexibility, support, grace, and encouragement. Now is the time to celebrate our teachers and support them in everything they do. Don’t you know I’m still standing better than … Read More
Facilitating Small Group Instruction to Meet Student Needs
TL;DR: Small group instruction and one-on-one conferences are possible this year. Five tips to make these types of instruction happen – whether you’re fully virtual or hybrid. In my classroom, like many others, small group instruction is a cornerstone of our structure. In fact, a majority of the teaching I do is done in a small group model. I work … Read More
Finding the Slack to Unlock Upstream Thinking
TL;DR: Reflecting on a book study of Upstream: How to Solve Problems Before They Happen by Dan Heath, and the educational impacts of the book. Upstream thinking involves addressing problems before they even begin. When we focus all of our attention and energy on the problems right in front of us, our ability to plan and organize is diminished. Instead … Read More
We Are the Change
TL;DR: This post provides motivation for educators as they begin one of the most challenging years in their career. Your students need you. Let them motivate you to overcome any obstacles. Introducing the Essential Skills Better blog series! We Are the Change: Making the Year a Success As the new school year begins and we welcome our kids back, we can’t … Read More
Using Household Tech to Project Your Teacher Voice
TL;DR: It can be difficult for students to hear you through a mask and face shield in a virtual setting. You can use common devices around your house and classroom to prevent this issue. This post includes a step by step guide for using settings on your Windows 10 device to project your teacher voice. Remember, if you are using … Read More